Ben Bailey Smith and new co-host Nemone Metaxas will dive into the minds of the small screen’s most iconic fictional characters

April 10, 2023 – Shrink The Box – the hit podcast that delves deep into the psyches of iconic TV characters – is back for a highly anticipated second season, launching on Tuesday 7th May 2024.

The new series will see host Ben Bailey Smith, writer, actor and comedian, return to the mic, alongside a dynamic addition to the team: esteemed broadcaster and psychotherapist Nemone Metaxas.

Nemone is both a beloved voice on BBC 6 Music (with a broadcasting career spanning over 25 years) and a fully qualified psychotherapist. The upcoming season promises even deeper insights, more iconic characters, and unparalleled access into the inner workings of television’s most beloved personalities. 

Shrink The Box will continue its tradition of putting our favourite fictional characters ‘on the couch’, and analysing why their actions drive the drama and captivate audiences. Whilst Nemone analyses what issues might come up if these irrepressible protagonists were her clients, Ben draws back the curtain on how the acting and writing of these fictional creations makes them so flawed, believable and human.

From Frasier‘s neurotic titular character Frasier Crane, to the eccentric Moira Rose of Schitt’s Creek, to Peaky Blinders’ enigmatic Tommy Shelby, Ben and Nemone will offer the perfect combination of psychology, self-help, and must-watch TV as they dissect the behaviour and motivations of The Box’s icons.

Other characters to be explored include the cunning Cersei and Tyrion Lannister of Game of Thrones, the bumbling and endearing Michael Scott from The Office USA, and The Bear’s fan-favourite Sydney Adamu.

Ben and Nemone are calling on listeners to write in to [email protected] and suggest characters to be discussed as well as contribute to special ‘Shrink the Inbox’ episodes where they will answer listener questions and discuss their theories and ideas. 

Whether you’re a TV addict or fascinated by the intricacies of human behaviour and therapeutic theory, Shrink The Box is back, available on all podcast platforms from Tuesday 7th May.

Jonathan Hirsch to Lead US Creative Business 

New York and Los Angeles – April 8, 2024 – Sony Music’s Global Podcast Division today announced the acquisition of podcast production company Neon Hum, streamlining the company’s U.S. creative division and broadening its work for hire services under Neon Hum Founder/CEO Jonathan Hirsch.  

In his new role as Vice President, Global Podcasts and Head of U.S. Creative, Hirsch will spearhead the U.S. creative business and report directly to Steve Ackerman, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Podcasts at Sony Music. With the acquisition, Sony Music will leverage Neon Hum’s production expertise to continue to develop award-winning premium podcasts for its subscription channel The Binge and across its always-on entertainment slate. In addition, Sony Music will further expand its work-for-hire business to provide more services beyond audio production for its client and branded podcasts.  

“We have worked closely with Jonathan and the team at Neon Hum for several years now and value his creative and strategic vision to produce premium shows across our successful true crime and always on slates,” said Ackerman. “This move allows us to maximize Neon Hum’s creative and production input as we further grow our roster of original and client shows.” 

“Neon Hum and Sony Music have always been aligned in our audio-first mentality and approach,” said Hirsch. “I’m excited for the next steps as the Neon Hum team becomes a full part of Sony Music Podcasts and we continue to produce premium audio content.”   In 2019, Sony Music announced a strategic investment in Neon Hum. Together the two companies have launched a range of acclaimed shows including Dinners on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and multiple seasons of its true-crime franchise Smoke Screen including current hit My Fugitive Dad. Neon Hum has also produced hit podcasts for top tier clients, including Crunchyroll, Discovery, HBO Max, NBC News, The Wall Street Journal, and more. 

New Season Unpacks How a Mysterious Serial Bomber Held the City of Austin, TX Hostage Ahead of Massive City-Wide Event   

Listeners Can Subscribe to The Binge For The Full Season Now  

New York, NY – April 1, 2024 – Sony Music and Campside Media, in partnership with Pegalo Pictures, today announced the season premiere of 19 Days, a new season of Witnessed that explores the 2018 investigation of deadly serial bombings in Austin, Texas leading up to the popular South by Southwest Festival. The first episode is available today, and subscribers to The Binge can listen to all episodes now.    

Hosted by journalist Sean Flynn, Witnessed: 19 Days takes listeners inside the journey of a ticking countdown as the FBI, police and bomb squad hunt for a mysterious bomber with one week leading up to the start of the 2018 SXSW Festival, when hundreds of thousands of tourists would begin to descend into their city. Over the course of the three weeks, the bomber placed, sent and detonated seven packages that resulted in the death of three people and serious injury for five others.  

Through new interviews and archival footage, 19 Days reveals the behind-the-scenes work of law enforcement to determine the culprit, stop the bombings and understand the motives, while under extreme pressure to solve the case before the city’s biggest annual event.  Witnessed: 19 Days reveals shocking new insights from those with boots on the ground during the investigation and who had first-hand encounters with key witnesses. 

“This was a terrifying moment in Austin’s history, when something as simple as opening a package left on your doorstep, resulted in turmoil, fear and even death in several cases,” said Sean Flynn. “Witnessed: 19 Days will give listeners an unprecedented look behind the scenes of the FBI and Bomb Squad’s mission to solve a case that truly held the city hostage for more than two weeks.”  

Witnessed: 19 Days is produced by Sony Music Entertainment and Campside Media. The season is hosted by reporter Sean Flynn. All episodes were reported, written and produced by Eli Kooris, Joshua Shaffer and Alvin Cowan of Pegalo Pictures, with editing by Joshua Shaffer and Christy Williams Shaffer. Josh Dean, Adam Hoff, Matt Shaer, Vanessa Grigoriadis and Ashleyanne Krigbaum are Executive Producers at Campside Media.  

Listeners can subscribe to Witnessed: 19 Days on The Binge today to listen to all episodes, all at once. 19 Days is also available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. For more information on other Sony podcasts, follow @SonyPodcasts on Twitter and Instagram.

Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that it has been named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute, the US-based global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

This year’s list includes 136 companies from across 20 countries and regions, and 44 industries. These companies were evaluated across five categories: Ethics and Compliance Program, Corporate Governance, Culture of Ethics, Environmental and Social Impact, and Third Party Management. The Institute reviewed each company’s ethical operations, focusing on areas such as exceptional leadership and a commitment to business integrity through best-in-class ethics, compliance, and governance practices.

This award recognizes Sony’s ongoing commitment to fulfilling its Purpose, “Fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology,” in alignment with Sony’s Values of “Integrity & Sincerity” through ethical and responsible business conduct by all Sony Group employees. Being named one of Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies inspires us to further evolve Sony’s Ethics and Compliance program, including our Code of Conduct and our ethical culture, as we work together to create sustainable value.

Sony Group Corporation, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Chairman and CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida stated, “We are both pleased and proud that Ethisphere has named Sony one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for six consecutive years. Sony holds ‘Integrity & Sincerity’ as one of its important Values across the group. Together, with our 110,000 employees who share this Values, we will continue to practice and evolve our ethical approach to management, and work towards value creation from a long-term perspective with the aim of growth.”

Ethisphere CEO, Erica Salmon Byrne commented, “It’s always inspiring to recognize the World’s Most Ethical Companies. Through the rigorous review process, we see the dedication of these organizations to continually improving their ethics, compliance and governance practices to the benefit of all stakeholders. Companies that elevate best-in-class cultures of ethics and integrity set a standard for corporate citizenship for their peers and competitors to follow. Congratulations to Sony for achieving this honor and demonstrating that strong ethics is good business.”

See the original press release from Sony.com here, and read more about Sony’s corporate ethics and compliance-related efforts here.

The complete list of 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies can be found here.

New Season Dives Into the FBI’s Tumultuous Seven-year Investigation of the Deadliest Bioterrorism Attack in U.S. History 

 Listeners Can Subscribe to The Binge For The Full Season Now  

New York, NY – March 1, 2024 – Sony Music and Campside Media today announced the season premiere of The Anthrax Threat, a new season of Cover Up that explores the FBI investigation of the first lethal act of bioterrorism in October 2001 when letters laced with the deadly powder anthrax began appearing in U.S. mail. The first episode is available today, and subscribers to The Binge can listen to all episodes now.   

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the FBI reassigned thousands of agents to the counterterrorism unit to prevent another domestic tragedy. Yet just weeks later deadly mail was distributed to prominent journalists, government officials and postal workers and five recipients would end up dead.  

Hosted by journalist Josh Dean, Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat takes listeners along the windy path of a seven-year journey led by the FBI to find out who was responsible for the deadly poisonings, as what started as an unprecedented case turned into an unsettling mystery.  

Through new interviews and archival footage, The Anthrax Threat asks who sent these letters and why. It unveils first-hand recordings of encounters between FBI agents, government staffers, scientists and many more who were involved with this case every step of the way.   

“This case was a national fixation at the time, but it pretty quickly drifted from memory — and so many questions have gone unanswered over the last twenty years,” said Josh Dean. “The Anthrax Threat — a real team effort of reporters and producers — takes listeners inside the sprawling, extremely flawed seven-year investigation into these shocking and heinous crimes.” 

Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat is produced by Sony Music Entertainment and Campside Media. The season is hosted and executive produced by reporter Josh Dean and created by Ben Robbins, who is an Executive Producer on the project. Emily Martinez is the story editor and Emile Klein is the senior producer. Abukar Adan and Natalia Winkelman are producers. Adam Hoff, Vanessa Grigoriadis, Josh Dean and Matt Shaer are Executive Producers at Campside Media. 

Listeners can subscribe to Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat on The Binge today to listen to all episodes, all at once. Anthrax Attacks is also available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. For more information on other Sony podcasts, follow @SonyPodcasts on Twitter and Instagram.

Tuesday 13th February – Sony Music Entertainment has announced the launch of season four of This is History: A Dynasty to Die For. The podcast closely follows the schemes, scandals and ruthless politics of one of the most notorious families in European history: The Plantagenets. Hosted by award-winning medieval historian, broadcaster and author Dan Jones, season one topped Spotify’s UK History Chart and the Apple History Chart in the US.  

Rivalry, treachery, civil war and murder; this period of medieval history features family dynamics akin to Succession, with more backstabbing than The Traitors. Dan brings this hectic world to life through enthralling tales, complex characters, graphic details, and immersive soundscapes. 

Season four tells the story of two kings, Henry and Edward. This father and son team band together to fight the greatest threat their dynasty has ever faced: betrayal from an old friend. Simon de Montfort’s ambitious drive for reform threatens to finish off the Plantagenet rule once and for all. Henry and Edward will do everything to secure their legacy. Family dysfunction drives firm friends to become deadly enemies as they go head-to-head in a catastrophic sequence of events whose repercussions are still felt to this day.

Over 12 action-packed episodes, Dan delves into machinations, mutilations and bloody chaos to uncover the foundations of modern Europe.

If you’ve not yet listened, the first three seasons are available now so you can hear this wild story from the beginning – you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re listening to a Game of Thrones audiobook. Dan guides his listeners through this tumultuous period of history in a manner that’s at once compelling and engrossing, whilst also accessible and fun. School teachers have even been in touch to tell us that they use the podcast in their history classes!

Listen here.

New MD Promises Artist-Focused Approach to Regional Music Scene

Singapore, February 1, 2024 – Sony Music Entertainment (SME) announced today the appointment of Kenny Ong as its new Managing Director for Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Special Projects Southeast Asia, effective immediately. In this key role, Ong will spearhead the company’s expansion and strategic development across the dynamic and rapidly growing entertainment landscape of the region and champion the careers of Southeast Asian artists.

The appointment comes at a time when Asia is experiencing robust and continued growth. According to IFPI’s Global Music Report 2023, Asia’s revenue grew by 15.4%. 

“Our region is poised for continued growth, and to seize the opportunity it will require more creativity and diligence,” said Shridhar Subramaniam, President of Corporate Strategy and Market Development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment. “With a proven track record of forging partnerships, driving audience engagement and putting artists first, Kenny possesses a deep understanding of the diverse cultural nuances and musical preferences and we are delighted to welcome him.” 

Ong joins SME at a pivotal time for the music industry in Southeast Asia. The region is brimming with vibrant talent, and SME is committed to providing artists with the platform and resources they need to thrive.

“I am thrilled to join Sony Music Entertainment at this pivotal juncture and look forward to leveraging my experience to unlock the immense potential of Southeast Asia’s vibrant entertainment market and highlighting the brilliant talent of our Southeast Asian artists,” said Kenny Ong, Managing Director, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore and Special Projects Southeast Asia, Sony Music Entertainment. “Together, we will create compelling experiences and forge meaningful connections with artists and audiences across the region through the power of collaboration and musicality.”

Ong brings a wealth of expertise to SME, having held previous leadership positions across media, music, and consumer goods. He was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Astro Radio, Malaysia’s leading radio network, and concurrently Director of Astro Media Solutions. Ong also led the Southeast Asian expansion for Universal Music Group in his previous role. 

His appointment underscores SME’s unwavering commitment to artists and its dedication to nurturing the next generation of musical talent in Southeast Asia.

Never Before Heard Audio Reveals Stunning New Details of the 2020 Domestic Terrorism Case, Which Shocked the Nation and Continues to Reverberate Today 

Listeners Can Subscribe to The Binge For The Full Season Now 

New York, NY – February 1, 2024 – Sony Music and Campside Media are proud to announce the season premiere of Chameleon Season 7: The Michigan Plot, a true-crime podcast that takes listeners inside one of the most important FBI domestic terrorist investigations in decades: the notorious plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The first episode is available today, and subscribers to The Binge can listen to all episodes now.  

Hosted by journalists Ken Bensinger and Jessica Garrison, The Michigan Plot is based on more than three years of reporting, plus hundreds of hours of never-before-heard audio that takes listeners along with an FBI informant as he infiltrates the Wolverine Watchmen, a militia that prosecutors charge was determined to kidnap — and maybe even kill — a sitting governor.   

With unprecedented access to the investigation’s inner workings and key players, Bensinger and Garrison go deep in search of answers to the burning question at the core of the case: were the 14 men accused of participating in the conspiracy really masterminds of a credible domestic terrorist plot or just a group of hyped up stoners that talked too much?  

“In a time of deep polarization, the Whitmer case has come to symbolize many of the stark divisions in America,” said Ken Bensinger. “The Michigan Plot gives listeners access to evidence no jury was ever allowed to hear and lets them come to their own conclusions about the government’s case.” 

Chameleon Season 7: The Michigan Plot is produced by Sony Music Entertainment and Campside Media. The season is hosted by reporters Ken Bensinger and Jessica Garrison. Both formerly of Buzzfeed News, Bensinger is now a reporter at The New York Times, and Garrison is at The Los Angeles Times. Ryan Sweikert is the Producer with story editing by Michael Canyon Meyer. Matt Shaer, Josh Dean, Vanessa Grigoriadis and Adam Hoff are Executive Producers at Campside Media.  

Listeners can subscribe to Chameleon: Michigan Plot on The Binge today to listen to all episodes, all at once. Michigan Plot is also available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. For more information on other Sony podcasts, follow @SonyPodcasts on Twitter and Instagram.  

New Weekly Podcast Dives into All Things Anime and Its Influence and Impact of The Medium on Pop Culture

Culver City, CA (January 30, 2024) Crunchyroll, the ultimate anime destination for global fans, and Sony Music Entertainment are launching Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect, a weekly roundtable podcast spotlighting anime’s influence on the broader cultural zeitgeist. The Anime Effect will be available worldwide in English on all major podcast platforms beginning February 16, with new episodes every Friday.

You can watch/listen to the trailer and subscribe to get notified when episodes drop here.

As anime has exploded in global popularity, its influence can be seen on the screen and in fashion, sports, gaming, music and beyond… and not just on Crunchyroll. With coverage from the award-winning Crunchyroll News team as a throughline, Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect goes beyond specific shows and popular characters just on Crunchyroll to delve into anime’s growing impact across popular culture. 

The weekly podcast is hosted by Crunchyroll’s own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions. 

“The Anime Effect is a natural extension of our current Crunchyroll News program and a place where fans can dive deeper into everything anime and celebrate it regardless of what platform or service it is on,” said Gita Rebbapragada, Crunchyroll’s Chief Operating Officer. “Whether you watch anime everyday or a casual viewer, this podcast is a must-listen.”

Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect is available at launch as an audio show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you get your podcasts, and as a video show on Crunchyroll and YouTube with additional platforms – including the Crunchyroll Channel –  coming in 2024. Crunchyroll Premium subscribers will also be able to watch the ad-free video show weekly on the Crunchyroll app. 

Podcast Hosts: 

Nicholas Friedman (he/him) is a career journalist who lives in the anime world. As Publisher of Crunchyroll News, Nick sits at the center of the anime culture conversation, from the latest breaking updates to the deepest dives into what fans are talking about. 

LeAlec Murray (he/him) is a podcaster and pop culture enthusiast. With 15+ years of experience in the anime and gaming industry, he lives his life one pixel at a time. LeAlec currently works as a Brand Manager at Crunchyroll, helping to bring to life the anime you see every day.

Leah President (they/them) is a writer, editor and longtime acolyte of geek culture. From a background as a broadcast producer (but with a secret soft heart), they would rather be crying over shojo manga or picking only the “good” options in an RPG. Leah works as a Partnerships Manager, bringing fans from all over the world home to Crunchyroll. 

The documentary, which will be available to stream on Prime Video, was produced by Sony Music Vision, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Canada, and Vermilion Films

CULVER CITY, California—January 30, 2024—Amazon MGM Studios announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to the feature-length Celine Dion documentary, I Am: Celine Dion. From Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor, this documentary is a snapshot of a pivotal time in the life and career of one of the most recognized, respected, and successful performers in pop music history, Celine Dion.

This intimate exploration takes viewers on a journey inside Celine’s past and present as she reveals her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) and the lengths she has gone to continue performing for her beloved and loyal fans. From visiting her couture touring wardrobe and personal effects to spending time in the recording studio, the documentary captures a global megastar’s never-before-seen private life. An emotional, energetic, and poetic love letter to music, I Am: Celine Dion captures more than a year of filming as the legendary singer navigates her journey toward living an open and authentic life amidst illness.

The documentary, which was produced by Sony Music Vision, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Canada and Vermilion Films, will be available to stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. The Prime Video release date will be announced at a later date.

“This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me,” said Celine Dion. “As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans.  During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life, to try to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.”

“Celine Dion is a global megastar with a career defined not only by her extraordinary work ethic and passion, but by her dedication to her fans,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios. “This documentary is a raw, intimate portrayal of a pivotal time in her personal life and career, pulling back the curtain on her journey as she overcomes an unthinkable diagnosis. It’s an honor to be trusted with her story, and we can’t wait to share it with Prime Video audiences around the world.”

Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor’s most recent film Trees And Other Entanglements was released last year by HBO and explores our human obsession with the arboreal world. Taylor also recently won a Columbia-DuPont Award for her tragic investigation into one of the most trusted institutions in America, Leave No Trace: A Hidden History Of The Boy Scouts (Hulu). Premiering at Sundance in 2019 and later nominated for Special Merit in Documentary Filmmaking at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards, Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements tells Taylor’s very personal story about her deaf son, her deaf father, and Ludwig Van Beethoven, as he went deaf while composing his famous sonata. Her other credits include Hear and Now, which won the Audience Award at Sundance in 2007; Beware the Slenderman, which received nominations for an Emmy and two Critics’ Choice Awards; The Final Inch, which was nominated for an Academy award and multiple Emmys; Saving Pelican 895; One Last Hug: Three Days At Grief Camp; Open Your Eyes; and Between Sound and Silence.

Since bursting onto the global music scene at the age of 13, Dion has sold more than 250 million albums during her 40-year career. Having earned five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, the 2016 Billboard Music Award lifetime achievement Icon Award, and recognition from the 2004 World Music Awards as the best-selling female artist of all time, Dion continues to break records. With chart-topping hits featured in blockbuster films including “Ashes” (Deadpool 2), “My Heart Will Go On” (Titanic), and “Beauty and the Beast” (Beauty and the Beast), she is a force in the industry and sets new standards of excellence.

In 2021, Dion faced the difficult decision of canceling her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency due to health concerns. Then, in December 2022, the singer courageously revealed her ongoing battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, ultimately leading to the cancellation of her Courage World Tour. Despite these setbacks, Dion remained dedicated to her craft and persevered, turning her attention to healing. In 2023, she showcased her talents by acting in the romantic comedy film Love Again and released five new songs on the accompanying movie soundtrack.

The documentary was produced by Irene Taylor, Stacy Lorts, and Julie Begey Seureau for Vermilion Films and Tom Mackay for Sony Music Vision. Dave Platel and Denis Savage serve as executive producers for Les Productions Feeling alongside Shane Carter for Sony Music Entertainment Canada and Krista Wegener for Sony Music Vision. The sale was negotiated by Sony Music Vision.