Meghan Markle has signed a new deal which will find a new home for her podcast, months after a dramatic departure from Spotify, with whom she had a multi-million dollar contract.
New podcast partner
Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media, according to Deadline. The podcast company will distribute Archetypes, Meghan’s podcast previously produced as a Spotify exclusive, and also produce a new podcast hosted by the Duchess.
Lemonada is the producer of more than 50 podcasts, including Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as well as shows by Sarah Silverman, Samantha Bee and Jennette McCurdy.
“I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting,” Meghan said, according to Deadline. “Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024.”
“Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works. I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”
Lemonada CEO Jessica Cordova Kramer also expressed excitement about the new deal, saying the company was “blown away” by Meghan’s “collaborative spirit and clear vision.”
“We are beyond honored that Meghan has trusted us to help democratize access to Archetypes, and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon,” she told Deadline. “Meghan’s talent as host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are thrilled to co-create a new series with her that fosters her approach to creating art that matters.”
The financials behind the new deal are not yet clear, nor are details about what Meghan’s new podcast will look like.
Previous Spotify deal collapsed
The new deal comes months after Meghan and Harry’s dramatic break-up with streaming giant Spotify, just three years after agreeing to a reported $20 million deal.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed the deal months after their historic break with the British royal family, in which they stepped back from senior royal duties, relocated to California and made bombshell accusations against The Firm.
The plan was for Meghan and Harry to produce several podcasts for Spotify under their Archewell Audio, podcasts that centered on “shared experiences, powerful narratives, and universal values.”
Archetypes was the only recurring podcast the royals produced for Spotify. Hosted by Meghan, the show was centered on exploring stereotypes against women, with guests such as Serena Williams, Mariah Carey and Mindy Kaling.
The podcast aired 12 episodes between August and November 2022. It received mixed reviews from critics, but was a ratings hit, and debuted at #1 on the podcast charts in several countries.
But there was trouble behind the scenes. According to the Wall Street Journal, Spotify execs were frustrated by how long it took to get Archetypes to air, the inexperience of the Archewell team, and Meghan reportedly asking for last-minute changes in the editing. Discussions about a season 2 of the podcast stalled for months before it was ultimately canceled.
The Sussexes also failed to produce any other podcasts under the multi-million dollar contract. Harry was supposed to host his own show, but struggled to land on an idea. According to Bloomberg, one of Harry’s ideas was to interview controversial figures — including Mark Zuckerberg, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump — and discuss how their childhood trauma shaped their lives. In another idea, he hoped to have Pope Francis on as a guest.
Finally, it was announced last June that Meghan and Harry had officially parted ways with Spotify. “Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together,” their joint statement read.
