QCode

QCode was founded in 2018 by Rob Herting, a former agent at the Creative Arts Agency.{{Cite web|last1=Wiseman|first1=Andreas|date=December 7, 2018|title=CAA Agent Rob Herting Leaves to Set Up Audio Studio QCODE With Automatik and Management Firm Grandview|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/caa-agent-rob-herting-audio-studio-qcode-sinister-automatik-management-grandview-1202515854/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123203355/https://deadline.com/2018/12/caa-agent-rob-herting-audio-studio-qcode-sinister-automatik-management-grandview-1202515854/|archive-date=November 23, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Aurthur|first=Kate|date=October 22, 2021|title=How Podcast Leader QCode Uses Star Power — Like an Upcoming Gina Rodriguez Thriller — to Disrupt the Industry|url=https://variety.com/2021/biz/news/qcode-podcast-explosion-1235093655/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022155608/https://variety.com/2021/biz/news/qcode-podcast-explosion-1235093655/|archive-date=October 22, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Donnelly|first=Matt|date=November 6, 2020|title=Podcast Studio QCode Makes Key Hires in Production and Development, Promotes Two|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/qcode-podcast-hires-production-1234824486/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106170204/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/qcode-podcast-hires-production-1234824486/|archive-date=November 6, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|date=December 3, 2020|title=Podcast Startup QCode Poaches Apple Veteran Steve Wilson to Lead Strategy|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/12/03/podcast-startup-qcode-poaches-apple-veteran-steve-wilson-to-lead-strategy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203064009/https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/12/03/podcast-startup-qcode-poaches-apple-veteran-steve-wilson-to-lead-strategy|archive-date=December 3, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=AppleInsider|publisher=Quiller Media|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|date=October 15, 2020|title=Podcast Studio QCode Raises $6.4 Million Funding Round Led by Sonos|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/qcode-podcast-funding-sonos-1234806086/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303012816/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/qcode-podcast-funding-sonos-1234806086/|archive-date=March 3, 2021|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Amore|first=Samson|date=October 15, 2020|title=QCode Podcast Network Raises $6.4 Million to Expand Original Programming: Smart Speaker Maker Sonos Leads the Investment in Qcode|url=https://www.thewrap.com/qcode-podcast-network-raises-6-4-million-to-expand-original-programming/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018071942/https://www.thewrap.com/qcode-podcast-network-raises-6-4-million-to-expand-original-programming/|archive-date=October 18, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=TheWrap|publisher=The Wrap News|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|date=April 20, 2021|title=Apple Unveils Podcast Subscriptions|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/apple-podcast-subscription-services-1234955558/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420171357/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/apple-podcast-subscription-services-1234955558/|archive-date=April 20, 2021|access-date=May 28, 2021|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|language=en-US}}

The company uses the Dolby Atmos audio standard, which was not supported yet by most podcast apps in 2021.{{Cite web|last=Carman|first=Ashley|date=February 9, 2021|title=3D Audio Could Be the Next Big Podcast Trend|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/9/22273072/podcast-audio-3d-dolby-atmos-iheart-qcode|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315171030/https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/9/22273072/podcast-audio-3d-dolby-atmos-iheart-qcode|archive-date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 18, 2021|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Wells|first=Madeline|date=June 2, 2020|title=This Surround-Sound Thriller Podcast is Perfect for Pandemic Walks|url=https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/Podcast-walks-Left-Right-Game-fiction-mystery-15309460.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602212037/https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/Podcast-walks-Left-Right-Game-fiction-mystery-15309460.php|archive-date=June 2, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=SFGATE|publisher=Hearst Communications|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Liptak|first=Andrew|date=August 11, 2019|title=Carrier is an Immersive Podcast That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat: Be Careful While Driving|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/11/20800785/carrier-podcast-qcode-cynthia-erivo-dan-blank-pod-hunters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812031102/https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/11/20800785/carrier-podcast-qcode-cynthia-erivo-dan-blank-pod-hunters|archive-date=August 12, 2019|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web|last=Muka|first=Darian|date=November 26, 2019|title=Behind the Scenes with David Henning and Rob Herting of QCODE|url=https://blog.pocketcasts.com/behind-the-podcast/with-qcode/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116211953/https://blog.pocketcasts.com/behind-the-podcast/with-qcode/|archive-date=January 16, 2021|access-date=March 18, 2021|website=Pocket Casts Blog|publisher=Automattic|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news|last=Sisario|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Sisario|date=February 25, 2021|title=Podcasting is Booming. Will Hollywood Help or Hurt Its Future?|language=en-US|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/arts/podcasts-hollywood-future.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319202056/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/arts/podcasts-hollywood-future.html|archive-date=March 19, 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Gerry|date=September 21, 2021|title=New Batman Podcast on HBO Max Highlights Growing Importance of Audio in Streaming Wars|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-21/hbo-max-releases-batman-the-audio-adventures-in-podcast-experiment|url-status=live|archive-url=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|archive-date=December 16, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=Bloomberg News|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|language=en-US}} 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."{{Cite web|last=Sawyer|first=Miranda|date=August 1, 2021|title=Listen Up: Why Indie Podcasts Are in Peril|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/aug/01/listen-up-why-indie-podcasts-are-in-peril|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801070736/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/aug/01/listen-up-why-indie-podcasts-are-in-peril|archive-date=August 1, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en-GB}} 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."{{Cite web|last=Crampton|first=Caroline|date=July 21, 2020|title=With Masks and Sanitized Mics, Podcast Pros Tiptoe Back Into In-Person Interviews|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/07/with-masks-and-sanitized-mics-podcast-pros-tiptoe-back-into-in-person-interviews/|url-status=live|archive-url=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/|archive-date=July 23, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=Nieman Lab|publisher=Nieman Foundation for Journalism|language=en-US}} 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.

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.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2021-06-04 |title=Vincent Chin Podcast Pulled After Complaints From Family |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/vincent-chin-podcast-gemma-chan-john-cho-1234988995/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-06-03 |title=My Statement on the "Hold Still, Vincent" Podcast |url=https://annietan.com/2021/06/02/my-statement-on-the-hold-still-vincent-podcast/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Annie Tan |language=en}} 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.”{{Cite tweet |user=AnnieTangent |number=1398090815197614081 |title=Correct, to my knowledge no one in my family was contacted about this podcast which will become a feature film apparently. (Many groups making content about Vincent Chin have contacted me/other family tho) Not a knock on this project which I know a little about, but... 1/2}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://qcodemedia.com/}}

Category:Companies based in Los Angeles

Category:American companies established in 2019

Category:Podcasting companies