Somethin’ Else
Somethin' Else is a privately-held UK content company founded in 1991 and headquartered in London, with 51-100 employees. It operates as both a content producer and an audience business, serving media and brand clients within the UK content ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Somethin’ Else does
Somethin' Else is a privately-held UK content company, founded in 1991 and headquartered in London. The firm describes itself as "a content company, but an audience business," indicating a dual focus on content production and audience development as its core commercial activity. It operates with a headcount of 51-100 employees and maintains a corporate website at somethinelse.com. Its executive team includes a Chief Strategy Officer (Ben Kerr) and a Chief Operating Officer (Paul Burdin), providing dedicated leadership for strategy and operations.
The company has operated continuously for over three decades within the UK media and content ecosystem. The input data does not disclose its specific product portfolio, technology stack, pricing model, revenue mix, or named customer relationships for Somethin' Else itself. The accompanying source material in this dataset is primarily about Sony Music's Global Podcast Division — a separate, multi-territory production operation with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and London, and a large slate of branded and original podcast series — but the input does not explicitly establish whether Somethin' Else is part of, acquired by, or otherwise affiliated with that division.
The business model for Somethin' Else cannot be precisely characterized from the available evidence. No pricing details, go-to-market motion, revenue streams, or segment mix are disclosed for the entity itself. The general positioning as a content and audience business implies revenue generation through content production, licensing, and audience monetization, but specific mechanics are not supported by the input.
Somethin’ Else firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Somethin’ Else
- Website
- https://somethinelse.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Somethin' Else is a privately-held UK content company founded in 1991 and headquartered in London, with 51-100 employees. It operates as both a content producer and an audience business, serving media and brand clients within the UK content ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Somethin’ Else industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Podcast Production & Audio Content
- NAICS
- Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers (MPACADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Podcast Hosting & Enterprise Solutions (Private/Branded Podcasts) (MPACADAF), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)
Keywords
Where Somethin’ Else is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Somethin’ Else business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Podcast Production and Licensing: Premium podcast production with creator-first philosophy, producing must-listen shows for podcast-lovers everywhere. Revenue generated through content licensing, branded podcasts, and multi-territory distribution.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Somethin’ Else product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Somethin' Else is a content company and audience business that produces premium podcast series across true crime, documentary, celebrity interview, comedy, and music genres. The company creates editorial podcast franchises (Witnessed, Cover Up, Chameleon, Smoke Screen, Spectacle, Power) and branded content partnerships for major global brands including PwC, Pampers, Chanel, Red Bull, Netflix, and Shark Week, distributing the slate globally through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and direct enterprise sales.
Product overview
Sony Music's Global Podcast Division is a multi-territory podcast production and distribution platform that operates as a unified portfolio of branded podcast series and franchise content. The division produces premium, must-listen shows across multiple genres including true crime (Chameleon, Witnessed, Smoke Screen, Cover Up, Crooked City franchises), celebrity interviews (Dinner's on Me, Getting Curious), comedy (What a Combo, Please Tell Me a Story), documentary series (Power, Spectacle), music-focused podcasts (Hip Hop Raised Me, My 90s Playlist, Prince Official Podcast), and lifestyle content. The portfolio includes branded content partnerships with major brands (Shark Week, Pampers, Red Bull, Chanel) and co-productions with platforms like Netflix (The Crown Official Podcast) and PwC (Take on Tomorrow). The shows are distributed across major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and dedicated listening links.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Branded Podcast Production End-to-end custom podcast production service for global brands, handling concept, talent, production, and distribution. Delivered partnerships include Take on Tomorrow (PwC), Tiny Tales from Pampers (Pampers), Chanel Connects (Chanel), How to Be Superhuman from Red Bull (Red Bull), Shark Week: The Podcast (Shark Week), and The Crown: The Official Podcast (Netflix).
- Witnessed Investigative true crime podcast franchise chronicling cases of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, including seasons on Scott Peterson, Natalie Wood, BART police shooting, Yosemite killer, fugitive mothers, and borderland disappearances. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Cover Up Investigative true crime podcast franchise examining cover-ups at major institutions, including anthrax attacks, body broker industry, the opioid pill plot, and secrets within the Catholic Church. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Chameleon Investigative true crime podcast franchise focused on con artists, grifters, and imposters, including seasons on the Michigan kidnapping plot, gallery forgeries, Hollywood con queens, scam callers, and Las Vegas high rollers. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Smoke Screen Investigative true crime podcast franchise exploring family secrets and deception, including seasons on a fugitive father, a betrayal in the Bayou, a deadly cure scandal, a puppy kingpin, a fake priest, and a small-town sellout. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Spectacle Podcast franchise covering spectacle-driven cultural subjects, including an unproduced history of reality TV and a season on the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Power Documentary podcast franchise profiling influential power brokers, including boxing promoter Don King, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, and the Maxwell family. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Crooked City True crime podcast franchise focused on corruption and crime in specific American cities, including the Emerald Triangle and Youngstown, Ohio. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Broken Documentary podcast franchise investigating systemic failures and abuse, including seasons on Jeffrey Epstein and the broader pursuit of justice. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- The Fault Line Documentary podcast franchise examining American fault lines, including a season on an Oklahoma murder tied to far-right movements and a season on Bush, Blair, and the Iraq War. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History History podcast about the origins and definitions of terms used to discuss slavery, examining words and concepts in Black history. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- How to Fail with Elizabeth Day Interview podcast in which author and host Elizabeth Day interviews guests about the failures that have shaped their lives and careers. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness Interview and learning podcast hosted by Jonathan Van Ness exploring a wide range of topics with expert guests, covering pop culture, science, history, and social issues. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Dinner's on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson Celebrity interview podcast hosted by actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson featuring in-person conversations with actors, comedians, and cultural figures. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Kermode & Mayo's Take Film review and discussion podcast from Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo, covering new releases, interviews with filmmakers, and broader cinema topics. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- David Tennant Does a Podcast With... Celebrity interview podcast hosted by David Tennant featuring long-form conversations with actors, writers, directors, and other creative figures. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- What a Combo! Comedy and storytelling podcast. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- You Had Me at Hello with Taye Diggs Storytelling and romance podcast hosted by actor Taye Diggs featuring love stories and relationship conversations. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- The Crown: The Official Podcast Official companion podcast for the Netflix series The Crown, featuring behind-the-scenes discussions with cast and creators. Produced as a branded partnership with Netflix. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- The Final Answer: Who Wants to be a Millionaire Podcast Companion podcast to the Who Wants to be a Millionaire franchise. Distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Companies that use Somethin’ Else
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Somethin’ Else technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Somethin’ Else partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major.
- Sister Entertainment GroupmajorIdentified as notably active in podcast acquisitions alongside Sony and PodX during the second wave of M&A activity in 2024. Both companies are pursuing scale and sustainable business models in podcasting.
- PodXmajorActive in podcast acquisitions during the second wave of M&A activity. PodX and Sony are identified alongside Sister Entertainment Group as key players pursuing licensing deals and scale.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Somethin’ Else competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wondery: Amazon-owned premium podcast studio producing true crime, documentary, and drama franchises. Direct competitor in the same production-for-distribution model and overlapping IP-style slate.
- iHeartPodcasts: One of the largest US podcast networks and ad-sales platforms, with a true crime and original-content slate. Competes for listener attention, ad budgets, and branded content clients.
- Pushkin Industries: Premium podcast production company (co-founded by Malcolm Gladwell) known for high-quality documentary and narrative nonfiction. Closely comparable in production ethos and IP-led slate.
- Audioboom: UK-based podcast hosting and production company with original shows and a global ad-sales network. Direct peer, especially relevant given Somethin' Else's London base.
- PodX Group: European podcast acquisition and production platform, identified alongside Sony in the second wave of podcast M&A. Comparable as a roll-up acquirer/producer in the same market.
Others
Emerging players
- Lemonada Media: Independent podcast network focused on storytelling and lifestyle content. Competes for talent, branded deals, and distribution in adjacent genres (lifestyle, narrative nonfiction).
- Sister Entertainment Group: Independent production group with growing podcast IP and branded audio. Active acquirer in the 2024 podcast M&A wave and an emerging competitor for premium UK/international IP.
Broad incumbents
- Spotify Studios: Spotify's owned-and-operated podcast studios (formerly Gimlet, Parcast, The Ringer) produce premium original content on the same distribution platform that also hosts Somethin' Else's shows — a platform-competitor with structural advantages.
Regional players
- BBC Studios (Audio): BBC Studios produces podcasts from BBC IP (true crime, documentary, drama) primarily for UK and global English-speaking markets. Comparable in genre mix and as a UK-based premium producer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Somethin’ Else social profiles
Digital presenceSomethin’ Else financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Somethin’ Else leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Somethin’ Else funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Somethin’ Else M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Somethin’ Else
What does Somethin’ Else do?
Somethin' Else is a content company and audience business that produces premium podcast series across true crime, documentary, celebrity interview, comedy, and music genres. The company creates editorial podcast franchises (Witnessed, Cover Up, Chameleon, Smoke Screen, Spectacle, Power) and branded content partnerships for major global brands including PwC, Pampers, Chanel, Red Bull, Netflix, and Shark Week, distributing the slate globally through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and direct enterprise sales.
When was Somethin’ Else founded?
Somethin’ Else was founded in 1991. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Somethin’ Else based?
Somethin’ Else is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Somethin’ Else make money?
One revenue line is on record: podcast Production and Licensing.
Who are Somethin’ Else's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wondery, iHeartPodcasts, Pushkin Industries, Audioboom and PodX Group. Audacy (Cadence13) is listed as an others. Emerging players are Lemonada Media and Sister Entertainment Group. Spotify Studios is listed as a broad incumbent. BBC Studios (Audio) is listed as a regional player.
Does Somethin’ Else have an API?
No public API is recorded for Somethin’ Else.
What industry is Somethin’ Else in?
Somethin’ Else's product category is Podcast Production & Audio Content. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACADAB, Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers, with a secondary code of MPACADAF, Podcast Hosting & Enterprise Solutions (Private/Branded Podcasts). Its NAICS code is 512290 and its SIC code is 2741.