Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have ‘parted ways’ with streaming giant Spotify after releasing just 13 episodes of podcast content over three years in a deal reportedly worth $20 million for the couple. ‘ agreed.
But as entertainment experts say, Newsweekdespite the obvious setbacks, the pair earned impressive credit for furthering their careers in Hollywood.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry signed a deal with Spotify to produce podcast content for the platform in 2020, with Meghan’s show starring Meghan in 12 episodes over the course of three years. prototypeand a one-off joint holiday show with Harry.
On June 15, the couple released a joint statement with Spotify, announcing that “Spotify and Archewell Audio (the couple’s audio production company) have agreed to part ways and are proud of the series they have created together.”
Mr. Arshwell also issued a statement. wall street journalfurther explained that the Duchess is still exploring a relationship with the People’s Choice Award winner. prototype Acquire a podcast audience through another company.
“The team behind prototype We are proud of the podcasts they have created on Spotify,” a spokesperson said, adding, “Meghan continues to develop more content.” prototype Your audience is on another platform. ”
Although the platform in question was not disclosed, Prince Harry and Meghan are also following in the footsteps of another high-profile power couple, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, who once worked with Spotify. may move to bullish.
The Obamas signed with Spotify in 2019, signed a two-year deal, and then left the platform to sign with Spotify in the summer of 2022.
Duchess Meghan’s debut prototype The series was praised for tackling stereotypes women face, and Meghan won a People’s Choice Award and a Gracie Award. According to entertainment expert and founder of Mark Meets, Mark Boardman, she has given new collaborators both honors as proof that she has the necessary qualities as a host and producer in the entertainment space. It is said that you can take a certain prize with you.
”prototype Winning the People’s Choice Award and the Gracie Award solidify Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s competence as award-winning media personalities and ensure they remain in the public eye.” Mr Boardman said. Newsweek.
“While the response and ratings may be disappointing, it was by no means a failure. By raising awareness of stereotypes about women, Meghan has proven she can try anything and move on to anything next.” rice field.
Boardman said of a possible move to Amazon that such a jump would be “the only viable alternative”, the way other mainstream show hosts, such as British car shows, are doing. The royal couple suggested that content could be converted for another platform.show top gearHosts who moved from the BBC to the front of Amazon grand tour in 2016.
“Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would have learned lessons and experiences [at Spotify]With less economic pressure and more laissez-faire goals to achieve, they are in a strong position to create their own content on their own terms,” he said.
But the couple needed a vacation with one of their two big media partners. [the Sussexes also signed a content creation deal with Netflix in 2020]is not without disappointment and may even prove detrimental in terms of fees that can be charged.
“Going forward, this kind of deal with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be harder to come by with lower fees to reduce risk,” Boardman said. “My boss thinks about the total ‘transaction cost’ to make sure it makes business sense.”
News of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s split from Spotify comes after Spotify recently laid off 200 staff in a restructuring of its podcasting division. It also comes just months after Dawn Ostroff, chief executive of the content and advertising business, stepped down from the company.
Ostroff was instrumental in recruiting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and was enthusiastic about the couple when their collaboration was first announced in December 2020.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may live in California, but the power of their voices rests on their status as citizens of the world,” Ostroff said at the time.
“The fact that they’re leveraging the prodigious power of Spotify’s podcasts while elevating underrepresented voices is testament to their appreciation of the potential of audio storytelling,” she said. “We are proud to partner with the Duke and Duchess and look forward to hearing from our listeners firsthand what they and other creators are up to through our global platform. I have.”
Newsweek I reached out to Spotify via email for comment.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek’s Royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on Twitter. @jrcrawforsmith and read his story Newsweek’s Royals Facebook page.
Do you have any questions you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer about Charles III, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry or their families? Email Royals@newsweek.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
