’S-Town,’ New Podcast From Makers Of ‘Serial,’ Demolishes Download Records
Image by Twitter/@stownpodcast
By Talya Zax April 6, 2017
“S-Town,” the newly released podcast from Serial Productions, an outfit led by the creators of “Serial” and “This American Life,” has shattered previous podcast download records.
As The New York Times reported, “S-Town” was downloaded 16 million times in its first week of release. The first season of “Serial” reached 16 million downloads after eight weeks; its second season achieved as many after four. (Those numbers, reported in the Times, were released by Serial Productions.)
“This is certainly the fastest that a podcast has accrued that big of an audience, no matter how you cut it,” Nick Quah, author of the weekly podcast industry newsletter Hot Pod, told the Times.
In his newsletter this past Tuesday, Quah commented that the new podcast’s success might be partially linked to its “unique full-season release structure — which encourages binges — and buzzy profile.”
“S-Town,” which delves into a mystery in a small Alabama town, is hosted by Brian Reed, who, along with Julie Snyder, executive produced the podcast. The podcast’s editorial team also includes “Serial” host Sarah Koenig and “This American Life” host Ira Glass.
While there’s not much that’s Jewish about the town in which the action is set, the show’s protagonist does occasionally call it as “Auschwitz” — when he’s not referring to it as “Sh*ttown.” And at one point, Reed refers to his own Russian-Jewish heritage. To find out when, you’ll just have to start listening.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
