Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry and Meghan’s multimillion-dollar deal Spotify to end
By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria
The two parties announced on Thursday that the multimillion-dollar agreement that a media company run by Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had with streaming giant Spotify will end by mutual agreement.
Since signing the agreement in 2020, the couple has only produced one show under their Archewell Audio podcast imprint for a reported US$20 million (£15.6 million or A$29.1 million).
In a number of markets, that show, the duchess’s Archetypes, has topped the podcast charts for the outlet because listeners love her conversations with influential women.
However, the agreement is coming to an end, as both parties stated in a joint statement.
According to the statement, “Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways” and “are proud of the series that we made together.”
According to an unidentified source, Spotify had been anticipating more content from Archewell Audio. Another unidentified source stated that Harry and Meghan wanted to move away from exclusive Spotify distribution in order to find a new home for their audio projects. Both of these sources were cited by Variety.
“Producing programming that uplifts and entertains audiences around the world,” “spotlights diverse perspectives and voices,” and “builds community through shared experience, narratives, and values” are all part of Archewell Audio’s mission.
The Obamas also ended their agreement with Spotify to exclusively distribute their podcast Higher Ground last year. Spotify stated that it would not extend the agreement in that scenario; At the time, it was said that the couple disagreed with Spotify regarding the number of shows with the former US president and first lady on them. Instead, the Obamas signed a first-look agreement with Amazon’s Audible.
The podcast, the 38-year-old prince’s tell-all autobiography Spare, and an agreement with Netflix to produce streaming content, including a docuseries about their relationship with Britain’s royal family, have been Harry and Meghan’s primary means of earning money since they left the royal life.
Harry has most recently been in the UK as part of a phone-hacking trial in the high court. He claims that tabloid media hacked his phone and used other illegal methods to get information about him.
