It was revealed that the royal couple had only produced a mere 12 podcasts in two and a half years. Ek diplomatically mentioned that while Spotify aimed to bring joy to its consumers, the content from the Rogue Royals fell short of expectations. On a more blunt note, Bill Simmons, a prominent figure in the podcasting world, referred to Harry and Meghan as "grifters" in June.
Specifically, the couple had failed to fulfill their end of the bargain, with Meghan's "Archetypes" series failing to generate excitement and Harry reportedly suggesting ideas that were deemed laughable, according to an insider source.
Though the Sussexes haven't publicly addressed this setback, it was undoubtedly a humiliating experience for them. Following these events, Meghan Markle appears to have plans for a podcasting comeback, even after the collapse of her multi-million dollar deal with Spotify this year.
Reports suggest that she may relaunch her well-received podcast, "Archetypes," but this time on Audible, an Amazon-owned platform that competes with Spotify. This potential deal with Audible is said to be worth millions, and despite the previous Spotify setback, Audible's audience could be interested in Harry and Meghan's offerings.
The royal couple is in the process of revamping and refocusing their efforts to establish themselves and their production company as major players across various multimedia platforms. They are gearing up for a strong comeback in the New Year, as revealed by a source quoted in the Daily Express. Business advisors for Harry and Meghan are reportedly in discussions with Audible, and Megan's new team at the talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) is actively involved in these talks.
The couple already has strong ties to Audible, with Harry narrating his memoir on audiobook, which is currently being offered for free to listeners as part of a promotional deal. Audible executives are reportedly enthusiastic about this collaboration and interested in a long-term partnership with the Sussexes. Similar to the deal the Obamas have with Audible, any agreement with Harry and Meghan would grant Audible the first right of refusal for all their future audio projects. However, if Audible declines, the couple would be free to explore other avenues.
