Meghan Markle inks new podcast deal with Lemonada after ‘Archetypes’ Spotify failure
Meghan Markle is getting back into the podcast business.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has inked a deal with Lemonada Media to launch a new podcast series — and Lemonada will also distribute her previous Spotify podcast series, “Archetypes,” to all platforms, according to an exclusive report in Deadline.
Details of the new series have yet to be made available, but it is known that Markle will host the show, according to the report.
There was no price tag attached to the deal.
“I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting,” Markle said in a statement. “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,” she added.
Lemonada also produces “Wiser Than Me With Julia Louis-Dreyfus” hosted by the former “Seinfeld” and “Veep” star.
“Archetypes,” which launched in August 2022 — and focused on exploring the labels that hold women back — will not be a Spotify exclusive anymore but will be distributed to all podcast platforms. It has averaged around 1 million viewers per episode, according to the Deadline report.
Still, Spotify, which coughed up $20 million in a deal for the podcast, did not renew the series for a second season when it was up for renewal last June with Markle and her husband and co-producer, Prince Harry.
“Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together,” the two companies said in a statement.
Meghan and Harry also have a five-year Netflix deal that expires in 2025.
Thus far, they’ve released two Netflix docuseries, “Live to Lead” — featuring interviews with world leaders and celebs, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Gloria Steinem — and their gossipy “Harry & Meghan,” released in December 2022.
They also bought the screen rights for the romance book “Meet Me at the Lake” by Carley Fortune for $3.8 million to turn it into a movie for Netflix.
“Archetypes,” hosted by Markle, welcomed a flurry of A-list guests, including Mariah Carey, Mindy Kaling, Issa Rae, Constance Wu, Trevor Noah and Judd Apatow.
It was produced by Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Productions and won a people’s choice award for the Pop Podcast of 2022.
Markle won best entertainment podcast host at the Gracie Awards, according to Deadline.
Among the roster of shows at Markle’s new home, Lemonada — co-founded by Jessica Cordova Kramer — are “Hard Feelings With Jennette McCurdy,” “Funny Cuz It’s True With Elyse Myers,” “The Sarah Silverman Podcast” and “Choice Words With Samantha Bee.”
“We are beyond honored that Meghan has trusted us to help democratize access to ‘Archetypes,’ and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon,” Kramer said in a statement.
She added: “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.”
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