Spotify and Netflix bosses were reportedly “underwhelmed” by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s “lack of productivity”.
The allegations came after Harry and Meghan’s $20 million (£15.7m), multi-year podcast deal with Spotify came to an end after just one season.
Staff from the couple’s production company, Archewell, allegedly said that it “often lacks direction”, it has been reported. Harry and Meghan at times also reportedly “seem surprised by the work required to finish entertainment projects”.
The Wall Street Journal made the claims. The US newspaper said Archewell sources have revealed that “most potential initiatives . . . follow a similar route: Big idea, subpar execution”.
The report also claims that Meghan had written to pop star Taylor Swift to ask her to appear on her podcast — only for the singer to reject the invitation through a representative.
But the reported sources are not the first to allege problems with the pair’s work ethic and self-entitlement.
Spotify’s head of podcast innovation and monetisation, Bill Simmons, last week called Harry and Meghan “grifters” after their podcast deal with the streaming giant came to an end.
The Ringer podcast network founder — who sold the network to Spotify for $200m in 2020 — criticised the pair on the Bill Simmons podcast.
“I wish I had been involved in the Meghan and Harry leave Spotify negotiation,” Simmons said. “The f****** grifters. That’s the podcast we should have launched with them.
“I have got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. It’s one of my best stories … F*** them. The grifters.”
A joint statement from Archewell Audio, the couple’s content-creation label, and Spotify confirmed the split. They said they had “mutually agreed to part ways” and were “proud of the series we made together”.
Spotify confirmed it was not renewing Meghan’s podcast Archetypes, which ran for 12 episodes from August 2022, for a second series.
The contract was estimated to be worth $25m (£18m) in late 2020.
When it was announced, Prince Harry said it would “bring forward different perspectives and voices that perhaps you haven’t heard before”.
Archetypes in December won the top podcast award at the People’s Choice Award in Los Angeles.
Simmons had previously criticised Prince Harry when he was under contract to Spotify. In January, he said it was “embarrassing” to be affiliated with the same company.
“Shoot this guy to the sun,” Simmons said on his podcast. “I’m so tired of this guy. What does he bring to the table?
“He just whines about s*** and keeps giving interviews. Who gives a s***? Who cares about your life? You weren’t even the favourite son. … You live in f***ing Montecito and you just sell documentaries and podcasts and nobody cares what you have to say about anything unless you talk about the royal family and you just complain about them.”
Why was the Duke and Duchess’s Spotify deal cancelled?
Archetypes had, in 2022, topped podcast charts for Spotify in several markets.
However, according to a source cited by Variety, Spotify had been expecting more content from Archewell Audio. Nearly three years after signing the contract, only one series has been released.
Another source said Harry and Meghan wanted to move away from exclusive Spotify production to find a new home for their podcasts.
Sources close to Spotify also said the royal couple did not meet the productivity benchmark required to receive the full headline payout from the deal, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Another one of Spotify’s high-profile exclusive podcast deals was with Barack and Michelle Obama, which ended a year ago. In that case, sources said the Obamas didn’t want their audio projects to be exclusive to Spotify.
What was Archetypes about?
With headline-grabbing guests, millions of dollars, and huge people power behind the show (it was made by a team of 28), the podcast was met with much fanfare when it launched in August 2022. In the series, the Duchess chatted to celebrities, historians and experts about the history of the often harmful stereotypes that women face.
Tennis star Serena Williams, singer Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton and actress Mindy Kaling were among the guests.
Meghan wrote on the couple’s Archewell website at the show’s launch: “I loved digging my hands into the process, sitting up late at night in bed, working on the writing and creative. And I loved digging deep into meaningful conversation with my diverse and inspiring guests, laughing and learning with them. It has been such a labour of love.”
Archewell Audio’s company mission is “producing programming that uplifts and entertains audiences around the world”. The company also “spotlights diverse perspectives and voices” and “builds community through shared experience, narratives, and values”.
