Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have voiced their concerns about the spread of COVID-19 misinformation on Spotify, but they have made it clear that they will not sever ties with the platform.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a lucrative deal with the streaming giant in late 2020, estimated to be valued at around US$25 million (£18 million), to host and produce podcasts.
Despite recent controversies surrounding controversial content on Spotify, the couple has no plans to return the money.
According to Charlotte Griffiths of The Mail on Sunday, who spoke on Palace Confidential on Mailplus, it is unlikely that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will give back the money.
Griffiths believes that the couple can use the delay in releasing new podcast episodes as an excuse, stating, “I don’t think they’ll ever hand the money back but I do think they can sort of hide behind this because it’s been a good year or so since they actually released a podcast.”
She suggests that any delays behind the scenes can be conveniently blamed for the lack of new content.
This news comes after several artists decided to remove their music from Spotify due to controversial content, particularly on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which has been known to air vaccine-skeptical views.
Joni Mitchell recently announced her decision to withdraw her catalogue from Spotify in solidarity with Neil Young, who reportedly gave the platform an ultimatum to choose between his music or the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
In response to concerns raised by Young, Spotify stated that it aims to strike a balance between listener safety and creator freedom, having already removed over 20,000 podcast episodes related to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
The streaming giant acquired the Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2020 for a reported sum exceeding $100 million (£77 million).
Royal expert Richard Eaton suggests that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle find themselves torn between their principles and financial gain.
In an episode of Mail Plus Palace Confidential, Eaton describes the situation as a nightmare for the Sussexes, pointing out the contradiction between their campaign against misinformation and their decision to partner with Spotify.
He states, “For years they’ve gone on about the dangers of misinformation, it’s become a real pet pause of theirs.
And then here they are with Spotify, accused of spreading misinformation through Joe Rogan’s very popular podcast.”
Despite this, the couple has made it clear that they will continue their collaboration with Spotify, prioritizing the financial aspect of the deal.
Eaton concludes, “So between the principles and money, it’s always a question of which will they go for and it seems they’ve gone for the money.”
Eaton also highlights the stark contrast in productivity between Joe Rogan and the Sussexes.
While Rogan consistently produces hundreds of podcasts each year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have only released one episode so far.
Eaton remarks, “My goodness, we’ve only had one from Harry and Meghan for £18 million so they’re hardly providing value for money.”
Royal expert Neil Sean suggests that if the Sussexes decide to sever ties with Spotify, they may face the possibility of having to return the $25 million (£18 million) fee they have already received.
Sean points out that legendary singer-songwriters Joni Mitchell and Neil Young withdrew their music from the platform due to disagreements with certain aspects of it.
However, Sean notes that not everyone has the luxury of making such grand gestures, as many artists rely on the income generated by Spotify for their brand.
The spokesperson for Archul, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s foundation, stated that the couple remains committed to working with Spotify, emphasizing the importance of combating misinformation.
They said, “Hundreds of millions of people are affected by the serious harms of rampant means and disinformation every day… We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”
Despite the controversies surrounding Spotify and the ongoing concerns about COVID-19 misinformation, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen to stand by their partnership with the streaming platform.
As they navigate the delicate balance between their principles and financial gain, the future of their collaboration remains uncertain.
