Renowned podcast host Joe Rogan, best known for the “Joe Rogan Experience,” faces speculation about his future with streaming giant Spotify as his exclusive licensing deal with the platform nears its conclusion next year. The podcast, which draws an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, has been a cornerstone of Spotify’s podcast strategy, with Rogan’s 2020 contract reportedly valued at $200 million.
Industry insiders are examining various possibilities for Joe Rogan as his contract’s expiration date approaches. One option is for him to venture into independent territory by establishing a media company responsible for distributing his podcast and creating additional content tailored to his loyal fan base. Another intriguing prospect involves joining forces with his friend, Elon Musk, who recently acquired a social media platform for $44 billion. Musk has shown a keen interest in attracting independent content creators to his platform and engaged in a special streaming interview with Rogan on this platform.
In addition to Musk’s platform, other major streaming players, such as Alphabet’s YouTube and Amazon, have the potential to enter the scene and offer Rogan lucrative deals that could surpass the considerable nine-figure contract he signed with Spotify.
The “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast has attracted attention over the years for its diverse range of guests, although it has not been without controversy. Some of Rogan’s interviewees have included conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and COVID-19 vaccine skeptics. These contentious episodes have led to calls for Spotify to impose restrictions on Rogan’s content, a move the company has thus far declined to make. Last year, Rogan even threatened to quit if he was compelled to limit the topics he could discuss on his show.
Spotify’s original signing of Joe Rogan was seen as a significant victory for the platform. However, the company has embarked on a cost-cutting campaign in light of disappointing results from investments in high-profile podcast deals featuring figures like Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, the Obamas, and Kim Kardashian. These ventures resulted in substantial financial losses for Spotify.
The cost-cutting measures undertaken by Spotify have borne fruit, with the platform reporting its first quarterly profit since 2021 in the third quarter of this year. This period also saw a substantial increase in the number of monthly active users, rising by 26%, while premium subscribers, a crucial source of revenue for the platform, increased by 16%.
With Joe Rogan’s contract set to expire, his next move is the subject of much speculation, with several potential directions and suitors awaiting his decision.
Joe Rogan holds all the cards as his Spotify podcasting deal is set to expire
“Podcast king @JoeRogan may ditch Spotify for another platform — possibly even joining @elonmusk’s @X — after his contract expires next year.”https://t.co/MPyK40Ya4M via @nypost— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) November 7, 2023
Elon and Joe Rogan both agree that the modern Leftist movement is a “Death Cult” pic.twitter.com/vitLUVxCld
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) October 31, 2023
NY Post
