Charles Goldstuck’s GoldState makes minority investment in Podium Entertainment, as Flexpoint Ford and Shamrock Capital buy audiobook publisher in reported $400M+ deal
GoldState Music, the investment firm founded by Charles Goldstuck, has made a minority investment in Podium Entertainment, the audiobook publisher.
The investment was made alongside Flexpoint Ford and Shamrock Capital, which have acquired Podium from Presidio Investors.
The deal was announced on Monday (September 21). The companies did not disclose financial terms.
The Wall Street Journalreported that Podium changed hands for north of USD $400 million, citing people familiar with the matter.
GoldState was founded in 2022 and invests in music rights, music companies, and music technology.
Its investment in Podium takes the West Palm Beach-headquartered firm into book publishing.
GoldState has raised two funds to buy music rights: a partnership with Flexpoint struck in 2023, and a $500 million raise co-led by Northleaf Capital Partners and Ares Management in April 2025.
GoldState and Flexpoint have backed the same company before: Flexpoint led a $165 million round for Create Music Group in June 2024 that Goldstuck also joined.
According to the announcement, the Podium deal extends Flexpoint‘s “experience in music assets and royalties into audiobook publishing.”
Charles Goldstuck, Managing Partner at GoldState, said: “I had the pleasure of previously partnering with Scott and couldn’t be more excited about backing the team at Podium. We’ve seen firsthand how digital audio can scale when developed under the right production and distribution models.
“Podium is poised to take full advantage of the changing landscape for audio around the globe.”
“We’ve seen firsthand how digital audio can scale when developed under the right production and distribution models. Podium is poised to take full advantage of the changing landscape for audio around the globe.”
Charles Goldstuck, GoldState
“What streaming did for independent musicians, digital audio is doing for independent authors,” said Mike Morris, Managing Director at Flexpoint Ford. “Podium has built a differentiated platform around valuable IP, helping authors reach global audiences while retaining ownership of their work.
“We believe the company is exceptionally well positioned to capitalize on the continued growth of digital audio, and we’re excited to partner with Scott and the entire Podium team to support the next phase of expansion.”
“What streaming did for independent musicians, digital audio is doing for independent authors.”
Mike Morris, Flexpoint Ford
Podium, headquartered in Los Angeles, says it represents more than 3,000 authors and describes itself as the audiobook industry’s third-largest publisher.
Its catalog has grown from roughly 1,200 titles in 2019, when Presidio first invested in the company, to more than 15,000 titles today.
Under Presidio‘s ownership, Podium expanded beyond audio into ebook and print formats and acquired book sales data service Bookstat.
According to Presidio, Podium ranks as the second-largest publisher of romance audiobooks and the largest publisher of science fiction and fantasy audiobooks in the United States.
“We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve accomplished to date on behalf of the thousands of authors and voice actors Podium represents, and alongside the tremendous support we received from Presidio Investors since 2019, but this is just the beginning of our story,” said Scott Dickey, Chief Executive Officer of Podium Entertainment.
“Partnering with the Flexpoint, Shamrock, and GoldState teams represents an opportunity to rapidly extend our capabilities for the authors and storytellers who trust us every day to deliver their stories and grow their audiences.
“We firmly believe in Podium‘s differentiated author service model which is built to attract, support, and retain the best storytellers in the world.”
“Partnering with the Flexpoint, Shamrock, and GoldState teams represents an opportunity to rapidly extend our capabilities for the authors and storytellers who trust us every day to deliver their stories and grow their audiences.”
Scott Dickey, Podium Entertainment
“This is a proud moment for everyone who has been part of the Podium journey since 2019, and we’re excited for what comes next,” said Karl Schade, Managing Partner of Presidio Investors.
Shamrock Capital, which had approximately $7.4 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2026, invests in media, entertainment, communications, and related sectors.
As part of the Podium transaction, the company is partnering with Ownership Works to establish a program giving all of its employees an ownership stake in the business.
David Kaefer, a former Spotify executive, is joining Podium‘s board of directors.Music Business Worldwide
GoldState Music, an investment firm established by Charles Goldstuck in 2022, has recently made a minority investment in Podium Entertainment, a prominent audiobook publisher. This investment was made in collaboration with Flexpoint Ford and Shamrock Capital, which acquired Podium from Presidio Investors. The announcement came on September 21, and while the financial details remain undisclosed, sources have indicated that the deal was valued at over $400 million.
GoldState Music primarily focuses on investing in music rights, music companies, and related technology. This investment in Podium marks the firm’s expansion into the book publishing sector. GoldState has successfully raised two significant funds for music rights acquisition, including a partnership with Flexpoint initiated in 2023 and a $500 million fund led by Northleaf Capital Partners and Ares Management in April 2025. Additionally, in February 2023, GoldState collaborated with London-listed Bridgepoint Group on a strategy directed towards growth equity investments in music and adjacent industries.
The partnership between GoldState and Flexpoint is not new; they previously collaborated on a $165 million funding round for Create Music Group in June 2024, showcasing their shared interests in music and media investments. The deal with Podium signifies Flexpoint’s strategic move into audiobook publishing, leveraging its experience with music assets and royalties.
Charles Goldstuck, the Managing Partner at GoldState, expressed enthusiasm about the investment, stating his excitement in backing the Podium team. He highlighted the potential for digital audio to grow significantly under the right production and distribution models, emphasizing Podium’s readiness to leverage the evolving audio landscape worldwide. Similarly, Mike Morris, Managing Director at Flexpoint Ford, recognized the parallels between the impact of streaming on independent musicians and the current opportunities available to independent authors through digital audio. He praised Podium for its unique platform that helps authors reach global audiences while maintaining ownership of their intellectual property.
Podium Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, represents over 3,000 authors and is recognized as the third-largest audiobook publisher in the industry. The company has seen remarkable growth, expanding its catalog from approximately 1,200 titles in 2019, when Presidio first invested, to over 15,000 titles today. Under Presidio’s ownership, Podium also ventured beyond audiobooks, branching into ebook and print formats while acquiring Bookstat, a book sales data service. Notably, Podium has established itself as the second-largest publisher of romance audiobooks and the largest publisher for science fiction and fantasy audiobooks in the United States.
Scott Dickey, CEO of Podium, reflected on the successful journey since 2019, thanking Presidio Investors for their support. He emphasized that this partnership with Flexpoint, Shamrock, and GoldState is an opportunity to enhance Podium’s capabilities for authors and storytellers, reaffirming their commitment to delivering stories and expanding audiences. Dickey’s comments underscore Podium’s distinctive service model aimed at attracting and retaining top talent in storytelling.
Karl Schade, Managing Partner of Presidio Investors, celebrated the progress made during their ownership and expressed optimism for the future of Podium under its new investors. Shamrock Capital, which manages approximately $7.4 billion in assets as of mid-2026, has a diverse investment portfolio across media, entertainment, and communications. Notably, Shamrock was involved in the sale of Taylor Swift’s master recordings back to her in May 2025.
To further enhance its employee engagement, Podium plans to implement a program, in collaboration with Ownership Works, that will provide all employees an ownership stake in the company. Additionally, David Kaefer, a former Spotify executive, is set to join Podium’s board of directors, indicating a strategic move to strengthen the leadership team as the company navigates its next phase of growth.
In summary, GoldState Music’s investment in Podium Entertainment marks a significant development in the audiobook publishing industry, reflecting the growing importance and potential of digital audio content. The collaboration of GoldState, Flexpoint Ford, and Shamrock Capital not only highlights the robust investment interest in audiobooks but also signals a transformative period for authors and storytellers as they navigate the digital landscape. Podium’s commitment to empowering authors while expanding its catalog and market presence positions it well for continued growth in the audiobook sector.
