Audacy is winding down Creator Lab, the free podcast hosting and brand-sponsorship marketplace it built for independent creators, effective November 1. The company notified partners, calling it “a difficult decision” and thanking them for their partnership.
For creators with an open Marketplace campaign connecting them with brand sponsorship deals, all required deliverables must be completed and submitted by November 1. Creators without an active campaign don’t need to take any action. Audacy said it will honor its existing payment terms for eligible earnings from completed campaigns.
An Audacy spokesperson told Radio Ink, “We’ve made the decision to wind down Creator Lab operations. It’s a very small part of our overall podcasting business where we continue to see and invest in growth. We’re exploring new ways to support independent creators, and our immediate priority is ensuring a smooth transition for our current Creator Lab partners.”
Creator Lab traces back to Podcorn, the self-serve ad marketplace Audacy acquired in 2020, which the company later folded into Creator Lab and a companion platform, Audacy Creator Exchange.
At the time, Audacy Head of Podcasts Leah Reis-Dennis described the setup as “a farm league” for nurturing independent talent within the company’s broader podcast business. In March, Radio Ink reported that Audacy had added YouTube distribution to Creator Lab, letting hosts publish video episodes while continuing to monetize audio through the company’s ad network.
