Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast seemed too big to fail — until it did. A complete timeline of the drama surrounding its demise.

Maria NoyenJul 5, 2023, 22:24 IST

Meghan Markle on September 6, 2022, in Dusseldorf, Germany.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently announced they are parting ways with Spotify.
The news comes 3 years after they reportedly signed a $20 million deal with the streaming service.

In June, news broke that Meghan and Harry had cut ties with Spotify.

The fallout from the announcement has prompted company executives and talent agents to weigh in on the partnership and what led to its demise.

On June 25, an explosive Wall Street Journal report cited sources close to the situation saying that a lack of productivity and ideas for content from the Sussexes played a part in their multiyear, multimillion-dollar Spotify deal being cut short.

But where did it all go wrong? This timeline charts the short-lived relationship between the Sussexes and Spotify, from its promising start to the end.

In December 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry signed a deal with Spotify months after announcing they were stepping back from royal duties.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the 2020 UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony at the United Nations in New York on July 18, 2022.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

The announcement didn't include how much Harry and Meghan were being paid, but it was later reported to be upwards of $20 million.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 5, 2020, in London, England.Samir Hussein/WireImage

However, early on, Spotify executives were reportedly frustrated by the couple's supposed lack of productivity.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit the One World Trade Center observation deck in New York on September 23, 2021.ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images

Six months after striking up a deal with Spotify, Meghan and Harry had only produced a 33-minute holiday special, causing people to question what was going on behind the scenes.

Meghan Markle.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Six months after striking up a deal with Spotify, Meghan and Harry had only produced a 33-minute holiday special, causing people to question what was going on behind the scenes.

Those questions were seemingly put to bed when Archewell Productions hired Rebecca Sananès as head of audio in July 2021.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception on April 15, 2022, in The Hague, Netherlands.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Still, the project faced hurdles. Meghan wanted Taylor Swift as a guest on her podcast — but the pop singer declined the Duchess of Sussex's handwritten invitation, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour performance in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 6, 2023 (left), Meghan Markle on October 18, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia (right).John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management, Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Still, the project faced hurdles. Meghan wanted Taylor Swift as a guest on her podcast — but the pop singer declined the Duchess of Sussex's handwritten invitation, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In August 2022, Meghan's podcast "Archetypes" started airing its first season, which ran for 12 episodes.

Meghan Markle attends a reception on April 15, 2022, in The Hague, Netherlands.Samir Hussein/WireImage

In November 2022, there were rumors that Meghan did not actually interview every guest on her podcast after a guest credited a producer as "an excellent interviewer."

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attends the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala at the New York Hilton on December 6, 2022, in New York City.Mike Coppola/Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala

In December 2022, Sananès resigned after she said in a TikTok that the success of podcasts should be credited to "undervalued" and "underpaid" producers.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on April 17, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands.Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Despite what sounded like a rocky start, "Archetypes" went on to receive several accolades, including a People's Choice Award in December 2022.

A screengrab shows the "Archetypes" podcast on Spotify.Spotify

But even though "Archetypes" enjoyed some success, Spotify and the Sussexes announced on June 15, 2023, that they had "parted ways" — cutting their multiyear deal short.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry leave The Ziegfeld Theatre on May 16, 2023, in New York City.James Devaney/GC Images

But even though "Archetypes" enjoyed some success, Spotify and the Sussexes announced on June 15, 2023, that they had "parted ways" — cutting their multiyear deal short.

Several outlets reported that Meghan and Harry would not be receiving their full payout.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in December 2017.Karwai Tang/WireImage

A day after the announcement, Spotify executive Bill Simmons called Meghan and Harry "grifters" on his podcast.

Spotify's Dustee Jenkins (left) and Bill Simmons (right) speak with Emma Chamberlain (center) during "Stream On 2023" on March 8, 2023, in Los Angeles, California.Presley Ann/Getty Images for Spotify

Simmons' comments were followed by a former Spotify exec joking that Meghan and Harry earned more from the streaming platform than The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights," its most-streamed song ever.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on January 9, 2018, in London, England.Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Simmons' comments were followed by a former Spotify exec joking that Meghan and Harry earned more from the streaming platform than The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights," its most-streamed song ever.

Days later, allegations that Meghan had producers conduct interviews for "Archetypes" resurfaced.

Meghan Markle in "Harry & Meghan" on Netflix.Netflix

The rumors led former "Archetypes" guest Andy Cohen to defend Meghan on June 21, 2023, calling talk of her not interviewing guests "insane."

Andy Cohen at the premiere of "No Hard Feelings" held at AMC Lincoln Square on June 20, 2023, in New York City.Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images

On June 26, 2023, United Talent Agency boss Jeremy Zimmer called Meghan "not a great audio talent" during a discussion on podcasting at Cannes.

Jeremy Zimmer at the Variety Cannes Lions Studio on June 20, 2023, in Cannes, France.Vianney Tisseau/Variety via Getty Images

It's unclear what the future holds for "Archetypes." It's possible the podcast could find a new home.

Meghan Markle in Dusseldorf, Germany on September 6, 2022.Samir Hussein/WireImage

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Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast seemed too big to fail &mdash; until it did. A complete timeline of the drama surrounding its demise.

In December 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry signed a deal with Spotify months after announcing they were stepping back from royal duties.

The announcement didn't include how much Harry and Meghan were being paid, but it was later reported to be upwards of $20 million.

However, early on, Spotify executives were reportedly frustrated by the couple's supposed lack of productivity.

Six months after striking up a deal with Spotify, Meghan and Harry had only produced a 33-minute holiday special, causing people to question what was going on behind the scenes.

Those questions were seemingly put to bed when Archewell Productions hired Rebecca Sananès as head of audio in July 2021.

Still, the project faced hurdles. Meghan wanted Taylor Swift as a guest on her podcast — but the pop singer declined the Duchess of Sussex's handwritten invitation, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In August 2022, Meghan's podcast "Archetypes" started airing its first season, which ran for 12 episodes.

In November 2022, there were rumors that Meghan did not actually interview every guest on her podcast after a guest credited a producer as "an excellent interviewer."

In December 2022, Sananès resigned after she said in a TikTok that the success of podcasts should be credited to "undervalued" and "underpaid" producers.

Despite what sounded like a rocky start, "Archetypes" went on to receive several accolades, including a People's Choice Award in December 2022.

But even though "Archetypes" enjoyed some success, Spotify and the Sussexes announced on June 15, 2023, that they had "parted ways" — cutting their multiyear deal short.

Several outlets reported that Meghan and Harry would not be receiving their full payout.

A day after the announcement, Spotify executive Bill Simmons called Meghan and Harry "grifters" on his podcast.

Simmons' comments were followed by a former Spotify exec joking that Meghan and Harry earned more from the streaming platform than The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights," its most-streamed song ever.

Days later, allegations that Meghan had producers conduct interviews for "Archetypes" resurfaced.

The rumors led former "Archetypes" guest Andy Cohen to defend Meghan on June 21, 2023, calling talk of her not interviewing guests "insane."

On June 26, 2023, United Talent Agency boss Jeremy Zimmer called Meghan "not a great audio talent" during a discussion on podcasting at Cannes.

It's unclear what the future holds for "Archetypes." It's possible the podcast could find a new home.

Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast seemed too big to fail — until it did. A complete timeline of the drama surrounding its demise.