US Weekly is reporting that Spotify is “very upset” with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It is alleged that Meghan and Harry are not returning Spotify’s calls to discuss the matter.
Despite hiring Rebecca Sanaes as head of Audio to produce their Archewell podcast in July 2021, The couple has only given Spotify just 35 minutes of content so far for their alleged $25 million deal.
There is little information on why they have been unable to produce content for Spotify, and there have been no comments from Ms. Sanaes. Recently, Spotify has hired people to provide podcast content.
It is noted, though, that at the present time Spotify is not looking to take legal action against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and are trying to resolve the matter.
The deal with Spotify first emerged when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry released an official announcement in December 2020.
They said that they love podcasting because it serves as a reminder for everyone to “take a moment,” as well as “listen,” and “connect to one another without distraction.”
Over a year later, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have yet to release any content on the platform.
Sources revealed that Spotify has finally taken matters into their hands because it had been taking too long, according to Express UK.
In late January 2022, there were reports that Spotify was looking to hire new staff members to work with Archewell.
There has been no mention of Ms.Sanaes, whether she remains with the company, why she has been getting paid to not provide content for a year, and why others need to be hired.
It is claimed, the new recruits for the Spotify podcast would have six-month Los Angeles-based contracts. They would work on material featuring “the voices of high profile women.”
It is unclear who will be voicing the material.
Recently, it is alleged that the couple held a ‘secret meeting’ with Spider-Man stars Zendaya and Tom Holland.
The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reports that he heard Harry and Meghan “want some of the screen pair’s stardust to rub off on themselves.”
Eden claims an old friend of Harry’s told him that Tom and Zendaya were rather bemused, from what he heard.
Tom had never met Harry or spoken to him in his life, so didn’t know what they wanted reportedly.
The actors apparently agreed to meet with the Sussexes, who now live in California, with the meeting taking place in complete secrecy.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited George and Amal Clooney to their wedding without knowing them it is alleged.
Gimlet Projects, which is the platform’s podcast development team, reportedly posted the recruitment advertisement on its sites. It, also, stated that they are “assembling a show team” to build and launch new content with Archewell.
Gimlet Projects was reached out to but had no comment.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed the Spotify deal in 2020, it was promised that the podcasts would be hosted and produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex themselves — with the goal of the overall slate to “build community through shared experience, narratives, and values.”
Archewell Audio’s first podcast series for Spotify was expected to premiere in 2021, but that never happened.
Before then, the couple released a 34-minute holiday special.
The former royal couple shared a collection of personal anecdotes and inspirational stories from a variety of guests around the world including Stacey Abrams, Christina Adane, José Andrés, Brené Brown, Rachel Cargle, Deepak Chopra, James Corden, Matt Haig, Sir Elton John, Hussain Manawer, Naomi Osaka, Tyler Perry, and George the Poet.
In addition, the special features a cameo by Archie, the couple’s first child who they wanted to protect from the media at all cost.
A call by this writer to Spotify and Archewell has not been returned at the time of this article.
