“Spotify Needs Him Way More Than He Needs Spotify”: Joe Rogan Drama Exposes the Drift of Audio Giant’s Other Mega Deals

After radically reshaping how we listen to and purchase music, in 2019 Spotify set its sights on new conquests. The audio gold rush was well underway, and Spotify mined its riches with a push into podcasting, acquiring Gimlet Media, Parcast, and The Ringer. They also embarked on a series of mega deals for high-wattage talent, signing the Obamas, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and, of course, podcasting phenomenon Joe Rogan, who entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for a reported $100 million. The strategy was a means to attract new customers while showing Wall Street a path forward that didn’t… Read Full Article