Archetypes Podcast Received Blame From Social Media For Spotify Layoffs
It was announced in June that Spotify was 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 Harry and Meghan's approximately $25 million deal was finalized in late 2020.
After laying off some 6% of the total company workforce in January, Spotify cut another 200 jobs earlier this summer, 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 slid down the charts the weeks prior to its cancellation, and Joe Rogan has received much criticism for controversial remarks and welcoming guests like Kanye West and Alex Jones. Some on social media have placed particular blame on Harry and Meghan for underdelivering on their deal, and in their perspective, leading directly to the recent layoffs:
Spotify executive Bill Simmons seemed to agree with this sentiment, and publicly called 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." The exec received criticism for perceived unprofessionalism after these comments hit the media.
Netflix Takes Opposite Route Of Spotify, Reaffirms Confidence In Harry & Meghan Development Deal
Unlike the negative vibes coming from Spotify and executives like Simmons after the cancellation of Archetypes and the end of Harry and Meghan's deal, another media titan has decided to reassert their confidence in their own content deal with the royal couple: Netflix.
Following news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were parting ways with Spotify, a spokesperson for Netflix told People that they continue to have faith in their upcoming projects with the pair. "We value our partnership with Archewell Productions. Harry & Meghan was Netflix's biggest documentary debut ever, and we'll continue to work together on a number of projects, including the upcoming documentary series Heart of Invictus."
Heart of Invictus will follow athletes competing in Prince Harry's Invictus Games. The Games feature service members who have suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses, and have long been a passionate patronage for the Prince, a veteran of combat himself. It has also been reported that the Duke of Sussex plans to return to Africa for another documentary project to be produced in partnership with the streamer, and it's rumored that the Prince is also interested in making a doc about mother Princess Diana for the company.
Despite outlets like Rolling Stone referring to Harry and Meghan being in their "flop era", it seems that the duo have only just begun to figure out what does and doesn't work for their brand.
The royal couple's Netflix deal is set to last through 2025, though it remains to be seen whether the streaming giant will renew the partnership after that point.