Spotify’s Deal With Joe Rogan Has An Estimated Worth of $200 Million
By Movieguide® Staff
In 2020, Spotify signed a deal with Joe Rogan and became the exclusive distributor of his top-rated podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
After controversy arose over Rogan’s alleged promotion of “misinformation” through his conversations with various guests, The New York Times reported that the three-and-a-half year deal is worth at least $200 million.
The NYT reported:
In recent weeks the show that helped Spotify catapult into a market leader for podcasts has also placed it at the center of the sort of cultural storm that has long engulfed Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, over questions about the responsibility tech behemoths have for the content on their platforms.
Even in the frothy podcast market, the deal for “The Joe Rogan Experience” was extraordinary. Spotify had purchased entire content companies, Gimlet Media and The Ringer, for slightly less than $200 million each, according to company filings.
With tens of millions of listeners for its buzziest episodes, “The Joe Rogan Experience” is Spotify’s biggest podcast not only in the United States but in 92 other markets, with a following that hangs on every word of his hourslong shows.
Spotify and Rogan came under fire from high-profile celebrities, like musician Neil Young. Young, among others, showed their disapproval of Rogan by pulling their music from the streaming service.
Movieguide® reported:
Joe Rogan, host of the top podcast on Spotify “The Joe Rogan Experience,” recently stirred up controversy on his show for interviewing an infectious disease specialist who opposes COVID-19 vaccines for children. Legendary folk and rock artist Neil Young responded by giving Spotify an ultimatum, accusing the streaming giant of “spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them.”
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said that the platform would continue to stand up for the free speech of their users, but removed many of Rogan’s past episodes from their platform.
“Spotify is for allowing conversation and sparking thought. We have long said we want to entertain, inspire, and educate, but to do that, we have to find the best possible way to balance creative expression with the safety of our listeners,” Ek said in a recent statement. “We want to get to 50 million creators and a billion users, and to be a true platform and achieve this ambition, it’s really critical that creators are able to use their voice independently. And it’s also critical that we have diverse voices on our platform.”
Rogan responded to the controversy, noting that he invites a variety of guests on his show for the purpose of conversation.
Movieguide® previously reported:
On Sunday night, Rogan posted an almost-10 minute video in response to his critics and fans alike after Spotify said they would post warnings on content that addressed COVID-19 information.
“I’m not trying to promote misinformation. I’m not trying to be controversial or do anything other than just talk to people and have interesting conversations,” Rogan said.
In the video, Rogan discusses how challenging it can be to prepare for an unscripted podcast.
He also defends medical experts Dr. Peter McCullough, a cardiologist, and Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious disease specialist, and refers to them as “highly credentialed, very intelligent, very accomplished people,” Rogan said, later adding: “I do not know if they’re right. I don’t know because I’m not a doctor; I’m not a scientist. I’m just a person who sits down and talks to people and has conversations with them.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
