Meghan Markle Faces $20M Lawsuit: Spotify Demands Payment for Breaking Exclusivity Agreement

Meghan Markle's podcast, "Archewell Archetypes," has returned with a fresh new look and a new home. Lemonada, a media company and podcast network, announced the show's re-launch on its official Twitter account, now known as X. The podcast, which delves into the world of archetypes, is now available on all platforms, marking a departure from its previous exclusive availability on Spotify. During its run on Spotify in 2022, "Archewell Archetypes" featured green lettering in its artwork. However, with the revamped version, Meghan's art now features pink tones, and the Lemonada logo has been added to the new artwork. Meghan announced her partnership with Lemonada on February 13th, emphasizing the podcast's continued focus on investigating, dissecting, and challenging the labels that hold women back.

The podcast's first season, comprising 13 episodes dating from August to November 2022, is now accessible for streaming on all platforms. In this season, notable guests like Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton explored common stereotypes that hinder women's progress. While the previous iteration of the podcast was exclusively available on Spotify due to a contractual agreement, Meghan has sold the streaming rights for "Archewell Archetypes" to other platforms. This move has raised legal concerns, as Spotify representatives expressed surprise and indicated that a lawsuit is likely due to the violation of the copyright contract.

Meghan's decision to re-release the previous 13 episodes on various platforms demonstrates her attempt to expand the podcast's reach beyond Spotify. However, it also highlights the absence of new episodes since her departure from Spotify and her subsequent partnership with Lemonada. Critics have questioned Meghan's commitment to producing new content, speculating that it may be several years before she launches new podcasts on Lemonada, as the media company lacks the resources to provide the same level of support that she had with her previous production team.

Furthermore, Lemonada's funding model requires Meghan to secure her own sponsors, a significant revenue source for many podcasters. This shift in responsibility may impact the financial success of her future podcasting endeavors.

It's worth noting that Meghan's podcasting history includes instances of controversial storytelling, such as the false claim she made in a previous episode about a fire breaking out at the Governor's Mansion during her tour of South Africa, where she suggested that Archie was in danger, despite not being present in the room. Interested listeners now have the option to revisit these stories for a fee of $4.99, as the podcast's previous episodes are available for purchase.

In June 2023, Meghan and Prince Harry's production company, Archewell Audio, ended its $20 million deal with Spotify, signifying a parting of ways between the two parties.