The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have parted ways with Spotify, ending their lucrative deal to produce podcasts, according to a joint statement from their company and the streaming giant. The decision to part ways was described as mutual. Spotify has confirmed that it will not renew Meghan’s podcast Archetypes for a second series, which aired 12 episodes from August 2022. The original contract was estimated to be worth $25 million (£18 million) in late 2020.
The podcast deal was a significant commercial venture for Harry and Meghan after they stepped down from their royal duties and relocated to the United States in 2020. When the partnership was announced, Prince Harry expressed his intention to present different perspectives and voices that might not have been heard before.
Archetypes featured Meghan engaging in conversations with prominent figures such as Serena Williams and Mariah Carey, discussing the stereotypes faced by women. In a statement released by Spotify and Archewell Audio, the couple’s content creation label, they expressed pride in the series they had produced together.
In December, Archetypes received the top podcast award at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles. Meghan shared her enthusiasm for the project, describing the writing and creative process as something she enjoyed immensely. She expressed her love for engaging in meaningful conversations with diverse and inspiring guests, describing it as a labor of love.
According to a spokeswoman from Archewell, Meghan is currently developing more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform. This development follows Spotify’s recent announcement of cutting 200 jobs in its podcast division, which comes after a period of significant investment in the medium. Spotify stated that this move is part of a strategic realignment.
