Prince Harry, Meghan Markle part ways with Spotify amid $20M deal

royal family

To Nicky Cox

June 15, 2023 | 10:22 PM

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have cut ties with Spotify just three years after agreeing to a $20 million deal.

The duo’s podcast, “Archetypes,” which topped the charts last year, will not air a second season, a source confirmed to the New York Post on Thursday.

The insider added that the couple didn’t produce enough content to receive the full multi-million dollar bill.

In a joint statement, Spotify and Archewell Audio said, “We have both agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we created together.”

But a better offer from another company might change their minds.

“Meghan continues to develop more content for archetype audiences on other platforms,” ​​a spokesperson for Ashwell Productions added to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news. rice field.

Hosted by Markle, Archetypes was founded to “research, analyze, and defy the labels that hold women back.”

Although no new episodes have aired since November 2022, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, and Mindy Kaling, have previously spoken with Markle in hour-long episodes.

Representatives for both men did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

The news comes less than six months after show producer Rebecca Sananes announced she was leaving the podcast amid uncertainty about its future.

It’s unclear exactly why the Duke and Duchess decided to pull out of their deal with Spotify, but they questioned the partnership after the company’s contractor Joe Rogan made controversial comments about the coronavirus vaccine. on his podcast, which reportedly began embracing .

A source said in 2021, “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won’t be too excited about Spotify. It’s very embarrassing for them.” “And they have to think, ‘Do you really want to ride the same banner as Joe Rogan?'”

Markle recently signed a deal with talent agency WME, which also represents the duo’s content production label, Archwell.

“The agency will focus on building business ventures across different aspects of the agency and its broader ecosystem, including film and television production, brand partnerships and more,” the company announced in April.

Markle’s WME team also includes Endeavor CEO Ari Emmanuel, whom Markle believes can be a Hollywood “power player.”

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A source told Page Six that the ‘Suits’ former has no plans to return to acting, but hopes an Uber agent in Hollywood will help her take her career to new heights. They say they want it.

“This deal is about making Meghan a Hollywood powerhouse,” a source said. “Of course she’s an actress, but this isn’t about movies or shows starring Meghan, it’s about creating projects that Meghan produces. Meghan wants to run a show.”

Despite cutting ties with the streaming giant, the Sussexes are still raking in cash with an ongoing five-year deal with Netflix, believed to be around $100 million.