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Spotify is expanding its relationship with controversial podcast host Joe Rogan.
Spotify announced the renewed partnership in a post on the company corporate blog Friday. According to a previous multimillion-dollar agreement, “The Joe Rogan Experience” had been exclusive to Spotify since 2020. Under the new deal, the podcast will now be available on competing platforms, including YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the new deal on Friday, reporting that Joe Rogan would receive a $250 million contract during his multi-year tenure, according to sources. The Wall Street Journal also reports that the contract involves a minimum upfront guarantee, plus a revenue-sharing agreement based on advertising sales.
Rogan has built a large audience on Spotify and his podcast has remained the top podcast on Spotify’s Wrapped every year since 2020. Many of his listeners enjoy his interview style with any variety of guests.
Rogan says podcast aims to have meaningful conversations with interesting guests
In a recent blog postSpotify asked Rogan about his interview style and how he prepares for each conversation.
“There’s no script for what we’re going to talk about, and it’s all happening in real time,” Rogan said. “It’s just a real organic conversation with people having fun, something we can all relate to and something we all love to do. “These conversations have greatly changed the way I think about life and continue to do so.”
Rogan tells Spotify that he doesn’t choose guests based on their popularity, but rather his approach is based on the conversation he thinks the two of them will have.
“I only have people on the show that I’m really interested in talking to,” Rogan said. “I never do a podcast just because a person is popular. It’s always from a point of view of ‘I think it would be cool to talk to that person.'”
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Rogan’s podcast is considered controversial and has been criticized in the past.
Last year, Joe Rogan’s comments raised eyebrows and put Spotify in the spotlight for an immediate decision. Rogan received criticism for his comments about the coronavirus vaccine and his use of racial slurs.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said in a message to employees that the company would not part ways with Rogan, according to an article in NBC.
“While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I realize that some will want more,” Ek said in the note. “And I want to make one point very clear: I don’t think silencing Joe is the answer.”
Contributing: The Associated Press
