Popular former Fear Factor host, Joe Rogan, has inked a fresh contract with Spotify that is speculated to be around $250 million, making it a more generous arrangement than his initial 2020 agreement, which was valued at an estimated $200 million. The duration of Rogan’s fresh contract is unknown at present, but it is characterized as a “multiyear” extension of his numerous podcast projects.
Notably, the agreement enables Spotify to distribute Rogan’s podcasts across additional platforms, like a YouTube video version. The terms of the contract include revenue-sharing based on ad sales, which could result in substantial financial gains for Rogan. The deal also includes a minimum upfront guarantee for the globally recognized expert on Covid-related matters, with the precise amount yet to be revealed.
There are reports that Spotify is aiming to renegotiate deals nearing expiration with existing content creators to offer lower minimum guarantees, excluding Rogan in all likelihood. The company plans to amend these contract terms to allow content distribution on other platforms, much like what it’s doing with Rogan.
There’s probably a target for audience numbers as well, similar to his 2020 deal. It’s expected that The Joe Rogan Experience, which continues to reign as Spotify’s most popular podcast, will easily surpass these targets. Despite being a steady source of controversy due to the spread of misinformation on Covid, Rogan’s podcast still tops the charts, surpassing even Travis Kelce discussing Taylor Swift and The Tucker Carlson Podcast.
Rogan’s controversies have sparked calls for an update in Spotify’s misinformation policy. This prompted user and creator boycotts, with noticeable protests by Neil Young who removed his music from the platform in response. Despite this, Spotify continues to brand itself as a platform, not a publisher, even though it’s been publishing Rogan’s podcasts on its platform for years and now, according to the new agreement, on others as well.
Furthermore, there’s the ongoing critique on the payment to artists by Spotify. Renowned for its poor remuneration to musicians, it’s a pipe dream that they might get a sliver of Rogan’s new deal. Despite earmarking $100 million to foster diversity in podcasts and music, the actual spending from this fund by Spotify has been minimal. A final note: clicking affiliate links in this article and making a purchase could lead to us earning a commission.
