Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have parted ways with Spotify.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archwell Audio and Spotify confirmed in a joint statement to USA TODAY on Friday that the streaming giant’s podcast production has caught the royal couple’s attention and is nearing the end of a lucrative deal.
“Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series they created together,” the statement said. The reason for the breakup has not been disclosed.
The move comes three years after Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan Markle, 41, were announced to be engaged and less than a year after the former Meghan Markle’s podcast “Archetypes” began. rice field.
They released their first digital audio program under a deal with Spotify in December 2020, featuring celebrity guests and their then-toddler son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor speaking the first recorded words of the royal family. It was a holiday special.
According to Spotify’s description, Meghan’s “Archetypes” was touted as “a podcast that explores, dissects and subverts labels that seek to oppress women.”
“I will be speaking to women who are familiar with how these typecasts are shaping our stories,” Meghan said in the show’s trailer. “And we’re going to talk to historians to understand how we got here in the first place.”
The Duchess of Sussex has released 13 episodes, interviewing celebrities like Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, and Serena Williams about stereotypes like “sluts” and “angry black women.”
The series topped the Spotify charts in seven countries, including the US and UK, and won best podcast at last year’s People’s Choice Awards. “Archetype” was the only series released by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the streaming platform.
Tech companies are cutting costs in a tough economic environment, and Spotify is unaffected. Six months after announcing that it would cut 6% of its global workforce, or about 600 jobs, Spotify announced last week that it would cut another 200 jobs.
The company announced at the time that it would integrate podcast networks Parcast and Gimlet into its Spotify Studios operations.
“prototype”:Meghan explores female stereotypes in first Spotify series
In 2020, the royal couple also signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce scripted series, documentary series, documentaries, feature films and children’s programming.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Netflix Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos have jointly announced that their company will focus on “creating a wide range of programming about stories and issues that resonate”. . For me personally, it also includes highlighting the issues that her Archewell, a non-profit organization, focuses on. “
Last year, the royal couple released a six-part documentary series called “Harry & Meghan,” sharing perspectives on romance, relationships with the press, and separation from family members.
“When the stakes are this high, don’t you think it makes more sense to listen to us?” Meghan said when asked during the show about the purpose of the documentary.
The Netflix series included shocking allegations about Prince Harry’s falling out with his brother, the stress that led to Meghan Markle’s miscarriage, and racism in British tabloids.
Netflix currently has several other Sussex projects in development, including a nature documentary and an animated show celebrating inspiring women.
Contributors: Maria Puente, Rasha Ali, Charles Trepany, USA TODAY.Michelle Chapman, Associated Press
