The Unravelling of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Lucrative Spotify Podcast Deal

Following their decision to step back as senior working members of the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embarked on a series of significant ventures, with one of the most notable being their podcast deal with audio powerhouse Spotify. In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a highly speculated $30 million agreement with Spotify, establishing their podcast company, Archewell Audio, dedicated to creating exclusive, uplifting audio content for Spotify’s vast audience.

However, the partnership proved to be short-lived, as less than a year after the debut of Meghan’s podcast, titled “Archetypes,” the collaboration came to an abrupt end. Spotify and the Duke and Duchess released a joint statement, asserting that they had mutually agreed to part ways while expressing pride in the creation of Archetypes.

Nevertheless, since the announcement, several individuals with insider knowledge of Spotify have publicly criticised the couple, with one even labelling them as “f**king grifters.” While this controversy has fueled criticism against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, industry experts argue that the collapse of the deal signifies a broader shift by Spotify away from exclusive and expensive ventures.

The dissolution of the partnership also coincides with a pivotal moment in the couple’s post-royal career. Having recently relocated to California, the Sussexes have embarked on establishing their own foundation and securing lucrative commercial agreements focused on generating their own content. Simultaneously, Spotify, a company heavily investing in podcasting, found itself well-positioned to capitalise on the couple’s departure from the royal family. Meghan’s initial venture, Archetypes, soared to the top of Spotify’s podcast charts during its premiere week in August, featuring interviews with prominent guests like Mariah Carey, Serena Williams, and Paris Hilton, exploring the damaging stereotypes women encounter.

However, the podcast only produced a single season consisting of 12 episodes. In recent months, Meghan has quietly implemented changes that suggest she is preparing to enter a new phase of her career. Notably, she has enlisted the representation of Ari Emmanuel from WME, renowned as one of the entertainment industry’s most formidable operators, who also manages figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams. This development raises the question: What lies ahead for Meghan as she ventures into her next endeavours?