Exclusive: QCODE launches Daylight Media for creator podcasts
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Podcast studio QCODE has launched Daylight Media to provide creator services and closed a new growth round from Eldridge Industries, CEO and founder Rob Herting exclusively tells Axios.
Why it matters: The move underscores the growing consumer interest in video podcasts and talent's need for ad sales and marketing support.
Zoom in: Launched in 2019, QCODE is known for creating popular podcasts featuring actors like Matthew McConaughey, Kerry Washington and Demi Moore, some of which have been or are being adapted into films and shows like "The Edge of Sleep," "Carrier" and "Blackout."
- The launch of Daylight formalizes its role in supporting creators with sales, distribution and marketing. QCODE remains the name of the studio arm, financing and producing scripted and unscripted shows with a new slate expected in 2026.
- Ben Curtis, an early QCODE investor, will serve as president of Daylight. About 20 employees will work at Daylight and 10 at QCODE.
- Daylight will exclusively manage ad sales and distribution for "The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart." Other partners include "The Chris Cuomo Project," "And That's Why We Drink," "Jillian on Love," "You Should Know," "Love and Radio" and "Philosophize This."
Follow the money: QCODE raised a growth round from Eldridge Industries, Todd Boehly's firm which also backs A24, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dick Clark Productions. Herting declined to disclose the size.
- The company raised a $6.4 million Series A, led by smart speaker maker Sonos with participation from C Ventures, in 2024.
The big picture: Daylight's launch comes amid broader changes in podcasting such as its growing ties to video and celebrity. The emergence of talent-led video podcasts has converged with TV talk shows.
- Amazon's restructuring of Wondery earlier this year illustrated the evolution with narrative podcasts like "Dr. Death" folding into Audible and personality-led shows like the Kelce brothers' "New Heights" operating in a new division called Creator Services.
- Podcast networks are no longer just about producing and distributing audio feeds but also managing shows that operate as multi-platform brands.
- "Daylight is meant to be more of a behind-the-scenes partner and helping with monetization, providing some products and technology, audience development, the suite of services and be able to be a really flexible partner," Herting says.
What's next: Herting says the funding will go toward hiring and investing in products and tech that supports monetization and other needs.
