Well well well! In the months since Spotify ended their contract with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, there were some rumors that maybe Meghan was getting out of the podcasting business. Her sole podcast for Spotify, Archetypes, was a big success, even temporarily dethroning Joe Rogan from the top of the podcasting charts. I thought Archetypes got better as it went along – Meghan is a quick learner, and she was figuring out in real time what she wanted to do. All of which to say, I wanted her to do another podcast and I was sad that it looked like she was over it. But she’s not over it! She just signed on to Lemonada Media, a female-run company. The best part is that Archewell solely owns Archetypes, so Lemonada will now platform Archetypes Season 1, plus Meghan is apparently working on a new pod.
Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex is staying in the podcast business. The Duchess, otherwise known as Meghan Markle, has signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media, the company behind Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The move will see her launch a new podcast series and Lemonada will also distribute her previous Spotify series Archetypes to all podcast platforms.
It comes after her and her husband Prince Harry parted ways with Spotify last year. There are no details of the show yet, but Meghan will host the as yet untitled series.
Archetypes, which was previously a Spotify exclusive, will be rolled out to all audio platforms with Lemonada distributing. The series has recorded over 10M downloads, around a million listens per episode and debuted as Spotify’s No.1 podcast in 47 countries around the world when it launched in August 2022. The series, which is produced by her and Prince Harry’s Archewell Productions, won a People’s Choice Award for The Pop Podcast of 2022 and Markle won best entertainment podcast host at the Gracie Awards.
The deal is a coup for Lemonada Media, which was founded in 2019 by Jessica Cordova Kramer, a former executive producer at Pod Save America producer Crooked Media, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs, cofounder of theater company Rec Room Arts.
“I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting,” said Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. “Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024. Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works. I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”
“We are beyond honored that Meghan has trusted us to help democratize access to Archetypes, and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon. Meghan’s talent as host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are thrilled to co-create a new series with her that fosters her approach to creating art that matters,” added Lemonada’s CEO Jessica Cordova Kramer.
“As we’ve started development with The Duchess of Sussex, we are blown away by her collaborative spirit and clear vision, along with her deep desire to build compassion and community through this work. The Lemonada team felt immediate kinship with Meghan and the Archewell Productions team, and we are delighted to be working together,” added Lemonada’s Chief Creative Officer Stephanie Wittels Wachs.
The only thing the Derangers have at this point is that Meghan’s Lemonada deal probably doesn’t pay as well as the old Spotify deal, which the Sussexes signed in 2020 (during the podcast boom). To that I say: it speaks volumes to me that Meghan prioritized a smaller, female-run company rather than, say, Audible. Meghan probably could have gotten more money if she wanted to go with a larger platform. She chose not to. I also love that Meghan still feels like she has something to say – she wasn’t scared off by her experiences at Spotify, nor was she scared off by the ridiculous smear job from Salt Island. Good for her! I feel like the second go-around will probably be more streamlined and she’ll be more confident about what she’s doing and what the voice of the show will be. Also: it’s amazing that Archewell owns the Archetypes archive. LMAO!
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Lemonada Media Announces New Partnership with Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.
The Award-Winning Podcast “Archetypes” will be available to stream on all audio platforms for the first time this Spring, with Lemonada overseeing ad sales and distribution.https://t.co/U5tJxiDbLu… pic.twitter.com/U3WABJmQTE
— Misan Harriman (@misanharriman) February 13, 2024
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Yay!!
I’m so very happy she has found a new place to get her podcast back out there!! Can’t wait for the new stuff.
Meghan and Harry will continue to do what is right for them. They have plans. They are smart, they have confidents in themselves and the things they want to do. I have a feeling they have a lot more to do and the younger generations will feature a lot in the coming months and years. They do things in their own time and it is always the right time for them. Working hard behind the scenes. Amen Meghan and Harry.
Keep talking, Meghan. Don’t let The Patriarchy (such as Baldy, Chuckles, Piers, and Clarkson) shut you up or down.
She is always, always too good for that family. Harry is lucky to have her, and he knows it.
The media are hysterical about the new website. They say it’s disrespectful and they are using royal names without palace permission. They were that hysterical they overlooked the fact that Meghan had signed for a new podcast. You really can’t make this stuff up . The rubbish gets more deranged by the day.
I am not surprised they can’t keep up. The palace sources and the BM are not used to people getting things done on the reg.
So, I guess, that means Mike Tindall has permission when he yammers on about his royal connections since no comments on that. Good to know.
The Daily Mail is in hysterics. They have run at least five stories about the new website in the past 24 hours. One headline says the palace is furious but they will let the website stay up. I was like, how the fuck do they think they can take it down? These people still think their sad little island is the center of the universe. They think they can control Harry and Meghan from 8,000 miles away.
Hilarious 😂!! I laughed out loud 😂
@Kay, when you say the media, please specify that it’s BM/BM affiliated media. It’s not non BM US affiliated media or other countries that also think for themselves. Waving at Jamaica et al…
I cannot wait to see what she does with the new podcast. Probably will continue to lift small female owned businesses. I think that she will essentially ignore Salt Island and it will just make them saltier
That this announcement comes the same week Pee M is relegated to a squalid little corner of YouTube, brings me joy. I hope it absolutely *galls* him.
I love this! Great choice with the platform and the pleasant surprise that they own archetypes. And it’s announced on sussex.com, so apparently that site is going to be updated regularly.
Ooh, shit went DOWN with Spotify. Those are some pointed comments there.
This is great news, really keen to re-listen to some Archetypes eps and can’t wait to see what the new project is!
Spotify was smearing her like a jilted ex so yeah I think some things went down. I love that she went with this female-led pod company. She ain’t working in the same company as joe rogan anymore. Now she’s at lemonata. So suck on it haters🍋🍋🍋
@Jais its so funny that literally everyone that deals with H&M loves working with them, yet Spotify (and the BRF) are the only ones spewing unhinged hate as soon as they realise they can’t control their golden goose any more.
Saw somewhere that Trevor Noah is also having disagreements with Spotify over his podcast so it seems like they’re ruffling everyone’s feathers these days
Wait, Trevor Noah has a podcast? Going to look that up right now!
He has a podcast too? This is like christmas! pods from both Meghan and Trevor Noah:-) my aunt will have to keep her self entertained on the train ride tomorrow.
Yes, Back when Simmons made his comments, I shared a link that pretty much said that the Sussexes chose to leave Spotify. H&M gave Spotify dignity they didn’t deserve. Absolutely believe Spotify wanted them to dish on the BaRF. They noped out along with Spotify’s decision to support Rogan’s nonsense/nuterry.
Fantastic news! This sounds like it will be a much better fit for Meghan than Spotify.
It would be crazy not to continue podcasting after dethroning joe rogan. I am glad Meghan took time to go with a company she is comfortable with since they didn’t have the pressure to find security money this time. I read, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s podcast is there, so she is in good company.
YAY! I loved Archetypes so much and I can’t wait to listen again!
Reading that yesterday was such a great piece of news.
Meghan has a lot to say, does a lot of research, is well-prepared and has a melodious voice.
So it’s good to see Archetypes will be re-released!
It looks like Lemonada and Meghan are well suited, as they are the home for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and José Andrés, among other people. They have many women on their team, but the best part for me is that the new podcast will be shared on all platforms.
(Sadly the Derangers flooded Insta and Xwitter with their hate, so if you have some time to at least like and follow… @lemonadamedia on both platforms)
Yes please do. I’m not on X but the comments on IG were just crazy…sample: Meghan didn’t actually do the podcasts 🙃
I’m happy because now I’ll finally be able to listen to Archetypes; I listen to podcasts on my iPod (yes, I still have one) while walking or doing housework, etc. I created a Spotify account just to listen to Archetypes, but never did, because I just don’t want to sit & listen, I want to move. So this will work out perfectly. Plus, I listen to Add to Cart from Lemonada media, which I really enjoy; yay, Meghan!
Sadly again, some are not just Derangers, they are making money doing this. The more engagement, the more money. So, if they say things and people get riled up and engage, they are just SO HAPPY. I do not think that a lot of posters care what they say as it will never come back to harm them, and they are making bank…it all so sick.
i loved archetypes so i’m very glad M owns it!!
I’m curious about the switch to sussex.com, but I feel like H&M are going to have a lot of news this month and then dial things down as they get to work. Meghan announcing that she’s supporting a woman-run organisatie is totally on-brand.
@ML, I saw that they switched Archewell website to “.org”. So, that website will only carry their non-profit work. They just created an umbrella website with sussex.com. They can use it to announce their commercial work as well as to give people a general view of all of their working areas: production, foundation etc. When you diversify your business, you would need something like that to refer people to other branches of your organization.
I missed the distinction with .org, SevenBlue. Good point!
But if Lemonada is distributing Archetypes “to all platforms”, doesn’t this mean that it will also be available on Audible? I can’t see WME negotiating such a wide distribution deal for small sums. I think that it is quite likely that she is getting more money – and it is clear that she will also have more control over the direction of her work. Good for her! I am, as the Brits say, well pleased.
Perhaps she has a back end deal and the more money her pods make, the more she (and WME) make?
I’m also thrilled to hear that she owns her content. Way to go, Duchess!
This is my guess as well. This may not be a cash up front play for her, but rather a long-term investment.
Yes, Archetypes and the new pod will be available on all platforms including Audible. Lemonada is not like the exclusive Spotify deal. Instead, they will help Meghan develop and produce the new podcast, manage the ad sales, and distribute the podcast (and redistribute Archetypes) to the various streaming podcast platforms. The revenue will mainly come from the ad sales and the number of listeners per episode. Now that Meghan’s podcasts will be distributed on all platforms, this may turn out better than the initial deal with Spotify.
Yes, they are the distribution partner and ad partner. It will be democratically distributed across platforms.
I love this, as I believe they were displeased with being on Joe Rogan platform and I couldn’t listen to her because I had boycotted Spotify and continue to do so.
Agree with Kaiser fully about the message she’s sending by going with a smaller, woman-led media org and that she didn’t get scared of by the last experience. It was a good podcast! With a good hook! And she has a great voice! The original media deals were made under duress and now they know better. Plus, we know that bigger isn’t better. She would just get swallowed up in Audible and it’s too exclusive. I hated having to sign up for even a free Spotify account to listen to her show. The trolls are mocking the deal but H+M aren’t going hungry anytime soon. They’re being intentional in this phase and going quality over quantity to make an impact. I’m thrilled for Meghan.
The trolls are going to lose what remains of their tiny minds when they figure out that she’s getting more money from this new deal than she signed up for with spotify.
The trolls are already screaming and crying on the Lemonada instagram page. They are leaving nasty comments. All they do is prove Meghan’s point.
I love this and will support a female owned platform. Love Archetypes and am looking forward to hearing Meghan’s Voice. I’ve listened to very few podcasts on the regular. Well, only two on the regular. Archetypes and This American Life (great stories).
Made a comment on the other thread mentioning lemon olive oil cake and freshly squeezed lemonade.lol This is f*cking’ awesome.
Whew! I’m not on the hellsite but insta is LIT UP with Derangers. Stop by and say a nice word if you can.
So happy for Meghan, I can’t wait fot her new podcast!
I went and had a browse and WCK chef Jose Andres is also on Lemonada!
Great decision, and so smart that they have the right to Archetypes! Will def. be listening!
I loved Archetypes podcast and I thought it was great. I also think Duchess Meghan has a very soothing voice.
Pretty sure this was part of that man’s problem with the Sussexes when they left Spotify, they took Archetypes with them. Smart move Sussexes retaining the rights to your property. Looking forward to what Meghan now produces. With distribution of Archetypes, Meghan is going to make a mint.
Yep. If Meghan stood up to the bully William and palace idiots and insisted that the funds raised by the Hubb Community Kitchen cookbook be ringfenced for THAT project instead of being distributed to his and Kate’s vanity projects, then it does not surprise me that she would have negotiated that she/Archewell retained full ownership of Archetypes. She is one smart lady, and she has always surrounded herself with smart people who give sound advice.
I cackled when I saw this. Bill Simmons is an asshole, so when he was so salty I knew Meghan won when that deal ended. She got her money, stayed true to her values & kept the rights to her work. Very smart.
I hope Meghan makes tons of money so she can continue to show her haters that she is and always will be financially independent.
I love this move for her – its a smaller run company but it also means the podcast isnt tied to one platform, so people can access it however they get their podcasts (the only reason I downloaded spotify was for Archetypes, now I can delete it again.) And overall this just feels so on brand for her. Yes, it may mean less money, but she’s in a different place than she was 3 years ago or whenever she signed with Spotify, so I think she’s going to be just fine, lol.
I agree, but with Archetypes and the new podcast being distributed on all platforms, the revenue from ad sales and the number of streams per episode could be huge on the backend. I also love that Meghan may now have more freedom to discuss topics that are meaningful to her without pushback from executives because they are watching their bottom line.
Yeah, podcasting has taken a hit like digital media has, so who knows. She won’t get the huge upfront, but given her popularity, she could still be making huge bank.
It seems like that freedom you mentioned (and her integrity) are priorities for her. Good for her! Money isn’t the only measure of success, especially when the goal is not just to be famous and rich, but to make things better.
That’s exciting news! I am glad to hear that they own Archetypes, and I’m excited to hear more from Meghan.
Lemonada seems like a great fit. Andy Slavitt’s podcast In the Bubble ( which was a pandemic lifeline) was on Lemonada, as well as Last Day (which deals with some pretty heavy topics), but Samantha Bee and Julia Louis Dreyfuss are on there as well. I can’t wait to hear what Meghan will do!
Was just coming on to say almost exactly the same thing, will always think positively of Lemonada due to In the Bubble, and had been planning to start the JLD podcast shortly. I much prefer this model so I can listen on either the Tune In platform or the Apple podcast platform. I love Barack and Michelle but I just didn’t want to support or use Spotify.
So happy Madame Duchess and her podcast are back . I really really miss this beautiful lady and her incredible podcast.
I am so excited for this!! I loved Archetypes and agree that it got progressively better as the episode went by but overall thought it was so well researched and with interesting guests.
It’s also cool that Meghan went with a smaller and female-led business rather than a big one, as she probably also gets more creative control, which we now know as an issue with Spotify.
This is exciting news and I have so much respect for Meghan. She could have just given up on podcasting after what I suspect was a terrible experience with Spotify but it’s good to see that she refuses to stay silent. From what I’ve seen the British press hasn’t really focused on this news. Meghan getting a new podcast deal kind of proves that the problem was Spotify not Archewell and that the press failed in shutting her up.
Get it, Queen Meghan! I love that we got new news (on the new website) already. I love that she’s back in the podcast game. I love that they own the full rights to Archetypes. I love that derangers and rota rats are crying and throwing up over this news. And it’s just the beginning.
Also I love that new (to us) photo by Misan Harriman. She looks powerful and gorgeous.
I’m excited to see what comes next! Superficially, I’m not a fan of whatever Duchess Meg’s makeup artist is doing lately. Everything seems so dark and it makes her features look cartoonish to me. I’m sure she cares a lot what I think. Lol.
MinortiyReport, cartoonish?
I respect this move soooo much. They made their money with Spotify at a time when they couldn’t afford to be picky, but once they found their footing they absolutely had a choice – Meghan could have signed another huge deal with Audible (Amazon) or Apple (another huge conglomerate) and instead she went with an independent women-owned platform (and progressive at that!!).
This is how you walk the walk! This could potentially be an industry-shifting deal, and I can’t stress enough how HUGE it is that Meghan didn’t have to do this, but she took her time and found a platform that aligned with her morals and values. Well done, Meghan!
I’m so glad that we get to have Meghan back in the podcast game. Her voice matters and I am looking forward to seeing what she gives us.
Meghan owning Archteypes outright explains why the Spotify dudes had their knickers in a twist. Because they knew she would be able to take it anywhere she wanted to. And that meant the audience would go with her. They were BIG mad! And this why I will reiterate Bad Bishes move in SILENCE.
If they can’t control you they destroy you.
Well, they can try. 😉
Love this! And yes, as others have mentioned, Lemonada Media is already home to José Andrés’ (excellent) ¡Longer Tables! podcast – this feels like the right home for her future projects ☺️
I love this for her and I’m glad she stayed on brand. The company she signed with also has history with Crooked Media. This is great for her, as they have experience developing substantive Podcasts that are often informative. This is very good fit for her. It will be high quality.
I know the British media said Archetypes was a failure but wasn’t it successful? Didn’t it always stay in the top 10/20?
Today, stretching from the white cliffs of Dover, travelling across the Atlantic floor and all the way to california, tremors of a high magnitude were felt! At first, experts thought it was a massive earthquake building to a terrible tsunami but then, after a transatlantic phone call between the president and the prime minister, people realised it was the sound of thousands of computers being thrown from windows on fleet street, and pillows, lots and lots of pillows at a country pile called Anmer. Editors have said, staff won’t have to replace their computers because they are all fking sacked for not knowing what’s happening
And it’s bloody brilliant, well done Megan way to go ❤️
😙. So great! Love those ‘transatlantic phone calls’!
Mary Pester, I have visions of mounds of pillows all about.
Archetypes debuted as no. 1 numerous countries. It was a smash, and beat Josh Rogan on Spotify. I think the Queen’s death slowed its momentum, but when the broadcast resumed after the funeral, it still maintained top 5 in most markets I think. It won two awards.
Archetypes debuted as no. 1 numerous countries. It was a smash, and beat Josh Rogan on Spotify. I think the Queen’s death slowed its momentum, but when the broadcast resumed after the funeral, it still maintained top 5 in most markets I think. It won two awards. Love the new promo picture.
I reiterate my opinion that what Meghan’s and Harry’s audience wants is to see/hear them together. They could be chatting about anything and it would be a hit. I think they should create a podcast series where they interview each other about their passion projects, (history, present, and hoped-for future). They could do one episode, per project. It would be one of the biggest podcast series of the year.
A conversation with Harry and Meghan- how great would that be! Wasn’t Michelle Obama’s first podcast an interview with Barack?
I can’t wait! In the last episode of Archetypes Meghan said they were looking at different ways to keep the conversation going and in what format they would do so. I have waited forever!!! I can not wait to see what else she delivers because its sure to be thought provoking and enriching.
Every Tuesday me and group of female friends used to discuss the topics raised in Archetypes and I want that back!
She really is a smart and ethical businessperson. Lemonada is a perfect fit for her!
And the promise of a new Meghan podcast was a Valentine’s gift to us all!
Love it, love her. I’m here for anything and everything she does.
I’m confused about the newsletter?? I always see the little notes to join it, but is it stories OTHER than what is posted here? I already read the site daily, so I’m not sure I’d need a roundup if it’s just Celebitchy posts (since I’ll have read them already).
CeeGee, if you’re talking about email notifications from Celebitchy then you probably don’t need it if you’re here everyday.
If you’re talking about Lemonada then they would give you news on what’s going on there.
I’m not surprised at all that Meghan kept the rights to her podcast. Meghan is very smart and she is experienced. Of course she wanted to own her content.
No wonder that idiot Spotify dude was so angry. They probably hadn’t realized that Meghan leaving meant no more profits for Spotify on Archetypes.
Who are the grifters now? The people who own and retain their work product or the doofus folks at Spotify who wanted to (and failed) to continue to make $$$ of the work of a woman they disrespected.
Brilliant flex by Meghan and loser game at Spotify!
I think this is a sign Meghan has finished playing nice with Royals. Now she is going to be her own woman and stand up for herself. Her and Harry stand united against anyone that wishes them harm. Good for them.
Yep! I’m all for H & M showing the left-overs, derangers, unfair critics, et al. ‘a clean pair of heels’ (a saying that means leaving them in the dust, as in a foot race).
This is my dream pod – M cooks a recipe from a featured charity cookbook and then gets reviewed/rated/shared with Harry/Doria/special guest stars/neighbors. I just want her to have a cooking show but this would allow her to promote fundraising efforts of charities. I’m sure some charities would start a cookbook project just to be on the show.