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Meghan Markle's 'Archetypes' Podcast Not Renewed for Second Season on Spotify

Meghan Markle's 'Archetypes' Podcast Not Renewed for Second Season on Spotify
Published 2 years ago on Jun 16, 2023

Hosted by the Duchess of Sussex, the podcast premiered in August of last year and featured notable guests such as Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, Mindy Kaling, Constance Wu, Paris Hilton, Issa Rae, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez over its 12-episode first season. It garnered significant attention and had the highest first-week streams at launch for a podcast in the U.S., as reported in last year's Spotify Wrapped list. 

"Archetypes" was part of Archewell's exclusive multiyear deal with Spotify, announced in late 2020. However, since the initial season and a holiday special released in December 2020, there has been limited output from the partnership. This departure from the norm, where exclusive Spotify deals usually involve multiple series or regular episode releases, has led to expectations that the deal between the two parties will not be extended, according to a source familiar with the situation. 

While the exact reasons for the non-renewal remain undisclosed, a representative for WME, which represents Markle and Archewell, stated that the team behind "Archetypes" is proud of the podcast they created at Spotify. The representative also mentioned that Meghan Markle is actively working on developing more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. 

Spotify declined to comment on the matter, and there has been no immediate response from Archewell regarding the decision. 

This development marks another notable departure from Spotify's roster of high-profile talent. After a period of substantial investment in podcast deals beginning in 2019, Spotify has shifted its approach to focus on profitability and cost management. This has resulted in the non-renewal or departure of various creators and studios, including Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground, Brené Brown, Esther Perel, and the anticipated conclusion of Jemele Hill's exclusive deal later this summer. 

Moreover, Spotify recently undertook restructuring measures, cutting approximately 200 jobs in its podcast division and merging its in-house studios Gimlet and Parcast under a unified brand called Spotify Studios. 

As Spotify continues to navigate the evolving podcasting landscape, its decisions regarding talent partnerships and internal operations reflect a strategic shift towards a more sustainable and profitable business model.

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