QCode explained

QCode
Type:Podcast network
Established:2018
Country:United States
Available:International
Founder:Rob Herting
Founded:2019
Key People:
  • Sandra Yee Ling
  • Deron Johnson
  • Michele Zárate
  • David Henning
  • Steve Wilson
  • Tess Ryan
Affiliations:
  • Automatik
  • Grandview
Language:English

QCode (sometimes stylized as QCODE) is a podcast network and audio production studio based in Los Angeles, California. The company was founded by Rob Herting in 2018 as a partnership between the production company Automatik and the management firm Grandview. The company focuses on producing scripted, narrative podcasts.

History

QCode was founded in 2018 by Rob Herting, a former agent at the Creative Arts Agency.[1] [2] The network was founded as a partnership, with Automatik as the production company and Grandview as the management firm. Sandra Yee Ling, previously an executive producer at Automatik, is the vice president of production at QCode.[3] The company's head of music is pianist and composer Deron Johnson. Michele Zárate, formerly of Sonar Entertainment, is the director of development, and Tess Ryan is one of the company's producers. Steve Wilson, formerly from Apple, is the company's chief strategy officer.[4] David Henning is also on staff.

In 2020 QCode raised $6.4 million in funding by Sonos with participation by venture-capital firm C Ventures to scale up production to more than fifteen original podcasts every year.[5] [6] In 2021, QCode announced plans to launch QCode+ with Apple Inc. QCode+ will be a subscription based service that will offer twelve original shows with no ads and bonus material.[7]

The company uses the Dolby Atmos audio standard, which was not supported yet by most podcast apps in 2021.[8] The company also uses binaural recordings to create 3D audio effects, which is becoming increasingly popular among podcast networks like iHeartMedia or the Paragon Collective. Madeline Wells of SFGate, discussed the company's use of surround sound in their podcast The Left Right Game saying that "the sound is so good — don’t listen to this while driving or the jump-scares could get dangerous," and that the sound production creates a "riveting companion" when going on walks.[9] Similarly, Andrew Liptak of The Verge cautioned against driving a car while listening to Carrier because the surround sound can be overwhelming at times and some sound effects—such as a truck honking its horn—can be alarming if operating a vehicle.[10]

The company launched its first podcast—Blackout—in 2019, which starred Rami Malek. Herting's goal is to create new stories in the podcasting medium that have not been done in film or television.[11] The actors and producers at QCode have a history of working in film and television, and the podcasts created by the company could easily be adapted into films or television series.[12] [13] Miranda Sawyer of The Guardian, noted that—in contrast to small indie productions—well funded audio production companies like QCode have a history of "making queer relationships straight, and (you guessed it) employing big Hollywood celebrities as actors."[14] Rashika Rao of Radio Drama Revival had a similar complaint after listening to The Left Right Game saying, "I think a fundamental misunderstanding is that podcasting is TV lite."[15] Rao went on to address the fact that large audio production companies like QCode have chosen to hire from the film and television industry rather than support independent podcasts that might have better ideas.

Controversy

In May 2021, "Hold Still Vincent" a podcast dramatizing the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American engineer, was removed from audio platforms by QCode after Chin’s family members and an activist involved in the case said they were not consulted about the project. The six episodes of “Hold Still, Vincent” were originally released May 26. A day later, journalist and activist Helen Zia, a central figure in the civil-rights movement sparked by Chin’s murder, posted on social media that neither she nor his estate were contacted about the podcast.[16] [17] Annie Tan, a cousin of Vincent Chin wrote on Twitter “I tried listening to the ‘Hold Still, Vincent’ Chin podcast (honestly the title is triggering to me as a cousin), and the disclaimer in the beginning that events were fictionalized for dramatic effects made me stop playing,” Tan wrote in part. “And it’s hard for me to say this because I want people to know my cousin Vincent Chin’s story. But I just don’t get it.” https://twitter.com/AnnieTangent/status/1398090815197614081https://twitter.com/AnnieTangent/status/1398090815197614081

Shows

TitleRelease DateGenre
The Foxes of Hydesville[18] April 20, 2023Supernatural
PeepkinsTBAChildren's Fiction
Last Known PositionDecember 20, 2021Sci-Fi
The Burned PhotoSeptember 30, 2021Supernatural
ClassifiedAugust 7, 2021Thriller
Edith![19] June 21, 2021Political satire, Biographical podcast
Electric Easy[20] July 19, 2021Sci-Fi
RonstadtJune 1, 2021Horror podcast, comedy
Hold Still VincentMay 25, 2021True Crime
Bad VibesMarch 29, 2021Horror podcast, anthology series
Soft VoiceMarch 17, 2021Black comedy, thriller
UnwantedFebruary 10, 2021 Black comedy
From NowDecember 10, 2020Science fiction
Hank the CowdogSeptember 14, 2020Mystery fiction, Children's fiction
Dirty DianaJuly 13, 2020Erotic drama
BorrascaMay 25, 2020Horror podcast
The Left Right GameMarch 23, 2020Science fiction, horror podcast
GaslightNovember 18, 2019Horror podcast
Ghost TapeOctober 26, 2019Horror podcast
The Edge of SleepSeptember 23, 2019Science fiction, horror podcast
CarrierJuly 15, 2019Horror podcast
BlackoutMarch 19, 2019Horror podcast

Awards

AwardDateCategoryRecipientResultRef.
2021Podcast of the YearDirty Diana[21]
Best Fiction PodcastDirty Diana
Best Production and Sound DesignDirty Diana
Best Scriptwriting, FictionDirty Diana
Best Scriptwriting, FictionThe Left Right Game
Best Production and Sound DesignThe Left Right Game
Best Performer in Audio FictionThe Left Right Game - Tessa Thompson
Best Fiction PodcastThe Left Right Game
iHeart Radio Podcast Awards2021Innovator AwardQCode[22]
Kids & Family PodcastHank The Cowdog
Fiction PodcastBorrasca
Fiction PodcastThe Left Right Game
Fiction PodcastDirty Diana

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wiseman. Andreas. December 7, 2018. CAA Agent Rob Herting Leaves to Set Up Audio Studio QCODE With Automatik and Management Firm Grandview. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123203355/https://deadline.com/2018/12/caa-agent-rob-herting-audio-studio-qcode-sinister-automatik-management-grandview-1202515854/. November 23, 2020. March 19, 2021. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.
  2. Web site: Aurthur. Kate. October 22, 2021. How Podcast Leader QCode Uses Star Power — Like an Upcoming Gina Rodriguez Thriller — to Disrupt the Industry. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211022155608/https://variety.com/2021/biz/news/qcode-podcast-explosion-1235093655/. October 22, 2021. January 29, 2022. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.
  3. Web site: Donnelly. Matt. November 6, 2020. Podcast Studio QCode Makes Key Hires in Production and Development, Promotes Two. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201106170204/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/qcode-podcast-hires-production-1234824486/. November 6, 2020. January 29, 2022. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.
  4. Web site: December 3, 2020. Podcast Startup QCode Poaches Apple Veteran Steve Wilson to Lead Strategy. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203064009/https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/12/03/podcast-startup-qcode-poaches-apple-veteran-steve-wilson-to-lead-strategy. December 3, 2020. January 29, 2022. AppleInsider. Quiller Media. en-US.
  5. Web site: Spangler. Todd. October 15, 2020. Podcast Studio QCode Raises $6.4 Million Funding Round Led by Sonos. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210303012816/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/qcode-podcast-funding-sonos-1234806086/. March 3, 2021. March 29, 2021. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.
  6. Web site: Amore. Samson. October 15, 2020. QCode Podcast Network Raises $6.4 Million to Expand Original Programming: Smart Speaker Maker Sonos Leads the Investment in Qcode. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201018071942/https://www.thewrap.com/qcode-podcast-network-raises-6-4-million-to-expand-original-programming/. October 18, 2020. January 29, 2022. TheWrap. The Wrap News. en-US.
  7. Web site: Spangler. Todd. April 20, 2021. Apple Unveils Podcast Subscriptions. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420171357/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/apple-podcast-subscription-services-1234955558/. April 20, 2021. May 28, 2021. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.
  8. Web site: Carman. Ashley. February 9, 2021. 3D Audio Could Be the Next Big Podcast Trend. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210315171030/https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/9/22273072/podcast-audio-3d-dolby-atmos-iheart-qcode. March 15, 2021. March 18, 2021. The Verge. Vox Media. en-US.
  9. Web site: Wells. Madeline. June 2, 2020. This Surround-Sound Thriller Podcast is Perfect for Pandemic Walks. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200602212037/https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/Podcast-walks-Left-Right-Game-fiction-mystery-15309460.php. June 2, 2020. January 29, 2022. SFGATE. Hearst Communications. en-US.
  10. Web site: Liptak. Andrew. August 11, 2019. Carrier is an Immersive Podcast That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat: Be Careful While Driving. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190812031102/https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/11/20800785/carrier-podcast-qcode-cynthia-erivo-dan-blank-pod-hunters. August 12, 2019. January 29, 2022. The Verge. Vox Media. en-US.
  11. Web site: Muka. Darian. November 26, 2019. Behind the Scenes with David Henning and Rob Herting of QCODE. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210116211953/https://blog.pocketcasts.com/behind-the-podcast/with-qcode/. January 16, 2021. March 18, 2021. Pocket Casts Blog. Automattic. en-US.
  12. News: Sisario. Ben. Ben Sisario. February 25, 2021. Podcasting is Booming. Will Hollywood Help or Hurt Its Future?. en-US. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. live. March 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210319202056/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/arts/podcasts-hollywood-future.html. March 19, 2021.
  13. Web site: Smith. Gerry. September 21, 2021. New Batman Podcast on HBO Max Highlights Growing Importance of Audio in Streaming Wars. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211216190340/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-21/hbo-max-releases-batman-the-audio-adventures-in-podcast-experiment. December 16, 2021. January 29, 2022. Bloomberg News. Bloomberg L.P.. en-US.
  14. Web site: Sawyer. Miranda. August 1, 2021. Listen Up: Why Indie Podcasts Are in Peril. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801070736/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/aug/01/listen-up-why-indie-podcasts-are-in-peril. August 1, 2021. January 29, 2022. The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. en-GB.
  15. Web site: Crampton. Caroline. July 21, 2020. With Masks and Sanitized Mics, Podcast Pros Tiptoe Back Into In-Person Interviews. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200723000448/https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/07/with-masks-and-sanitized-mics-podcast-pros-tiptoe-back-into-in-person-interviews/. July 23, 2020. January 29, 2022. Nieman Lab. Nieman Foundation for Journalism. en-US.
  16. Web site: Spangler . Todd . 2021-06-04 . Vincent Chin Podcast Pulled After Complaints From Family . 2023-05-31 . Variety . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2021-06-03 . My Statement on the “Hold Still, Vincent” Podcast: . 2023-05-31 . Annie Tan . en.
  18. Web site: Carey Mulligan To Lead Podcast ‘The Foxes Of Hydesville’ About Sisters Who Claimed They Could Speak To The Dead . Andreas Wiseman . 2023-04-23 . 15 June 2023.
  19. Web site: Jarvey. Natalie. March 11, 2021. Rosamund Pike to Star as Former First Lady in Podcast From QCODE, Crooked Media (Exclusive). live. https://archive.today/20220129170618/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/rosamund-pike-to-star-as-former-first-lady-in-podcast-from-qcode-crooked-media-exclusive-4147261/. January 29, 2022. May 28, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.
  20. Web site: Blistein. Jon. June 11, 2021. Kesha to Star in New Scripted Sci-Fi Podcast Series 'Electric Easy'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611152428/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kesha-to-star-in-new-scripted-sci-fi-podcast-series-electric-easy-1182299/. June 11, 2021. June 11, 2021. Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.
  21. Web site: 2021. 2021 Winners. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517120339/https://www.ambies.com/2021winners. May 17, 2021. January 30, 2022. The Ambies. en-US.
  22. Web site: Spangler. Todd. December 8, 2020. iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2021 Nominees Unveiled. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201208191210/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/iheartradio-podcast-awards-2021-nominees-full-list-1234848671/. December 8, 2020. May 28, 2021. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "QCode".

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