Meghan Markle’s Archetypes Podcast Ends Contract with Spotify

Meghan Markle’s podcast, Archetypes, will not be renewed for a second series by Spotify, as the streaming service and the Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell media company have decided to end their collaboration. The podcast fell short of producing enough content to fulfill the expectations outlined in the $20 million agreement signed by Meghan and Prince Harry in 2020.

In a joint statement, both Spotify and Archewell expressed their mutual agreement to part ways and expressed pride in the series they created together. While Archetypes did not meet the criteria for continuation on Spotify, Meghan is actively involved in developing new content for the Archetypes audience on an alternative platform, indicating her dedication to delivering engaging content.

Archetypes, characterized as a podcast challenging societal labels that hold women back, featured notable guests such as Paris Hilton, Mindy Kaling, Mariah Carey, and Serena Williams. The podcast aired a total of 12 episodes, exploring thought-provoking themes like Breaking Down the Bimbo, Upending the Angry Black Woman Myth, and The Audacity of the Activist. The series received recognition by winning the top podcast award at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles in December.

In addition to the Spotify partnership, Meghan and Prince Harry have established agreements with Netflix, resulting in the release of a documentary series about their lives, and Penguin Random House, who will publish Prince Harry’s memoir, titled Spare.

This news coincides with Spotify’s recent announcement to cut 200 jobs as part of its revised podcast strategy. Meanwhile, Prince Harry is currently engaged in a legal case, suing the publisher of the Daily Mirror for damages. He alleges that journalists associated with the publication utilized unlawful methods to obtain information. Mirror Group Newspapers denies these allegations.