“Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series they have created together,” Spotify said in an emailed statement on Friday, though no further details were provided. did not clarify.
Spotify’s deal with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s production company, Archwell Audio, was announced at the end of 2020 as an exclusive multi-year partnership. The deal called for Prince Harry and Meghan to host and produce “a podcast that builds community through shared experiences and values.” Spotify said at the time that it would begin with a 2020 holiday special, with the first full series slated for 2021.
The couple’s first podcast series, Archetypes, which launched in August 2022, has been described as “a podcast that explores, dissects, and subverts the labels that hold women back.”
Although the first episode reached number one on Spotify’s ratings list, the podcast was not included in the platform’s top podcasts of 2022 list. While the podcast series got a lot of press, some commentators claimed the media was more interested in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s revelations. More than interviews with the podcast’s notable guests, they talked about their lives while they worked for the royal family.
The reasons behind the decision to end the partnership remain unclear, but as Spotify outlines a “strategic restructuring” strategy for its operations and global podcasts, the company will reduce its workforce to 200 people, representing 2 percent of its workforce. It came weeks after announcing the cuts. .
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the breakup, said a person familiar with the matter said the couple had a “standard of productivity required to receive full payment from the contract” (about $20). equivalent) was not satisfied. a million.
“The Archetypes team is proud of the podcast they’ve created on Spotify,” a representative for WME, the talent agency that represents Meghan Markle, told The Wall Street Journal. Meghan continues to develop more content for archetype audiences on different platforms. “
Since stepping down from the royal family in 2020, the couple have enjoyed a number of lucrative careers, including the six-hour documentary series “Harry and Meghan” produced for Netflix and the release of the controversial Prince Harry memoir “Spare.” made a deal. in January. Netflix called “Harry and Meghan” its most-watched documentary debut at the time of its launch, and “Spare” quickly became a bestseller.
Other top names also signed exclusive deals with Spotify, which have since ended. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama announced a deal with Spotify in 2019, but ended their podcast exclusivity deal in April 2022. Bloomberg reported that the couple are leaving Spotify in hopes of making their content available on multiple platforms.
