Meghan Markle announces new podcast after controversial $35 million Spotify deal collapse

Meghan Markle has unveiled a surprise new media venture, months after her multimillion-dollar deal with Spotify was controversially axed.

Meghan Markle will launch another podcast after ditching her previous series when her $35 million deal with Spotify fell through.

The Duchess of Sussex has signed a new deal with American podcast network Lemonada Media, reports The Sun.

Meghan, 42, will host the as-of-yet untitled series and Lemonada will also distribute her previous Spotify series Archetypes.

In a statement, Meghan said: “I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting.

“Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024.

“Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works.

“I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”

Meghan is launching a new podcast.

Her previous Archetypes podcast was released through Spotify.

Lemonada Media is the company behind Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

CEO Jessica Cordova Kramer said: “We are beyond honoured that Meghan has trusted us to help democratise access to Archetypes, and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon.

“Meghan’s talent as host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are thrilled to co-create a new series with her that fosters her approach to creating art that matters.”

“As we’ve started development with The Duchess of Sussex, we are blown away by her collaborative spirit and clear vision, along with her deep desire to build compassion and community through this work,” Lemonada’s chief creative officer Stephanie Wittels Wachs added.

“The Lemonada team felt immediate kinship with Meghan and the Archewell Productions team, and we are delighted to be working together.”

The move comes after Meghan’s Spotify deal was scrapped in June with the announcement her podcast wouldn’t get a second series.

It was said the shows did not meet “productivity requirements”.

Meghan also abandoned an attempt to secure the name of the ill-fated Archetypes streaming series.

She had wanted to trademark the word “Archetypes” but the couple withdrew the bid by their firm Archewell Audio.

Meghan’s previous program, aimed at discussing “labels that try to hold women back”, was dropped after producing 13 episodes in 31 months.

Spotify executive Bill Simmons was reported to have labelled the pair “f***ing grifters” while also ridiculing Harry’s own podcast ideas.

Meghan revealed in December 2020 she signed the Spotify deal after the pair’s departure from what’s been dubbed the Firm.

But it was another 20 months before her Archetypes series was launched in August 2022.

Controversy was sparked by the podcast when Meghan claimed her son Archie had to be saved as a baby from a fire when they were fulfilling a royal tour of Africa.

She also appeared to swipe at palace insiders’ suggestion she was “Duchess Difficult”, with Meghan telling listeners how setting boundaries doesn’t make her “difficult”.

Meghan and Harry’s Spotify deal was axed mid-last year. Picture: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

The duchess also described quitting an $1500-per-episode job because she felt objectified as a briefcase model on TV game show Deal Or No Deal.

Celebrity guests on her Archetypes podcast included tennis legend Serena Williams, pop star Mariah Carey, socialite Paris Hilton and Sex And The City author Candace Bushnell.

Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched a new website with Archewell now automatically redirecting to “Sussex.com”.

The website of ‘The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan’ will share “personal updates for the couple” that are not related to Archewell, sources say.

It is also said to be a “one-stop-shop” for their activities.

In the “About” section, the website states: “The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaping the future through business and philanthropy.

“This includes: The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, patronages, ventures, and organisations which receive the support of the couple, individually and/or together.”

In pages focusing on each of them, Harry is highlighted as a “humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner”.

Meghan is described as a “feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity” who has been named “one of the most influential women in the world” across a series of rankings.

It also features a royal coat of arms.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Meghan Markle announces new podcast after controversial $35 million Spotify deal collapse