Meghan Markle’s foray into the podcast world has hit a major stumbling block, with her Podcast Archetypes failing to gain traction and causing a significant financial setback for Lemonada Media.
The former actress’s partnership with the independent company seems to be far less lucrative than her previous deal with Spotify, raising questions about the viability of her podcasting endeavors.
When Meghan and Prince Harry decided to carve out their own path in the entertainment industry after stepping back from royal duties, they inked various deals, including one with Spotify to produce their own podcast series.
However, their podcast Archetypes failed to resonate with listeners and was discontinued after just one season of 12 episodes, despite featuring high-profile guests like Serena Williams and Mariah Carey.
In a bid to revamp her podcasting career, Meghan recently struck a new deal with Lemonada Media to create fresh content and re-release the original series of Archetypes.
While the specifics of this deal remain undisclosed, branding expert Andrew Block hinted that it pales in comparison to the multi-million-pound Spotify contract.
Lemonada Media’s total revenue from all its podcasts last year amounted to around $8 million, a far cry from the hefty sum the Sussexes received from Spotify.
It is speculated that Meghan’s new deal with Lemonada Media could be valued at approximately 10% of the Spotify agreement, translating to roughly £1.9 million.
Despite Meghan’s efforts to promote Archetypes across various platforms like Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Audible, the podcast has failed to make a mark in the industry.
Reviews have been lackluster, with an average rating of 3 stars out of 10 and only a handful of standout episodes featuring celebrities like Mariah Carey and Mindy Kaling managing to garner slightly higher ratings.
Critics have pointed out that Meghan’s podcast lacks the engaging storytelling and listener-focused approach needed to sustain interest and build a loyal audience.
The People’s Choice Award nomination for Archetypes, which seemed to boast inflated success metrics, only added to the skepticism surrounding the podcast’s actual performance.
Despite claims from the Sussex camp about Archetypes’ popularity, data suggests otherwise, with the podcast struggling to break into the top 200 rankings on major platforms.
The allure of Meghan Markle‘s celebrity status may have initially drawn listeners in, but the lackluster content and self-centered narrative have failed to retain their attention over time.
As the podcasting landscape becomes increasingly competitive, Meghan Markle’s misstep with Archetypes serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of quality content and genuine audience engagement in the digital age.
Lemonada Media’s gamble on the Duchess of Sussex’s podcasting potential has proven to be a costly lesson in the volatile world of media partnerships.
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