SiriusXM has recently unveiled a new multi-year partnership with SmartLess Media and its founders, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes. This collaboration entails exclusive advertising and distribution rights, as well as access to content, events, and more for their renowned flagship podcast, “SmartLess,” and select shows from the SmartLess Media portfolio. The deal is set to kick off in late summer.
As part of this agreement, SiriusXM subscribers will enjoy privileged access to a wealth of exclusive content. This includes early access to new episodes of “SmartLess” and other SmartLess Media podcasts such as “Just Jack & Will,” “Bad Dates,” and “Owned.” Subscribers will also have the opportunity to be part of live audiences for special tapings and more. Furthermore, the majority of the “SmartLess” podcast library will be exclusively available on SiriusXM, establishing it as the ultimate destination for fans to access the complete catalog of the podcast.
The critically acclaimed “SmartLess” podcast, launched in July 2020, consistently ranks among the top 5 most listened-to podcasts each month. The show has featured notable guests like President Joe Biden, Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Greta Gerwig, Idris Elba, Pedro Pascal, Selena Gomez, and many others. The podcast is produced by Michael Grant Terry, Bennett Barbakow, and Rob Amjärv.
SiriusXM Media, the advertising division of the company, secures exclusive global ad sales rights for the “SmartLess” podcast, hosted by Arnett, Bateman, and Hayes, as well as selected SmartLess Media shows like “Just Jack & Will,” “Bad Dates,” and “Owned.” With the SiriusXM Podcast Network reaching 1 in 2 podcast listeners in the US monthly, this partnership makes it easier for advertisers to tap into the vast potential of podcasting on a significant scale through SiriusXM Media.
Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer at SiriusXM, expressed pride in hosting stars like Arnett, Bateman, and Hayes. He highlighted the company’s commitment to podcasting and how the addition of “SmartLess” reinforces their leadership in the podcasting space. Greenstein emphasized the collaboration’s innovative approach, driving growth for an established podcast while providing exclusive content and events for subscribers.
SmartLess Media now joins SiriusXM Media’s exclusive lineup, alongside podcasts and media companies like “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” Team Coco, “Crime Junkie” by audiochuck, Crooked Media’s “Pod Save America,” and SiriusXM’s own award-winning shows like “Office Ladies” and “How Did This Get Made?”
The deal with SmartLess Media was facilitated by CAA, and SmartLess Media was represented by Adam Kaller, Tom Hoberman, and Ryan Pastorek at Hansen Jacobson; Sam Fischer, Brian Lazarus, and Ben Rubinfeld at Ziffren Brittenham; and Shelby Weiser and Robert Offer at Sloane, Offer, Weber, and Dern.
