Spotify is keeping hit podcaster Joe Rogan on its platform thanks to a new deal worth as much as $250 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Spotify announced the new deal on its site, but didn’t offer any financial details. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Joe Rogan Experience podcast will no longer exclusively play on Spotify, with the show appearing on other platforms such as YouTube, Amazon, and YouTube.
A Spotify spokeswoman declined to comment on the deal terms, but questioned the $250 million figure. A spokesman for Rogan wasn’t immediately available.
The deal highlights the success of Rogan, whose podcast has remained No. 1 on Spotify since he struck his prior deal with the music-streaming service in 2020. The Joe Rogan Experience boasts a huge audience drawn to his frank conversations with everyone from Elon Musk to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Spotify said that since Rogan joined the platform, podcast consumption has increased by 232%.
His podcast has drawn criticism for some of the conspiracy theories and opinions expressed on the podcast, particularly the anti-vax stance that was prominent during the pandemic.
The Joe Rogan Experience launched in 2009 and boasts more than 2,200 episodes, each running 2 to 3 hours long. Notable guests have included Dave Chappelle, Robert Downey Jr., Quentin Tarantino, Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dogg, Jewel, Eddie Izzard, Mike Tyson, Post Malone, and Zach Bryan.
Image credit: Spotify