Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will be parting ways with streaming giant Spotify, ending their multimillion-dollar deal with the media group. The couple had signed the agreement in 2020, and since then, they have produced one series under their Archewell Audio podcast imprint. Their show, Archetypes, hosted by Meghan Markle, garnered significant success, topping podcast charts in various markets and attracting a large audience with its conversations featuring influential women.
In a joint statement, Spotify and Archewell Audio confirmed the mutual decision to end their partnership, expressing pride in the series they created together. While the specific reasons for the termination were not disclosed, Variety reported that Spotify had expected more content from Archewell Audio, while another source suggested that Prince Harry and Meghan wished to explore other platforms for their audio projects instead of exclusive distribution through Spotify.
Archewell Audio’s mission revolves around producing programming that uplifts and entertains global audiences, highlighting diverse perspectives, fostering community through shared experiences, narratives, and values.
This isn’t the first time Spotify has seen a high-profile podcast deal come to an end. Former US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama also concluded their exclusive distribution deal with Spotify for their podcast Higher Ground. The Obamas later signed a first-look agreement with Amazon’s Audible.
Since stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan have been actively involved in media ventures to generate income. In addition to the podcast, the couple has published Prince Harry’s autobiography, titled “Spare,” and secured a production agreement with Netflix to develop streaming content, including a documentary series focused on their relationship with the royal family.
Recently, Prince Harry has been involved in a phone-hacking trial in the UK, where he has alleged being a victim of phone hacking and other illegal information-gathering practices by tabloid media.