Raj Shamani signs with WME as podcast talent keeps crossing borders
Deadline reports that Indian creator and Figuring Out host Raj Shamani signed with WME. The deal gives WME a creator with a podcast platform, social reach, and business-interview format that can travel across markets. Shamani's lane sits between founder media, creator education, and advertiser-friendly long-form content. The signing also shows how agencies are looking beyond US creators for formats that can attract global brand and media opportunities. Podcast hosts with loyal video audiences now look closer to talk-show IP than audio inventory.
THE BREAKDOWN
Podcast creators should treat representation as a rights and packaging decision. Agents need to separate host services, feed ownership, video rights, clips, live events, book deals, and format licensing. Brand managers should ask whether a creator's audience is strongest on YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, or audio feeds before pricing the buy. Talent should keep data access and approval rights when a global agency starts pitching the format to new buyers. The bigger opportunity is often the show franchise, not the single sponsor read.
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