Somethin' Else (content agency)

Somethin' Else

Founded	1991; 33 years ago (1991)
Headquarters	London[1] , United Kingdom
Products	Content and strategy across TV, radio, online video, social media, games
Parent	Sony Music Entertainment
Website	www.somethinelse.com

Somethin' Else is a London and New York content agency, specialising in content strategy and production across video, television, audio and social media.^[1][2] It was founded in 1991 by Jez Nelson, Chris Philips and Sonita Alleyne, with Steve Ackerman and Paul Bennun later becoming key directors, and was acquired outright by Sony Music Entertainment in 2021, after a number of joint venture projects between the two,^[3][4][5] with the audio department of the company becoming part of Sony Music's Global Podcast Division. Steve Ackerman and Jez Nelson were invited to head up this division.

History

Somethin' Else is a media production company^[6] set up in 1991. The company's first production was the Gilles Peterson Show, created for the UK's independent radio network in 1993 and currently broadcast by BBC 6 Music in a Saturday afternoon slot.^[7]

It is responsible for producing a number of radio programmes for BBC Radio 1,^[8] BBC Radio 1xtra,^[9][10] BBC Radio 2^[11][12] and 6Music^{[13][14] [15]} with The Kitchen Cabinet^[16] and Gardeners' Question Time,^[17] made for BBC Radio 4^[18] and Kermode and Mayo's Film Review produced for BBC Radio 5 Live for 21 years.^{[19][20][21][22][23][24]} It is the BBC's biggest multi-platform supplier, and as well as producing over 35 weekly radio shows for the corporation, it makes television for BBC 4 and iPlayer and creates social media for the BBC's music radio brands. Television projects have included the modern day version of Jazz 625 for BBC Four, a jazz music programme originally broadcast by BBC 2 in the mid 1960s.^[25][26]

In addition to the BBC, other past and present clients of Somethin' Else have include the TOPMAN, The Economist,^[27] Channel 4,^[28] Interflora, Swarovski, ITV, Penguin Random House, Red Bull,^[29] Boots UK,^[30] Porsche,^[31] Chivas Regal,^[32] FIAT,^[28] Nissan,^[33] Wrigley,^[34] Rolls-Royce^[35] and The British Phonographic Industry.^[36][37]

Somethin' Else is involved in the social media production of The BRIT Awards^{[38][39][40][41][42][43]} as well as a number of productions for Sky Arts^[44] such as Guitar Star, The Ronnie Wood Show and Brian Johnson's A Life on the Road.^[45]

In 2017, it was the only company in the UK to feature in Campaign Magazine's School Reports and Broadcast Magazine's Top 100. In 2018 the company established an office in New York. After becoming a pioneer in the fledgling UK podcast industry, On 16 June 2021, Sony Music Entertainment announced that the company had acquired Somethin' Else.^[46]

On 1 April 2022, the last ever episode of Kermode and Mayo's Film Review was broadcast by the BBC,^[47] with Somethin' Else announcing that the replacement show, called Kermode and Mayo's Take,^{[48][49][50][51]} would be a twice weekly podcast series featuring film and television reviews, with the Take 2 podcast being exclusive to subscribers.

People

Somethin' Else's key shareholders at the time of the Sony Music acquisition were Jez Nelson, Steve Ackerman, and chairman Tom Barnicoat^[52] (former COO at Endemol group). Jon Wilkins (founder of Naked) and Lindsey Clay (CEO Thinkbox) were non-executive directors. Paul Burdin (FD), Lee-Anne Richardson and Ben Kerr were other directors^[53]

Selected projects

Radio and podcasts

• Where There’s A Will There’s A Wake, with Kathy Burke
• Kermode and Mayo's Take expected May 2022 onwards
• Kermode and Mayo's Film Review (BBC Radio 5 Live), 2001–22 (produced from 2011)^[54]
• The Penguin Podcast
• BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix (BBC Radio 1), 1993–present
• The weekly audio edition of The Economist – In 2014, editor John Micklethwait claimed that German President Angela Merkel listens to the audio edition in her car^[55]
• Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6 Music)^[56]
• Gardeners' Question Time (BBC Radio 4), 2009–present^[57]
• The Radio 1 Rock Show (BBC Radio 1)^[58]
• The Kitchen Cabinet (BBC Radio 4)^[59]
• Essential Classics (BBC Radio 3)^[60]
• 1914 Day By Day ("BBC Radio 4")^[61]
• The Selector (NME Radio), 2001–2010
• Jazz on 3 (BBC Radio 3)^[62]
• The Surgery (BBC Radio 1)^[63]
• Martin Garrix Rocks Blackpool (Combined iPlayer and BBC Radio 1)
• Papa Sangre (iOS), 2010
• The Nightjar (iOS), 2011
• Papa Sangre II
• Audio Defence: Zombie Arena
• 6-0-6 (BBC Radio 5 Live), 2010–2015
• The Treehouse – with Danny Baker and Louise Pepper (Podcast)^[64]
• The Last Post (Podcast) - offshoot of and co-production with The Bugle

Television and Video

• Brian Johnson's A Life on the Road (Sky Arts)
• Guitar Star (Sky Arts)
• The Ronnie Wood Show (Sky Arts)
• Topman TV
• Online video content for Swarovski, Interflora, Orangina.
• Extreme Festivals for BBC Radio 1 on BBC iPlayer
• Northern Soul: Living for the Weekend (BBC Four)
• Guin and the Dragon (BBC 2)
• Between the Lines (BBC Learning)
• Ten Pieces (BBC Learning)
• Foxy TV for Foxy Bingo^[65]

Social Media and digital

• Social Media for The BRIT Awards (the most tweeted about TV show of all time)^{[66][67][68][69]}
• Social Media for ITV shows including Saturday Night Takeaway, The Voice and Dancing on Ice
• Social Media for BBC Radio brands (Radio 1, 1Xtra, Asian Network, Radio 2, 6 Music^[70])
• Footballers United^[71]
• Immersive Oculus Rift experience for the South African Tourist Board^[72]

Awards

Somethin' Else has won Cannes Lions, eight BAFTA awards and multiple Sony Radio Academy Awards. They were awarded Children's Company of the Year award in the 2013 and 2015 Children's BAFTAs. In 2016, the agency also won a Marketing Week award for 'Most Compelling Content' for their game Silverpoint for Absolut Vodka, and a Broadcast Digital Award for Best Social Media Campaign for its work on the BRIT Awards.

References

1. "Contact Somethin' Else". Somethin' Else. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
2. "About". Somethin' Else. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
3. Paine, Andre (4 February 2020). "Somethin' Else and Sony Music launch podcast partnership". Music Week.
4. "Sony acquires Somethin' Else to expand global podcast division". Radio Today. 16 June 2021.
5. "Somethin' Else appoints Head of Branded Podcasts for the UK". Radio Today. 10 January 2022.
6. "Sony Music acquires audio, TV and social media producer Somethin' else".
7. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Gilles Peterson".
8. "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Rock Show with Daniel P Carter".
9. "BBC Radio 1Xtra - Ace, Everything R&B".
10. "BBC Radio 1Xtra - DJ Edu - Destination Africa".
11. "BBC Radio 2 - Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton".
12. "BBC Radio 2 - Trevor Nelson's Rhythm Nation".
13. Banham, Mark (15 April 2014). "BBC Radio 4 and 6 Music hire Somethin' Else for social media". Campaign. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
14. Farber, Alex (26 January 2012). "Jez Nelson, Somethin' Else". Broadcast. Media Business Insight. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
15. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Gilles Peterson".
16. "BBC Radio 4 - the Kitchen Cabinet".
17. John Plunkett (11 February 2009). "Gardeners' Question Time repotted to new production company | Media". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
18. "BBC Radio 4 - Gardeners' Question Time".
19. "'We'll be back … stay tuned': Kermode and Mayo's BBC Radio 5 Live film show to end after 21 years". TheGuardian.com. 11 March 2022.
20. "BBC Radio 5 Live - Kermode and Mayo's Film Review, Daniel Radcliffe and Sandra Bullock talk about the Lost City. Plus reviews of the Bad Guys, Morbius, True Things & Sonic 2".
21. "BBC Radio 5 Live - Kermode and Mayo's Film Review - Available now".
22. "BBC Radio 5 Live - Kermode and Mayo's Film Review".
23. "Kermode and Mayo have announced where film review show will move to". Independent.co.uk. April 2022.
24. "Kermode and Mayo take their film review to Sony Music". April 2022.
25. "TV tonight: Jazz 625 returns with a new generation of stars". TheGuardian.com. 20 November 2020.
26. "BBC revives Jazz 625 show for special".
27. "Listening in at the Economist: How audio editions and podcasts are created | Media news". Journalism.co.uk. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
28. "1,500 ACTS SIGN UP AS EVO MUSIC ROOMS STRIKES A CHORD – Press – Fiat Group Automobiles Press". Fiatpress.co.uk. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
29. "Red Bull case study by Somethin' Else on". Creativebrief.com. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
30. "Boots case study by Somethin' Else on". Creativebrief.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
31. "Porsche 'the power of balance' by Karmarama | View ad creative on Campaign". Campaignlive.co.uk. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
32. Kirby, Justin. "Somethin' Else". BOBCM. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
33. "Nissan Juke readies Rocks campaign | Campaign". Campaignlive.co.uk. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
34. "Wrigley's Launches Audio-only iPhone Game". Mobile Marketing Magazine. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
35. "Rolls-Royce works with Partners Andrews Aldridge on integrated campaign for new Rolls-Royce Wraith". The Drum. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
36. "Somethin' Else wins BRITS digital brief". Campaignlive.co.uk. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
37. "Clients". Somethin' Else. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
38. "Rising Star: Somethin' Else's Zosia Morris".
39. "Somethin' else wins Brit Awards digital brief".
40. "Somethin' else Wins the BRIT Awards Digital Brief | LBBOnline".
41. "Somethin' else extends BRIT Awards deal". 6 December 2011.
42. "Somethin' else wins Brit Awards digital brief".
43. "The Brit Awards by Somethin' else".
44. Farber, Alex (12 February 2015). "Sky Arts hunts for Guitar Star | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
45. "Sky Arts hunts for Guitar Star". broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
46. White, Peter (16 June 2021). "Sony Music Entertainment Expands Podcast Unit After Acquiring UK Producer Somethin' Else". Deadline. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
47. "Somethin' Else to produce Kermode and Mayo film show | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
48. "Kermode & Mayo announce new twice-weekly podcast, as BBC show ends". April 2022.
49. "Kermode and Mayo take their film review to Sony Music". April 2022.
50. "Sony Music announces launch of new movie podcast with Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo | Complete Music Update".
51. "Kermode and Mayo have announced where film review show will move to". Independent.co.uk. April 2022.
52. Holmwood, Leigh (2 April 2008). "Tom Barnicoat to join Somethin' Else board". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
53. "Somethin' Else appoints Jon Wilkins as a non-executive director". The Drum. thedrum. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
54. "Somethin' else to produce Kermode and Mayo film show".
55. Mark Sweney (16 November 2014). "Micklethwait: 'Merkel listens to the Economist's audio app in the car' | Media". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
56. "Gilles Peterson – Media centre". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
57. "BBC Radio 4 – Gardeners' Question Time". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
58. Piers Bradford. "Radio 1 announces results from its commissioning rounds – Media centre". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
59. "The Kitchen Cabinet – Media centre". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
60. "Essential Classics – Media centre". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
61. "Podcasts and Downloads – 1914: Day by Day". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
62. "Jazz on 3 – Media centre". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
63. "Press Office – Network Radio Programme Information BBC Week 31 Sunday 31 July 2011". BBC. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
64. "The Treehouse – with Danny Baker and Louise Pepper".
65. "Foxy Bingo case study by Somethin' Else on". Creativebrief.com. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
66. Richards, Chris (20 February 2014). "Brit Awards 2014: Twitter reveals bash is most tweeted about TV show EVER in the UK – Mirror Online". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
67. Mark Sweney (20 February 2014). "Brit Awards was most tweeted about television show in UK | Media". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
68. Eames, Tom (20 February 2014). "Brit Awards 2014 is the UK's most-tweeted-about TV show ever – TV News". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
69. "Brit Awards were the most tweeted about UK TV show". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
70. "BBC Radio 4 and 6 Music hire Somethin' Else for social media | Campaign". Campaignlive.co.uk. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
71. "launches new interactive drama Footballers United – Media centre". BBC. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
72. "Oculus Rift Archives". Visualise. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.

External links

• Somethin' Else – official site
• Somethin' Else discography at Discogs