Wondery, which produces popular podcasts such as Dirty John,
Dr. Death, and The Shrink Next Door, will be incorporated into Amazon Music,
which is ramping up its efforts to compete with rivals like Spotify and began
offering podcasts earlier this year.
"Together with Wondery, we will continue to bring more
customers to streaming as we expand selection and ensure we are a destination
for our customers to find, discover, and listen to the creators and artists
they enjoy," Amazon's music team said in a blog post.
"Wondery is an innovative podcast publisher with a
track record of creating and producing top-rated podcasts that entertain and
educate listeners."
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but reports this month
said Wondery was seeking $300 million.
The deal, which has not yet been finalised, will allow
Amazon Music subscribers to listen to Wondery podcasts through a variety of
providers, an Amazon statement said.
Industry tracker Podtrac ranked Wondery as being the fourth
most listened to podcast publisher in the US in November, with slightly more
than 9 million people tuning in to audio programs it hosts.
Podcasts have boomed in popularity in recent years, with
people tuning in to hear compelling real or scripted stories as well as
interviews.
The move comes with Amazon facing increased scrutiny from
antitrust enforcers for its growing dominance over key sectors of the economy
as it expands in retail and streaming media.