New episodes will publish one week early on Wondery+ and Amazon Music
February 10, 2022; Washington, D.C. –Wondery today announced an exclusive licensing deal for NPR’s chart-topping podcast How I Built This, conceived by Guy Raz, who also hosts the program. New episodes of How I Built This will drop twice a week on Amazon Music and Wondery+ one week early, and will stream ad-free for Wondery+ and Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers and Prime members. How I Built This will continue to be available for fans to stream on all podcast services after the one-week exclusive window, and on the radio as usual. In the deal, Wondery has exclusive commercial ad sales rights, as well as the rights to YouTube distribution for video simulcasts. NPR will retain radio distribution and underwriting.
“NPR and Guy Raz have built an extremely successful podcast and fanbase with How I Built This and we are excited to bring the show one week early for our listeners,” said CEO of Wondery, Jen Sargent. “We are thrilled to announce this strategic collaboration and continue to bring customers around the world even more innovative, popular content with dynamic creators.”
“We have been proud to help Guy Raz realize his vision for How I Built This as he and the How I Built This team at NPR have grown it from a podcast to a radio show, events, a summit and a movement,” said Anya Grundmann, SVP of Programming at NPR. “How I Built This has been a groundbreaking franchise that has allowed NPR to branch out in many different ways, now it is allowing us to collaborate with Wondery on this licensing deal that will help fund public radio’s mission and new programming.”
“Wondery and Amazon Music are leaders in the audio space. As a content creator, I can think of no better partner to work with,” said Guy Raz, founder of Built-It Productions. “I have so much respect and admiration for the range and quality of programs Wondery and Amazon Music have built and I’m honored that our show will now join those ranks.”
How I Built This launched in 2016 and it quickly became one of the most popular business podcasts in the U.S. In 2017 Planet Money/How I Built This premiered on the radio, where it is currently carried by 354 public radio stations. In 2018 the How I Built This Summit was launched as a unique opportunity for current and aspiring entrepreneurs to build connections, exchange ideas and draw inspiration from a variety of powerful stories from leading business owners. How I Built This has been recognized by the New York Times, Inc, Fortune and was named one of the ten podcasts that shaped the last decade by Harper’s Bazaar. In 2022, the program was awarded an iHeartMedia award for Best Business Podcast.
About Wondery
Wondery, an Amazon company, is a premium podcast studio known for character-driven, binge-worthy stories including Dr. Death, The Shrink Next Door, Even the Rich and Business Wars, and distribution of hit partner shows SmartLess and Wow in the World. Wondery is behind seven of the “Top 10 New Shows of 2021”, according to Podtrac, including #1 (The Apology Line) and #2 (Suspect). Forty shows from Wondery have hit #1 on Apple Podcasts including Harsh Reality and Operator. Wondery has many shows that have been adapted for scripted television or streaming series Dr. Death on Peacock, The Shrink Next Door on Apple TV+, and the upcoming WeCrashed on Apple TV+ and Joe vs Carole on Peacock. Wondery has gained critical acclaim and commercial success for its immersive approach to sonic, emotionally driven storytelling, which helps listeners to “Feel the Story.” The Wondery app offers a unique, personalized podcast listening experience with over 15,000 episodes, including access to its premium ad-free offering Wondery+. With Wondery+, fans experience early access, exclusive episodes, and ad-free listening.
About Amazon Music
Amazon Music reimagines music listening by enabling customers to unlock millions of songs and thousands of curated playlists and stations with their voice. Amazon Music provides unlimited access to new releases and classic hits across iOS and Android mobile devices, PC, Mac, Echo, and Alexa-enabled devices including Fire TV and more. With Amazon Music, Prime members have access to ad-free listening of 2 million songs at no additional cost to their membership. Listeners can also enjoy the premium subscription service, Amazon Music Unlimited, which provides access to more than 75 million songs and the latest new releases. Amazon Music Unlimited customers also now have access to the highest-quality listening experience available, with more than 75 million songs available in High Definition (HD), more than 7 million songs in Ultra HD, and a growing catalog of spatial audio. Customers also have free access to an ad-supported selection of top playlists and stations on Amazon Music. All Amazon Music tiers now offer a wide selection of podcasts at no additional cost, and live streaming in partnership with Twitch. Engaging with music and culture has never been more natural, simple, and fun. For more information, visit amazonmusic.com or download the Amazon Music app.
About NPR
NPR’s rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connect with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 17 international bureaus, NPR and its Member Stations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), and now it’s easy to listen to our stories on smart speaker devices. Ask your smart speaker to, “Play NPR,” and you’ll be tuned into your local Member station’s live stream. Your speaker can also access NPR podcasts, NPR One, NPR News Now, and the Visual Newscast is available for screened speakers. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Built-It Productions
Founded by Guy Raz, Built-It Productions is a media company and co-producer of programs including How I Built This, Wisdom from the Top, and The Rewind with Guy Raz. Raz is also the co-founder of Tinkercast, a media company focused on kids and families. Tinkercast produces several programs in partnership with Wondery including Wow in the World, How to Be an Earthling, and Who When Wow! Raz is the author of two New York Times-bestselling books including How I Built This and The How and Wow of the Human Body (with Mindy Thomas).
Amazon Music/Wondery: Alice Zou, zalice@amazon.com
NPR: Isabel Lara, ilara@npr.org
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