A Spotify chief executive has suggested Harry and Meghan’s £18 million podcast deal fell through because it failed to keep consumers happy after the Sussexes released just 12 podcasts in two-and-a-half years.
Daniel Ek, who made a rare media appearance nearly four months after it was announced that the Archetypes podcast would not be renewed for a second season, admitted that some of Spotify’s innovative ideas haven’t gone to plan.
Meghan’s multimillion-dollar deal with Spotify was terminated in June following a “mutual” decision between the streaming giant and Archewell Audio, the duchess and Prince Harry’s company.
Sources close to the multimillion-dollar deal the couple signed in 2020 said it was terminated after the couple failed to produce enough content to warrant a full payout.
Shedding new light on the decision not to renew Harry and Meghan’s agreement, Spotify boss Ek told the BBC: “We thought there was a need for new innovation here. We thought we could offer a great experience that would both make consumers very happy and open up new opportunities for new creators.”
He added: “And the truth is, some of it worked, some of it didn’t. We learn from their experiences and move on, and we wish everyone we didn’t renew well in the future.”
Megan’s multimillion-dollar deal with Spotify was terminated in June. It was officially reported that this was a “mutual” decision between the streaming giant and Archewell Audio, the company of the Duchess and Prince Harry.
Daniel Ek (pictured) suggested Harry and Meghan’s £18million podcast deal fell through because it failed to satisfy consumers.
Ek spoke to the BBC’s Zoe Kleinman, who quizzed him on whether the 12 podcasts produced in Sussex over two-and-a-half years were worth £18 million. She said his response was “very diplomatic.”
Megan’s podcast was one of the most high-profile victims of the time. This comes after Spotify’s deal with Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company ended last year.
In a conference call with financial analysts earlier this year, Ek acknowledged that mistakes were made during the $1 billion-plus boom as the company tried to establish itself as a top competitor in the industry.
After it was revealed that Harry and Meghan’s podcast would not be renewed, Spotify chief executive Bill Simmons called the couple “fucking scammers”, which is an Americanism for scammers.
Simmons, head of podcast innovation and monetization at Spotify, condemned the pair on an episode of his own podcast.
“Damn scammers. This is the podcast we had to launch with them,” he said.
“I had to get drunk one night and tell the story of a Zoom I had with Harry to try to help him with a podcast idea. This is one of my best stories.”
In June, it was reported that Harry was hoping to interview Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Pope Francis and Mark Zuckerberg about their upbringings and childhood traumas on a Spotify podcast.
Megan’s podcast Archetypes (pictured) only aired 12 episodes before it was cancelled.
Meghan Markle’s Spotify podcast featured appearances from Paris Hilton, Mindy Kaling and Serena Williams as it sought to “explore and break down the labels that seek to limit women.”
Despite the podcast not being renewed, filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) show that Archewell has “renewed” its trademark application for the podcast name Archetypes even after the deal with Spotify was already in place terminated.
However, late last month it was confirmed that the Duchess had abandoned her dreams of trademarking the podcast after the application was withdrawn following an unsuccessful 17-month battle to protect the name.
Meghan’s efforts to trademark the name began in March last year when the application was first filed. But in January, the USPTO rejected it due to “likelihood of confusion” with an existing trademark of the same name.
Archetypes, a word that first appeared in the English language 470 years ago, was already registered by the American company Project Miracle IP Holdings in May 2018.
Project Miracle has registered the name to “provide a website with blogs and non-downloadable publications in the form of articles in the areas of nutrition, fitness, sexuality, psychological self-improvement, personality identification and matching, personal relationships and dating, spirituality, horoscopes and astrology, fashion, music, and also reviews and book recommendations.”
The Sussexes’ lawyer in the case then filed for an “extension” to file a response, giving them until July 18 to respond to the USPTO’s “non-final action” to reject the trademark.
Harry and Meghan were spotted mingling with Hollywood stars Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres at a Kevin Costner fundraiser in September.
They performed as guests at Costner’s benefit concert for Santa Barbara first responders in Montecito.
At this time, it was announced that Spotify would not be renewing the podcast for another season, and the pair pulled out.
However, on July 24, the USPTO received a “petition to renew” the trademark application.
It was stated that Archewell “respectfully disagrees that there is a potential for confusion” and “requests that the denial be withdrawn.”
The statement was renewed shortly after the couple decided to end the battle once and for all last month when they pulled out by filing an “explicit statement of withdrawal.”
The podcast, which aired a total of 12 episodes, featured appearances from Paris Hilton, Mindy Kaling and Serena Williams as it sought to “explore and dismantle labels designed to limit women.”
It also won the People’s Choice Award in the 2022 Pop Podcast category.
Harry and Meghan put on an extraordinary display of flirtation and affection, red carpet style, during the Invictus Games last month in their first official public appearance together since May.
Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline that the tactile royals are re-establishing themselves as the world’s “celebrity power couple”.
Harry and Meghan put on an extraordinary display of flirtation and affection, red carpet style, during the Invictus Games last month.
Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline that the tactile royals are re-establishing themselves as the world’s “celebrity power couple”.
Their public displays of affection, after it was revealed Meghan had removed her engagement ring because the frame had become loose, came as friends of the couple denied rumors about their future in Hollywood and rumors of tension behind the scenes.
Ms James said: “Meghan and Harry’s body language does seem to signal that Harry and Meghan’s roadshow is back in the room.”
“It’s been a while since fans have participated in some of their signature rituals of togetherness as both a couple and a professional double act, but here they are, taking a celebrity-like applause with Harry back in his proud, protective pose accompanying him.” hand in hand with a very excited Megan.
“Their hands are mutually shaken, with Harry’s hand on top in a gesture of dominance, and Meghan’s fingers curled upward to show mutual affection as Harry leans in to talk to her.”
Harry traveled to Dusseldorf alone after a stopover in London. This summer, he and his wife held a large number of solo events separately.
Their last public appearance took place in May in New York, when Meghan was presented with the Women of Vision Award. Doria Ragland was also present.
In early August, Harry went on a boys-only Asian tour with best friend Nacho Figueras, while his wife went out with friends to watch Taylor Swift in Los Angeles and stayed home to care for Archie and Lilibet.
But during the Invictus Games, Meghan and Harry became closer to each other.
It comes amid rumors that Meghan is seeking a split of the brand from her husband after his best-selling book Spare, which contains a number of vicious attacks on his family, appeared to damage their popularity in the US and UK.
The Sussexes also made a surprise special guest appearance on Kevin Costner’s star-studded One805 Live! last month at its $26 million polo field in Santa Barbara.
The Sussexes’ warm reception at the event echoed their success at the Invictus Games in Germany, with crowds in Dusseldorf eagerly awaiting to meet Harry and Meghan as they watched various events at the 2023 tournament.
The Duke and Duchess rubbed shoulders with Hollywood royalty at the star-studded event and posed for photos with Costner, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia Di Rossi and Oprah Winfrey.