Expanding Podcast IP, Kai Cenat joining Mr. Beast, and more in this edition of Jomo’s Corner: a dive into the Kid’s Media Industry

Nickelodeon and Disney unlock Big IP for Podcasts

Nickelodeon and Disney are making big swings in the world of podcasts. Amazon's Audible has teamed up with Nickelodeon to introduce "Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Official Podcast." This Audible Original, set to launch on September 28, brings spooky stories to life in six episodes. Amazon also announced a podcast based on “The Cat in the Hat” through their Wondery podcast studio and network. The partnerships reflect Amazon’s increasing focus on children's content in the audio space.

Meanwhile, Disney is defrosting an animated hit and recently announced the first-ever Frozen podcast. "Frozen: Forces of Nature", set to launch in October. The podcast continues the magical journey of Anna and Elsa after the second film, offering a screen-free family bonding experience through its 12 episodes. This move by Disney extends the beloved Frozen franchise into the podcast domain, adding a new dimension to its successful brand.

Kids Podcasts by the Numbers

• Kids and Family Podcasts have seen a +20% increase in listenership since 2019

• 46% of Kids 6-12 have listened to a podcast

• But 78% of Gen-Z (ages 13-24) have listened to a podcast up from 37% in 2014, marking a +214% increase in listenership

• The top 3 podcast topics Kids are listening to include, gaming, music, and comedy

• Podcasts are a co-listening experience, 69% of parents surveyed say their children listen to podcasts with other people

Kai Cenat teams up with Mr. Beast as Night acquires LFM

Night, a creator-management firm known for representing YouTube influencers like MrBeast, Dream, Lanky Box, and FGTeeV is set to acquire LFM, a New York-based management firm specializing in influencers, adding YouTube and Twitch creator Kai Cenat and members of the AMP content group among its clients.

The move comes as Night's roster has grown significantly, now representing around 75 influencers. Cenat, who just won a 2023 Streamy for Streamer of the Year, recently went viral for a giveaway event he promoted that led to an unruly crowd, many of whom were teenagers. It will be interesting if the resources Night provides will allow Cenat to hold future giveaways with greater structure to better connect with fans, similar to the opening of Mr. Beast Burger at the American Dream mall in New Jersey.

📰 In Other News

•  Roblox is facing a lawsuit over facilitating child gambling

• Teens are choosing Youtube over Twitch to watch their favorite gamers

• 2023 has been a breakthrough year for African Animation

• Streaming services are pushing consumers to Ad-Tiers to chase stronger margins

• Netflix’s “The Monkey King” ranks second on platform’s Global Top 10 List

• Kids Youtube star Like Nastya lands a movie role in upcoming animated film

📈 Trending on TikTok

Despite it being the end of August, Halloween seems to be top of mind for TikTok users in the US with scary content, pumpkins, and candy dominating the culture along with Hurricane Hillary.

Top 10 Trending Hashtags (Last 30 Days)

In the world of entertainment, the last 30 days on TikTok have been dominated by Drake, K-Pop, influencers the Sturniolo Triplets, and the second season of Amazon’s tween drama The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Top 10 News and Entertainment Hashtags (Last 30 Days)

🎬 Releases on my Radar

• 8/25 - Blippi’s Big Dino Adventure in Theaters

• 8/28 - Princess Power (S2) on Netflix

• 8/31 - Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake on Max

• 8/31 - Karate Sheep (S2) on Netflix

• 8/31 - Spellbound on Hulu

• 8/31 - One Piece on Netflix

• 9/1 - The Wheel of Time (S2) on Prime Video

• 9/6 - I am Groot (S2) on Disney+

• 9/6 - Doc McStuffins: The Doc & Bella Are In! on Disney+

• 9/6 - The Little Mermaid on Disney+

• 9/7 - Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (S3) on Netflix

• 9/8 - Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series (Part 4) on Netflix

• 9/8 - Tiny Toons Looniversity on Max