Meghan Markle unveils plans for Spotify podcast after questions over lack of content

After months of criticism over a lack of content in her $34 million deal, Meghan Markle has announced her first official podcast series for Spotify.

Meghan Markle’s first solo podcast will be released within months – a year-and-a-half after she and Prince Harry first signed their $34 million deal with Spotify.

The Duchess of Sussex has revealed she’ll be hosting a podcast series called Archetypes, which will delve into labels and stereotypes “that try to hold women back”.

The Sussexes were given a bumper payout by the streaming giant back in late 2020.

But in January 2022, The Sun revealed Spotify was taking the project “into its own hands” as content from the couple failed to materialise.

Initially, a “full-scale” launch of shows was promised in 2021. However, the year came and went without any further update.

Bosses then stepped in and began recruiting in-house staff to help.

Harry and Meghan’s only podcast effort so far has been a 35-minute ‘holiday special’ in December 2020, featuring celebrity pals Elton John and James Corden.

It means that, so far, they’ve been paid roughly $870,000 for each minute of content.

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Meghan and Harry signed the Spotify deal worth a reported $34 million almost two years ago – but so far have only uploaded 35 minutes of content.

Matters looked as if they could be derailed again two months ago, when the pair came under pressure to ditch their mega-deal after Spotify was accused of hosting anti-vaccination content by US host Joe Rogan.

But they decided to stick with the company instead, telling fans they were committed “to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis”.

The move attracted criticism, with TV firebrand Piers Morgan blasting: “So a proven liar is now satisfied nobody else is lying? Beyond parody.”

In a trailer for Meghan’s series, which was released today, the mum-of-two said: “This is how we talk about women – the words that raise our girls, and how the media reflects women back to us … But where do these stereotypes come from? And how do they keep showing up and defining our lives?”

The Duchess, previewing the type of guests who will feature, adds: “This is Archetypes – the podcast where we dissect, explore and subvert the labels that try to hold women back.

“I’ll have conversations with women who know all too well how these typecasts shape our narratives. And I’ll talk to historians to understand how we even got here in the first place.”

Meghan is hosting the series solo. Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP

Spotify and Archewell Audio said: “Spotify and Archewell Audio both value responsible stewardship of the audio landscape, and as explained recently, are committed to working closely to support transparency and strong principles of trust and safety.”

Despite the furore, a spokesperson from Archewell Audio revealed last week that Meghan’s first series was on its way.

The 40-year-old has long been a campaigner on female empowerment.

Spotify and Archewell Audio described her conversations with typecast women as “uncensored” and said the Duchess would delve into the origins of stereotypes.

Former Suits actress Meghan is also an executive producer on the series, along with Ben Browning, Archewell’s head of content, and Rebecca Sananes, Archewell’s head of audio.

Mr Browning, an Oscar-nominated Hollywood producer, was hired during a massive Archewell shake-up a year ago.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Meghan Markle unveils plans for Spotify podcast after questions over lack of content