Charles Goldstuck’s GoldState makes minority funding in Podium Leisure, as Flexpoint Ford and Shamrock Capital purchase audiobook writer in reported $400M+ deal
GoldState Music, the funding agency based by Charles Goldstuck, has made a minority funding in Podium Leisure, the audiobook writer.
The funding was made alongside Flexpoint Ford and Shamrock Capital, which have acquired Podium from Presidio Buyers.
The deal was introduced on Monday (September 21). The businesses didn’t disclose monetary phrases.
The Wall Avenue Journalreported that Podium modified arms for north of USD $400 million, citing individuals aware of the matter.
GoldState was based in 2022 and invests in music rights, music corporations, and music expertise.
Its funding in Podium takes the West Palm Seashore-headquartered agency into e-book publishing.
GoldState has raised two funds to purchase music rights: a partnership with Flexpoint struck in 2023, and a $500 million elevate co-led by Northleaf Capital Companions and Ares Administration in April 2025.
In February this yr, the agency partnered with London-listed Bridgepoint Group on a separate technique, concentrating on development fairness investments in music and music-adjacent corporations.
GoldState and Flexpoint have backed the identical firm earlier than: Flexpoint led a $165 million spherical for Create Music Group in June 2024 that Goldstuck additionally joined.
In accordance with the announcement, the Podium deal extends Flexpoint‘s “expertise in music belongings and royalties into audiobook publishing.”
Charles Goldstuck, Managing Companion at GoldState, stated: “I had the pleasure of beforehand partnering with Scott and couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about backing the crew at Podium. We’ve seen firsthand how digital audio can scale when developed underneath the proper manufacturing and distribution fashions.
“Podium is poised to take full benefit of the altering panorama for audio across the globe.”
“We’ve seen firsthand how digital audio can scale when developed underneath the proper manufacturing and distribution fashions. Podium is poised to take full benefit of the altering panorama for audio across the globe.”
Charles Goldstuck, GoldState
“What streaming did for unbiased musicians, digital audio is doing for unbiased authors,” stated Mike Morris, Managing Director at Flexpoint Ford. “Podium has constructed a differentiated platform round priceless IP, serving to authors attain world audiences whereas retaining possession of their work.
“We imagine the corporate is exceptionally effectively positioned to capitalize on the continued development of digital audio, and we’re excited to companion with Scott and your entire Podium crew to assist the subsequent section of growth.”
“What streaming did for unbiased musicians, digital audio is doing for unbiased authors.”
Mike Morris, Flexpoint Ford
Podium, headquartered in Los Angeles, says it represents greater than 3,000 authors and describes itself because the audiobook business’s third-largest writer.
Its catalog has grown from roughly 1,200 titles in 2019, when Presidio first invested within the firm, to greater than 15,000 titles right now.
Beneath Presidio‘s possession, Podium expanded past audio into e book and print codecs and purchased e-book gross sales knowledge service Bookstat.
In accordance with Presidio, Podium ranks because the second-largest writer of romance audiobooks and the biggest writer of science fiction and fantasy audiobooks in america.
“We’re extremely pleased with the work we’ve achieved to this point on behalf of the hundreds of authors and voice actors Podium represents, and alongside the super assist we acquired from Presidio Buyers since 2019, however that is only the start of our story,” stated Scott Dickey, Chief Govt Officer of Podium Leisure.
“Partnering with the Flexpoint, Shamrock, and GoldState groups represents a possibility to quickly lengthen our capabilities for the authors and storytellers who belief us day by day to ship their tales and develop their audiences.
“We firmly imagine in Podium‘s differentiated writer service mannequin which is constructed to draw, assist, and retain the perfect storytellers on the earth.”
“Partnering with the Flexpoint, Shamrock, and GoldState groups represents a possibility to quickly lengthen our capabilities for the authors and storytellers who belief us day by day to ship their tales and develop their audiences.”
Scott Dickey, Podium Leisure
“This can be a proud second for everybody who has been a part of the Podium journey since 2019, and we’re excited for what comes subsequent,” stated Karl Schade, Managing Companion of Presidio Buyers.
Shamrock Capital, which had roughly $7.4 billion of belongings underneath administration as of June 30, 2026, invests in media, leisure, communications, and associated sectors.
As a part of the Podium transaction, the corporate is partnering with Possession Works to determine a program giving all of its staff an possession stake within the enterprise.
David Kaefer, a former Spotify government, is becoming a member of Podium‘s board of administrators.Music Enterprise Worldwide
