Comedian and podcasting juggernaut Joe Rogan has signed a new multi-year deal with Spotify worth over $250 million, according to reports. This represents a significant investment increase despite ongoing controversies surrounding misinformation on Rogan’s show.
With 100 million downloads per month, The Joe Rogan Experience continues to be Spotify’s most popular podcast. The streaming platform is now angling to expand Rogan’s audience further by distributing his podcasts on additional platforms like YouTube.
While financially lucrative for Spotify and Rogan, the deal is likely to draw further criticism. Rogan has faced backlash from doctors, scientists and listeners for promoting unsubstantiated COVID-19 claims. Musicians like Neil Young have even pulled their catalogs from Spotify in protest.
At the same time, many argue Spotify notoriously underpays musicians and creators. The new deal spots a stark contrast: Spotify pays artists mere pennies while handing Rogan vast sums, stoking calls for more equitable compensation.
As podcasts become central to Spotify’s business, exclusivity deals with stars like Rogan drive growth. But they also raise difficult questions around platform accountability, misinformation and fair pay that won’t disappear with a bigger check.
This tension encapsulates the streaming era’s paradox: astronomical wealth for a select few top creators amid an injustice cry from the creative class powering these tech giants. For Spotify, standing by Rogan suggests some ethical lines move, except perhaps the bottom line.
