Deadset Studios
Deadset Studios is an Australian B2B podcast production house founded in 2020, producing original and branded podcasts and strategic consulting for media houses (ABC, BBC, SBS, iHeartRadio), universities (Sydney, UNSW, UQ), NGOs, government, and brands across Australia, the UK, and the US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Deadset Studios does
Deadset Studios is a privately held, founder-owned Australian podcast production house founded in 2020 by Kellie Riordan, the former head of podcasts and founding managing editor of ABC Audio Studios. Operating from Sydney with 9 employees, the studio provides B2B podcast strategy, full-service production (recording, editing, sound design, post-production), original show development, and training/workshops to media houses (ABC, BBC, SBS, ARN Media's iHeartRadio Australia), universities (Sydney, UNSW, UQ), government and NGO clients (Dementia Australia, PANDA, VicHealth, Queensland Human Rights Commission, Jobsbank, Australian Sports Commission), and corporate brands (Shine Lawyers, Pinna in the US). Its catalog includes Conversations (Australia's most-downloaded podcast per Apple Podcasts four times), Hold the Moment (5 Signal Awards in 2025), Journo (2 New York Festivals Awards), Grand Gestures, The Solutionists, The Business Of, Curveball, and Sportish.
The company's underlying technology is human-led premium audio storytelling rather than software platforms, anchored by two proprietary assets: remote podcast production workflows developed during COVID-19 (virtual recording protocols, cross-timezone collaboration, distributed QC), and the PodPoll survey methodology executed annually with Insightfully, Enactuate, Sturm Research, and PureSpectrum. Distribution spans Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube (vodcast), BBC Sounds, SBS Audio, ABC listen, and iHeartRadio Australia, with privileged platform access secured through co-production partnerships.
Commercially, Deadset Studios operates a professional services model: project-based production fees for original and branded podcasts, strategic consulting retainers, and workshop/training engagements, all priced by quote and not publicly disclosed. Recurring revenue is anchored by the PodPoll annual research reports sold in tiered packages (Silver AUD $299 + GST, Gold AUD $799 + GST, Platinum custom multi-year). The go-to-market is sales-led and reputation-driven, leveraging founder Kellie Riordan's industry network, conference speaking (RAIN Summit, Podcast Movement, RadioDays, Mumbrella360), the Pod Squad newsletter, and earned media in outlets such as Mumbrella, Telum Media, and Radio Today.
Deadset Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Deadset Studios
- Legal name
- Deadset Studios
- Website
- https://deadsetstudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Deadset Studios is an Australian B2B podcast production house founded in 2020, producing original and branded podcasts and strategic consulting for media houses (ABC, BBC, SBS, iHeartRadio), universities (Sydney, UNSW, UQ), NGOs, government, and brands across Australia, the UK, and the US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Deadset Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Podcast Production Services
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Studios (51224), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229), Record Production and Distribution (512250)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)
Keywords
Where Deadset Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Deadset Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Podcast Production Services: Full-service podcast production for clients including strategy, consulting, production, and distribution support. Revenue generated through project-based engagements with organizations seeking branded or original podcast content.
- Strategic Consulting & Training: High-level strategic advice to media houses, brands, organizations, and producers for podcast space setup and expansion. Also includes coaching and feedback sessions for podcast and radio hosts.
- Original Show Development: Development of show formats and co-productions with major media partners including ABC, BBC, SBS, and ARN Media, publishing original podcasts with distribution across major platforms.
- Market Research Reports (PodPoll): Annual PodPoll survey reports sold in tiered packages (Silver, Gold, Platinum) providing Australian podcast listener data and insights to marketers and media companies. Silver package AUD $299 + GST includes 25 slides; Gold package AUD $799 + GST includes 38 slides plus presentation with Kellie Riordan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time | PodPoll Silver Package - AUD $299 + GST |
| Subscription | One time | PodPoll Gold Package - AUD $799 + GST |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Platinum Package - Contact for pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Deadset Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Deadset Studios is a B2B podcast production house that develops, produces, and publishes original and branded podcasts for media companies, brands, universities, government, and NGOs. It provides end-to-end podcast production (strategy, recording, editing, sound design, post-production), strategic consulting and training workshops, and original show format development and co-productions with major broadcasters. It also sells tiered paid market research reports (PodPoll) providing Australian podcast audience insights.
Product overview
Deadset Studios is Australia's premier podcast production house offering a comprehensive suite of services including podcast production, consulting & strategy, original show development, and training & workshops. The company also produces an annual market research product called PodPoll, conducted with Insightfully, providing Australian podcast listening insights. Their portfolio includes original podcasts such as Curveball (leadership interviews), Hold the Moment (dementia awareness), Grand Gestures (multicultural relationships), The Solutionists (problem-solving), The Business Of (business leadership), and Journo (journalism), as well as branded podcasts for clients including ABC, BBC, SBS, University of Sydney, UNSW, Dementia Australia, VicHealth, and Shine Lawyers. They also offer a Pod Squad newsletter delivering curated podcast recommendations. The company is led by founder Kellie Riordan, a renowned podcast strategist formerly of ABC Audio Studios.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PodPoll: Australia's most in-depth podcast insights survey, powered by Deadset Studios and Insightfully, providing research on podcast listening habits and behaviors.
Products and services
- Podcast Production
- Consulting & Strategy
- Original Shows
- Training & Workshops
- PodPoll Market Research Reports
Quantifiable outcome
- Conversations podcast crowned Australia's most downloaded podcast by Apple Podcasts four times
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Deadset Studios
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Deadset Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Deadset Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- InsightfullycorePartnership with leading Australian market research agency Insightfully to conduct annual PodPoll survey on Australian podcast listening habits and behaviours. Insightfully provides research methodology and fielding services while Deadset Studios provides industry expertise and distribution of findings.
- EnactuateminorFieldwork partner for PodPoll survey providing survey programming and sampling services, optimizing respondent experience and maximizing response rates.
- Sturm ResearchminorAustralian-owned research agency providing quota management and data processing for PodPoll survey research.
- PureSpectrumminorSurvey programming and sample provider for PodPoll 2023 research, providing access to over 1.5 million registered users in Australia.
- Australian Sports CommissioncorePartnership to produce Sportish podcast series supporting Australian Sports Commission's Play Well strategy for sport participation.
- Pinna (PinnaFM)coreUS-based children's audio entertainment platform partnering with Deadset Studios to produce One Small Act podcast for kids about kindness.
- Kindness FactoryminorNon-profit organization on a mission to make the world a kinder place, collaborating with Deadset Studios and Pinna for One Small Act podcast.
- KaplanminorEducation company collaborating on One Small Act podcast for Pinna, bringing educational expertise to children's kindness content.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Deadset Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- iHeartPodcast Network: ARN Media/iHeartRadio's podcast network distributing and producing podcasts in Australia and globally. Comparable as both a distribution partner (Deadset produces for iHeart) and a competitor producing original branded podcasts at scale.
- Wondery (Amazon): Amazon-owned major podcast studio producing premium original podcasts including branded content. Comparable as a large-scale incumbent in original and branded podcast production, though anchored in the US market and with significantly more capital and distribution.
- BBC Studios Audio: Internal production arm of the BBC that produces podcasts and audio content at scale, including co-productions like Untold Legends: Ora with Deadset Studios. Comparable as a much larger incumbent in podcast production with broader portfolio and global reach.
- ABC Audio Studios: Internal audio production division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where Deadset's founder Kellie Riordan previously led podcast strategy. Comparable as a major Australian podcast producer and Deadset's largest former-employer client relationship.
- Spotify Studios (Gimlet): Spotify's owned-and-operated podcast studio division (incorporating Gimlet Media) producing original and exclusive audio content globally. Overlaps with Deadset in original podcast creation and production, though at vastly larger scale as a platform incumbent.
- Audible Originals Production: Amazon-owned audiobook and original audio production arm that commissions and produces premium audio content. Comparable to Deadset in producing original spoken-word and narrative audio, though primarily audiobook-focused and at platform scale.
Direct peers
- Pacific Content: Canada-founded B2B branded podcast agency that pioneered the 'podcast-as-a-service' model for enterprise clients. Closely comparable to Deadset Studios in target market (brands, organizations, media companies) and service offering (strategy, production, original shows).
- Jar Audio: Canadian B2B podcast production agency serving brands and organizations with strategy, production, and distribution. Directly comparable to Deadset in business model and client base, with similar premium positioning in the branded podcast space.
- Storyglass (formerly Quill): Award-winning global podcast production company producing branded and original podcasts for major brands and media companies. Comparable to Deadset in offering end-to-end podcast strategy and production for enterprise clients across multiple genres.
Emerging players
- Realm: Independent podcast studio and production company creating scripted and narrative fiction podcasts. Partially comparable to Deadset in producing original premium podcast content, though focused more on scripted fiction while Deadset specializes in narrative non-fiction and branded content.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Deadset Studios social profiles
Digital presenceDeadset Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Deadset Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Deadset Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Deadset Studios 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 Deadset Studios
What does Deadset Studios do?
Deadset Studios is a B2B podcast production house that develops, produces, and publishes original and branded podcasts for media companies, brands, universities, government, and NGOs. It provides end-to-end podcast production (strategy, recording, editing, sound design, post-production), strategic consulting and training workshops, and original show format development and co-productions with major broadcasters. It also sells tiered paid market research reports (PodPoll) providing Australian podcast audience insights.
Is Deadset Studios a public or private company?
Deadset Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Deadset Studios founded?
Deadset Studios was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Deadset Studios based?
Deadset Studios is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Deadset Studios make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Podcast Production Services are the primary driver. The others are strategic Consulting & Training, original Show Development and market Research Reports (PodPoll).
Who are Deadset Studios's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are iHeartPodcast Network, Wondery (Amazon), BBC Studios Audio, ABC Audio Studios, Spotify Studios (Gimlet) and Audible Originals Production. Direct peers are Pacific Content, Jar Audio and Storyglass (formerly Quill). Realm is listed as an emerging player.
Does Deadset Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Deadset Studios.
What industry is Deadset Studios in?
Deadset Studios's product category is Podcast Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAIAE, Audio Production & Podcasting. Its NAICS code is 51224 and its SIC code is 7812.