Pave Studios
PAVE Studios is a Los Angeles-based digital podcast and publishing company founded in April 2024 that produces and distributes original audio, video, and book content across three genre-specific branded studios (Crime House for true crime, OpenMind for wellness, Rewind for history), reaching over 350 million followers through its creator network and 10 million monthly listeners worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersWoodland Hills, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pave Studios does
PAVE Studios is a Los Angeles-based digital podcast and publishing media company founded in April 2024 by Max Cutler, a former Spotify executive who previously built and sold Parcast Studios to Spotify for over $100 million. The company operates three genre-specific branded studios: Crime House (true crime), OpenMind (wellness and personal growth), and Rewind (history), plus PAVE Publishing House for print and audiobooks in partnership with Simon & Schuster, and Pave Pulse as its news/blog platform. PAVE produces and distributes original podcast and video series featuring social media-native creators such as Khloé Kardashian, Ashley Flowers (audiochuck), Connor Tomlinson, and Dr. Harini Bhat, whose collective reach exceeds 350 million followers/subscribers and drives 10 million+ monthly listeners and viewers across platforms.
The technology and operating model combine traditional high-quality audio and video production with a multi-platform distribution footprint spanning Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and iHeart. The company's underlying technology stack is described as a multi-format creator platform, with no proprietary AI, API, or technical tooling disclosed. Core production assets include the branded studio portfolio, owned IP catalog of original series, and creator contracts that lock in talent and audience reach. The relationship with Supporting Cast provides subscription infrastructure; the relationship with Simon & Schuster provides worldwide print distribution and audiobook publishing rights.
PAVE generates revenue through three primary mechanics: (1) advertising and sponsorships on free, ad-supported content across major podcast platforms, (2) recurring subscription revenue from premium tiers (OpenMind+ on Apple Podcasts and Crime House subscriptions via Supporting Cast) offering ad-free listening and bonus content, and (3) one-time licensing and publishing revenue from PAVE Publishing House titles co-distributed by Simon & Schuster. Customer concentration is on long-tail consumers, with demand generation driven primarily by creators' social media followings rather than direct sales motion. The company is privately held by its founder, with no funding rounds disclosed and 11-50 employees.
Pave Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pave Studios
- Legal name
- PAVE Studios LLC
- Website
- https://pavestudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PAVE Studios is a Los Angeles-based digital podcast and publishing company founded in April 2024 that produces and distributes original audio, video, and book content across three genre-specific branded studios (Crime House for true crime, OpenMind for wellness, Rewind for history), reaching over 350 million followers through its creator network and 10 million monthly listeners worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pave Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Podcast and Digital Media
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Music Publishers (512230)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)
Keywords
Where Pave Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Woodland Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pave Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Podcast advertising and sponsorships: Free-tier podcast content across Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, and iHeart is monetized through advertising and sponsorships. The company has indicated content will be free across platforms to maximize reach and advertising inventory.
- Subscription premium content (OpenMind+): OpenMind+ is a paid subscription channel on Apple Podcasts offering ad-free versions of all OpenMind shows, early access to episodes, and exclusive bonus content such as 'Mini Meditations'. This is a recurring subscription model targeting wellness-oriented listeners.
- Crime House premium subscriptions: Partnership with Supporting Cast enables premium subscription offerings for Crime House, including ad-free listening, bonus episodes, early releases, exclusive content, and future subscriber-only experiences across the Crime House portfolio of shows.
- Publishing (PAVE Publishing House): PAVE Studios launched its own publishing house to produce print books and audiobooks, both from emerging creators and established bestselling authors. A co-publishing deal with Simon & Schuster positions branded titles under the Simon & Schuster trade imprint, with Simon & Schuster as worldwide distributor for print titles. Audiobooks represent the fastest-growing segment of this revenue stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | OpenMind+ Apple Podcasts subscription with ad-free listening, early access, and exclusive bonus content including 'Mini Meditations'. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pave Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PAVE Studios produces and publishes original podcasts, video series, and books across genre-specific branded studios (Crime House for true crime, OpenMind for wellness, Rewind for history), in partnership with high-profile social-media-first creators. Content is distributed free on major podcast platforms (Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, iHeart), with premium subscription tiers (OpenMind+, Crime House via Supporting Cast) offering ad-free listening and bonus content, and a publishing arm (PAVE Publishing House) producing print and audiobooks in partnership with Simon & Schuster.
Product overview
PAVE Studios is a digital podcast and publishing entertainment company positioned at the intersection of audio, video, books, and entertainment. The company operates a multi-brand ecosystem consisting of genre-specific content studios: Crime House (true crime), OpenMind (wellness), and Rewind (history), with PAVE Publishing House extending content into print and audiobooks. PAVE Pulse serves as the company's news and blog platform. Under these brands, PAVE Studios produces original podcasts and video series featuring prominent creators, distributed across major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music. The company operates on a creator-first model, empowering talent with production resources while building vibrant fan communities around genre-specific content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Crime House: True crime brand delivering ethical storytelling, thought-provoking investigations, gripping narratives and immersive experiences.
- OpenMind
- Rewind
- Pave Pulse
- PAVE Publishing House
Products and services
- Crime House PAVE Studios' true crime content studio delivering ethical storytelling, thought-provoking investigations, and gripping narratives through original podcasts and video series targeting true crime enthusiasts.
- OpenMind PAVE Studios' wellness content studio providing a global community with conversations featuring thought leaders, experts, and entertainment personalities across original podcasts and video series.
- Rewind PAVE Studios' history-focused content studio producing original video podcasts exploring significant moments, unresolved questions, and lesser-examined historical narratives for audiences obsessed with history.
- PAVE Publishing House PAVE Studios' publishing venture producing print and audiobooks from emerging and established creators, operated through a co-publishing partnership with Simon & Schuster as worldwide distributor.
- OpenMind+ Subscription Premium subscription channel on Apple Podcasts offering ad-free versions of all OpenMind shows, early access to episodes, and exclusive bonus content such as 'Mini Meditations' for wellness-oriented listeners.
- Crime House Premium Subscriptions Premium subscription offering for Crime House portfolio powered by Supporting Cast, enabling ad-free listening, bonus episodes, early releases, exclusive content, and subscriber-only experiences for true crime fans.
Companies that use Pave Studios
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pave Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pave Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- audiochuckcoreCrime House partnered with Ashley Flowers and audiochuck to revive the hit podcast 'So Supernatural', originally debuted in 2020. Ashley Flowers is known for Crime Junkie, the second-largest podcast globally. Yvette Gentile and Rasha Pecoraro (Root of Evil podcast) joined as co-hosts for the revived series, with new episodes launching every Friday starting September 6.
- Simon & SchustercorePAVE Studios and Simon & Schuster announced a co-publishing deal where both companies collaborate to discover, develop, and publish new book and audiobook titles. PAVE branded titles are jointly published under the Simon & Schuster trade imprint, with Simon & Schuster serving as worldwide distributor for all PAVE Publishing House print titles. The partnership combines PAVE's creator relationships and marketing capabilities with Simon & Schuster's publishing expertise, production, and distribution networks.
- Supporting CastcoreSupporting Cast, the leading podcast subscription platform for top-tier podcasters, partnered with PAVE Studios to power premium subscriptions for Crime House. The partnership enables fans to access ad-free listening, bonus episodes, early releases, exclusive content, and future subscriber-only experiences across the Crime House portfolio. Since launching in 2024, Crime House has expanded into a multi-platform brand reaching millions of listeners and viewers each month.
- A+E Global MediacoreA+E Global Media teamed with PAVE Studios to produce a slate of six podcasts based on popular unscripted series from A+E's portfolio. Crime House produces 'The First 48' podcast adaptation, while Rewind produces History's Greatest Mysteries, Modern Marvels, The UnBelievable, Celebrity Ghost Stories, and The Unexplained. All six series are expected to launch on major podcast platforms starting later in 2026.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pave Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dear Media: Creator-led podcast network monetizing influencer IP across audio, video, and commerce; closely comparable to PAVE's social-media-first creator strategy and multi-format monetization.
- Lemonada Media: Independent podcast network focused on女性-led and lifestyle content, including subscription products; comparable to PAVE's OpenMind brand and overall indie network model.
- audiochuck: Ashley Flowers' creator-led true crime podcast network behind Crime Junkie (the second-largest podcast globally); partner of PAVE's Crime House and a direct competitor in true crime creator-led networks.
- Pushkin Industries: Independent premium podcast studio co-founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg producing high-end nonfiction audio; closely comparable as a creator-led premium podcast network.
- Wondery: Amazon-owned premium podcast network producing original series across true crime, history, business, and entertainment — directly comparable to PAVE's branded-studio approach with Crime House and Rewind.
Broad incumbents
- iHeartPodcasts: iHeart Media's podcast division — one of the largest U.S. podcast publishers and a key distribution partner for PAVE; represents the broad incumbent that PAVE competes with for ad spend and listener share.
- Audacy: Multi-platform audio publisher with major podcast portfolio including Cadence13 and Pineapple Street Studios; competes with PAVE for ad revenue and exclusive creator deals.
- Spotify (Parcast): Owns Parcast (founded by PAVE's Max Cutler, acquired 2019 for $100M+); operates Spotify Studios as both a distribution partner and a creator-network competitor to PAVE.
- SiriusXM / Stitcher: Major audio media conglomerate with podcast operations via Stitcher and SiriusXM; represents the broad incumbent audio platform competing for ad inventory and exclusive content.
Emerging players
- Troye Sivan / Rococo Punch (creator-studio archetype): Emerging creator-studio operators launching branded production companies (e.g., Spotify's multi-million-dollar creator deals) — adjacent competitive set as more talent signs exclusive studio deals with platforms.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Customer concentration
Pave Studios social profiles
Digital presencePave Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pave Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pave Studios subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Pave Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pave 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 Pave Studios
What does Pave Studios do?
PAVE Studios produces and publishes original podcasts, video series, and books across genre-specific branded studios (Crime House for true crime, OpenMind for wellness, Rewind for history), in partnership with high-profile social-media-first creators. Content is distributed free on major podcast platforms (Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, iHeart), with premium subscription tiers (OpenMind+, Crime House via Supporting Cast) offering ad-free listening and bonus content, and a publishing arm (PAVE Publishing House) producing print and audiobooks in partnership with Simon & Schuster.
Is Pave Studios a public or private company?
Pave Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pave Studios founded?
Pave Studios was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pave Studios based?
Pave Studios is headquartered in Woodland Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pave Studios make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Podcast advertising and sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are subscription premium content (OpenMind+), crime House premium subscriptions and publishing (PAVE Publishing House).
Who are Pave Studios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dear Media, Lemonada Media, audiochuck, Pushkin Industries and Wondery. Broad incumbents are iHeartPodcasts, Audacy, Spotify (Parcast) and SiriusXM / Stitcher. Troye Sivan / Rococo Punch (creator-studio archetype) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pave Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pave Studios.
What industry is Pave Studios in?
Pave Studios's product category is Podcast and Digital Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIADAC, Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms. Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 2731.