Spotify has canceled the Archetypes podcast, hosted by the Duchess of Sussex, due to inadequate content development to meet the $20 million (£15 million) arrangement struck with Prince Harry and Meghan in 2020. Archewell media company and Spotify declared their mutual decision to part ways in a joint statement. According to an Archewell Productions spokesman, the Duchess will continue to create material for the Archetypes audience on a separate platform.
Paris Hilton, Mindy Kaling, Mariah Carey, and Serena Williams were among the noteworthy guests on Archetypes, a podcast focused on overcoming labels that hold women back. Despite receiving the People’s Choice Award for Best Podcast in December, the show has not produced a new episode in the last nine months. The 12-part series included issues such as dispelling preconceptions, refuting falsehoods, and spotlighting activism.
In addition to Spotify, Prince Harry, and Meghan have agreements with Netflix, which has a documentary series on the pair, and Penguin Random House, which will publish Prince Harry’s upcoming memoir. Spotify’s move to let off 200 employees as it revises its podcast strategy coincided with the end of the Archetypes podcast.
How do you think this will impact Archewell’s business relationships with the other media platforms?