After paying more than $20 million to Meghan Markle for her Archetypes podcast in late 2020, Spotify has laid off 200 more jobs from its workforce after eliminating 6,600 in January…and some on Twitter are blaming the Sussexes for the layoffs, calling them “overpaid.”
Archetypes Podcast Receives Blame From Twitter Users For Spotify Layoffs
After laying off some 6% of the total company workforce in January, Spotify has cut another 200 jobs, with the company blaming the cuts on "strategic realignment": "We are expanding our partnership efforts with leading podcasters from across the globe with a tailored approach optimized for each show and creator," wrote Spotify's head of podcast business Sahar Elhabashi on the streamer's blog. "This fundamental pivot from a more uniform proposition will allow us to support the creator community better. However, doing so requires adapting…As a result, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to make a strategic realignment of our group and reduce our global podcast vertical and other functions by approximately 200 people, or 2% of Spotify’s workforce."
It appears that the streaming giant has failed to receive the desired results from its podcast sector, which has famously invested millions upon millions of dollars into big-name podcasters like Joe Rogan and Meghan Markle herself. It was reported in 2021 that Meghan and Harry received $25 million in a combo audio deal with Spotify; Rogan's The Joe Rogan Experience podcast netted at least $200 million from the company to score the show exclusively for its platform. However, Meghan's Archetypes podcast has slid down the charts in recent weeks, and Joe Rogan has received much criticism for controversial remarks and welcoming guests like Kanye West and Alex Jones.
Some Twitter users seem perfectly happy to place blame at Meghan's feet for the layoffs, though:
Spotify overpaid for the dross that was Archetypes, so only sensible the contract was not renewed. What Scabies fails to mention is that many hundreds of Spotify employees lost their jobs because of this overspending. Many were not even consulted as per employment law.
— King of Crows (@CaptainKennie) June 16, 2023
Spotify ended their $20 million dollar deal with Meghan Markle and her “SPARE” Harry.
— Judy (@judytgolf) June 17, 2023
Harry and Meghan’s Hollywood dream’s collapsing. Spotify paid $20 million for a pitiful 12 episodes of woke mumbo jumbo and insincere celebrity moaning. An irresponsible investment. Netflix deal seems to be collapsing too. Other than slagging off their family more, what’s left?
— Dan Wootton (@danwootton) June 16, 2023
Others are more open-minded in their approach:
So Spotify’s terrible business model is the fault of Harry and Meghan. Spotify was sinking before them. Glad they got money out of Spotify before it went under.
— Eena (@DinxGee) June 17, 2023
As someone who's been in the podcasting industry for 15 years, trust me: Podcasters switch up production deals all the time. I have, the Obamas have. There's nothing especially shocking about the Sussexes & Spotify mutually agreeing to move on. https://t.co/kFC499LhzQ
— Kristen Meinzer (@kristenmeinzer) June 16, 2023
Archetypes, the podcast from Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was an outstanding success worldwide. Number one Podcast in multiple Countries. Spotify need success, why would they deliberately part company with their award winning Podcast. Try thinking haters.
— Jack Evans (@Jack4Evanss) June 16, 2023
Archetypes Podcast Cancelled At Spotify
It was just announced on Thursday that Spotify is officially parting ways with Archewell Audio, the audio production company founded by Meghan and husband Prince Harry. The companies issued a joint statement saying that they "mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together." The Archetypes project was the only one completed under the Archewell Audios banner for Spotify since the deal was finalized in late 2020.
WME, the talent agency that recently signed Meghan, stated "The team behind Archetypes remain proud of the podcast they created at Spotify. Meghan is continuing to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform." It seems conversations are ongoing to see if Archetypes can live on at another streamer.
Some blame Meghan and Harry's recent PR struggles for the cancellation—from the controversy surrounding Harry's memoir Spare to the media coverage of their reported car chase—but it should be noted that the Sussexes are only some of the big names that signed lucrative deals with Spotify recently, and their $20-$25 million payout pales in comparison to the $200+ million snagged by the likes of Joe Rogan. However, insiders close to Spotify did tell the Wall Street Journal that the royal couple failed to meet the productivity benchmark required by the streamer.
Spotify executive Bill Simmons has received criticism for perceived unprofessionalism after publicly calling Harry and Meghan "grifters" just a day after the Archetypes cancellation was announced. On his own podcast, The Ringer, Simmons said "I wish I'd been involved in the Meghan and Harry leave Spotify negotiation. The f---ing grifters. That's the podcast that we should've launched with them."
He went on to say, "I gotta get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try to help him with podcast ideas. The grifters."
Goodbye Spotify. Joined with #ArchetypesWithMeghan and leaving with #PrinceHarry and #MeghanMarkle . We are Never Afraid To Leave the Table, When Respect Is No Longer Being Served! Tell that Donkey Wipe Bill Simmons to keep Harry and Meghan name out of his piehole! #Sussexsquad pic.twitter.com/PHyrIp1KxP
— QUEENS OF HEART (@korellamatters) June 17, 2023
Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not yet further commented on the cancellation or Simmons' controversial comments.
