Amazon is ditching its Wondery podcast studio, slashing around 110 roles and folding the business into a broader restructuring of its audio division as it pivots toward video-led podcasting.

The move comes just four years after Amazon acquired Wondery for a reported US$300 million (A$445 million).

Existing Wondery series will now fall under two umbrellas: Amazon’s Audible platform for narrative-style podcasts, and a newly formed “creator services” team for talent-driven shows.

Wondery CEO Jen Sargent (pictured below) will exit as part of the shake-up.

Some shows will retain the Wondery branding, and the Wondery+ app will remain available for now.

In a staff memo viewed by Bloomberg, Amazon’s VP of Audio, Twitch and Games, Steve Boom (pictured below) acknowledged the changes reflect an industry shift.

“The podcast landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years. The rise of video has also blurred the lines on what it means to be a podcast creator,” said Boom.

The restructuring signals Amazon’s pivot away from its previous podcasting ambitions, which have struggled to match the dominance of YouTube and Spotify in the increasingly video-first format.

The reorganisation aims to better monetise high-profile talent through cross-platform sponsorships, a strategy Amazon has already tested with LeBron James’ Mind the Game podcast and Prime Day campaigns.

Wondery’s narrative-driven studio – behind shows like Dr. Death – will merge with Audible, with Wondery Chief Content Officer Marshall Lewy transitioning into a new role at Audible.

Meanwhile, Wondery’s ad and sponsorship teams will form part of a new commercial group servicing Amazon Music and creator-led content.

The podcast market continues to grow, but the landscape is shifting.

While millions around the world now consume podcasts regularly, platforms like YouTube are rapidly overtaking traditional audio apps as the primary channel for discovery and engagement, due to the surge in video-led content.