Spotify ‘takes over’ Sussex podcasts: Streaming giant is hiring producers to manage ‘every step’ of Harry and Meghan’s pet project
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archwell Audio was launched in December 2020
- £18million podcast deal with Spotify pledged to promote ‘shared values’
- But now that the audio giant has taken over production, only one show is streamed.
He started his £18million podcast deal a year ago with a pledge to promote ‘shared values’.
But it looks like Harry and Meghan’s pet project has suffered a setback, with audio giant Spotify reportedly taking over production.
The deal resulted in only one show being streamed, advertising it to in-house staff to cover ‘every step’ of the process.
Spotify announced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s partnership with Archwell Audio in December 2020 as ‘citizens of the world’ who wanted to ‘elevate underrepresented voices’.
But that month’s addition of a 33-minute “holiday special” featuring friends like Sir Elton John and James Corden – and the extremely private couple’s son Archie, speaking his first public words – has fallen into a deafening silence.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently working on documentaries and a cartoon series as part of another multimillion deal with Netflix.
Spotify said it expected the first ‘full series’ from Archwell Audio in 2021, but has not given any further updates since.
In July, Archwell hired Rebecca Sunness, a veteran podcast producer, and confirmed that it “looks forward to sharing more content later in 2021”.
Now Spotify is hiring producers to work with Archwell Audio through its podcast arm, Gimlet. Applicants are being offered jobs on a six-month contract based in Los Angeles.
An ad for the role reads: ‘We are currently assembling a show team that will create and launch a new original show featuring the voices of high-profile women with Archwell.
‘The ideal candidate has experience working with high-profile talent, and an interest in the intersection of social activism and popular culture.’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s logo for their new production company Archwell Audio, which was launched in December 2020
Meanwhile, Harry has made guest appearances on several other podcasts and a series on mental health with Oprah Winfrey, with whom he and Meghan gave their shocking TV interview last March. Meghan has made several media appearances.
She and Harry are also working on documentaries and a cartoon series as part of another multimillion deal with Netflix.
Gimlet Projects develops and launches podcasts for Spotify, often involving ‘high-profile collaborators’.
It added that the new senior producer will be involved in “every step of the show including development, research and production of episodes”.
Two other productive jobs are linked to the ad, but do not mention Archwell.
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