The audio streaming service said Tuesday that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had reached an agreement with Spotify to create podcasts that share “uplifting and entertaining stories.” The pair have launched separate creative projects after ceasing royal duties and moving to California this year and have started legal proceedings against British tabloids for privacy breaches. They reached a deal in September with streaming giant Netflix to produce ‘impactful’ films and series, while a Disney+ nature documentary was narrated by Markle, a former television actress. On Tuesday morning, shares in Spotify, which has 144 million subscribers, leapt 2 per cent after the news broke. Celebrity podcasters, including Barack and Michelle Obama, and Kim Kardashian West, have previously signed it. The business did not state how much it was worth the contract with the royals. In a quote, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that what we love about podcasting is that it reminds all of us to take a moment and to listen.” The prince introduces himself in the opening trailer: “Hi guys, I’m Harry.” He says their podcasts will “bring forward different perspectives and voices that perhaps you haven’t heard before”. The podcasts will “celebrate kindness and compassion” Markle continues. Spotify was launched in 2008 in Sweden and described itself as the most popular subscription service for audio streaming worldwide. In a tweet, Dawn Ostroff, chief content and advertisement business officer of Spotify, said The Duke and Duchess of Sussex might live in California. Still, the power of their voices rests in their status as citizens of the world. The company said Harry and Meghan would produce a “holiday special” this month that would show “stories of hope and compassion from inspirational guests.” Next year, their first full series will be available. The couple said the “challenges of 2020” made it especially important to hear the experiences of everybody, to be “reminded of how interconnected we all are” “So many people have been through so much pain this year,” Harry said. In November, the Duchess penned a first-person opinion piece on the miscarriage of her second birth in The New York Times. Via Archewell Audio, their newly created company, the couple will host and produce podcasts.
