Why Spotify dropped its deal with Barack and Michelle Obama

Former President Barack Obama and former First Girl Michelle Obama are trying to find a brand new dwelling for his or her podcasts.
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The Obamas are trying to find a brand new dwelling for his or her podcasts after Spotify reportedly declined to supply the previous first couple a brand new contract as a result of they didn’t make sufficient private appearances on the streaming service.

Barack and Michelle Obama are reportedly in talks with a number of corporations, together with Amazon’s Audible and iHeartMedia, on a deal that may possible be price tens of tens of millions of dollars, in line with Bloomberg Information.

The ex-president and the previous first girl, who co-own the manufacturing firm Greater Floor, will reportedly resolve on their podcasting platform of alternative someday throughout the subsequent few weeks.

Greater Floor is claimed to be searching for an association that may permit it to launch exhibits on a number of platforms concurrently.

One of many sticking factors in negotiations with Spotify was the Swedish firm’s insistence on an unique licensing deal.

Spotify declined to make a proposal to the Obamas’ manufacturing firm, Greater Floor, in line with Bloomberg.

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Even when the Obamas produce podcasts for an additional firm, these exhibits will in all probability make their solution to Spotify anyway.

Streaming providers need the Obamas to make extra frequent appearances themselves so as to generate extra buzz for his or her firm’s content material, however the former first couple is reportedly prepared to decide to not more than an eight-episode program.

Greater Floor was paid a reported $25 million after signing with Spotify in 2019.

Spotify was reportedly sad that the Obamas’ didn't personally seem on extra podcasts. The previous president is seen with Bruce Springsteen throughout an episode of their podcast.

AP

The streaming service debuted unique content material together with “The Michelle Obama Podcast” in addition to “Renegades: Born within the USA,” which the previous president co-hosted with Bruce Springsteen.

However the partnership left each side unhappy. Spotify needed the couple to provide extra content material through which they'd be the headline acts, whereas the Obamas most well-liked to stay within the background whereas spotlighting “new, younger voices,” in line with Vainness Honest.

The Obamas had been additionally reported to be annoyed that the exclusivity take care of Spotify was stopping them from reaching wider audiences on extra platforms.

Spotify has invested round $1 billion to signal big-name podcast stars like Joe Rogan, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Kim Kardashian.

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Spotify has invested round $1 billion on A-list, marquee names together with Joe Rogan, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Kim Kardashian.

Whereas Rogan has delivered large viewers numbers, his present has generated backlash over interviews with figures who've expressed skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines and pandemic mitigation measures.