SiriusXM announced a multi-year deal with SmartLess Media and its three founders, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes. This includes exclusive advertising and distribution rights, content, events and more.
SiriusXM's deal with SmartLess Media will begin in late summer 2024. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The three-year deal is worth more than $100 million, according to two sources confirming Bloomberg. Report. The SmartLess trio currently has a deal with Amazon, which is said to be worth $80 million through mid-2021, for exclusive distribution and ad-selling rights to “SmartLess.”
SmartLess Media describes the show, hosted by Bateman, Hayes and Arnett, as “a podcast that connects and brings people from all walks of life together to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful conversation and organic joy.” A regular feature of the podcast is that one of the hosts invites a mystery guest, who is revealed to the other two at the end of each episode.
Under the deal, SiriusXM will gain access to “extensive” exclusive content for subscribers. This includes early access to new episodes of “Smartless” and Smartless Media podcasts “Just Jack & Will,” “Bad Dates” and “Own,” and the opportunity for fans to be in the live audience for special screenings. Additionally, most of the “SmartLess” library is available only to SiriusXM. SiriusXM acquires the Media-hosted “Smartless” podcast and exclusive worldwide advertising sales rights to Smartless Media's “Just Jack & Will,” “Bad Dates” and “Own.”
The award-winning “Smart Less” podcast launched in July 2020 and continues to rank in the top five most listened to podcasts monthly. Guests included President Joe Biden, Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Greta Gerwig, Idris Elba, Pedro Pascal and Selena Gomez. “Smartless” is produced by Michael Grant Terry, Bennett Barbakov and Rob Amjarv.
“At SiriusXM, we're proud to be home to the stars, and with Jason, Sean and Will joining us, that statement has never been truer,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “Over the past several years, we've redoubled our commitment to podcasting, and with the addition of 'Smart Less,' we're strengthening our leadership position in podcasting.”
SmartLess Media joins the lineup of podcasts and media companies exclusively represented by SiriusXM Media: “Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend” and the complete Team Coco roster; Audiozuck by Ashley Flowers featuring “Crime Junkie”; and Crooked Media and its hit “Pot Save America.” SiriusXM's original podcast series include “Office Ladies” and “How Was It Made?”
The Smart Less Media contract was awarded by CAA. SmartLess Media was represented in the transaction by Adam Culler, Tom Hoberman and Ryan Pastorek at Hansen Jacobson; Sam Fischer, Brian Lazarus, and Ben Rubinfield at Gifren Brittonham; and Shelby Weiser and Robert Offer at Sloan, Offer, Weber, and Dern.
See also: How Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes' 'Smart Less' Proven Podcasts Mean Big Business
Pictured above (l. to r.): Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes in the Max documentary “Smartless: On the Road”
