In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle struck a staggering $120m deal with Netflix and Spotify to create shows and podcasts. However, their lack of output has drawn immense criticism, and the two platforms have finally opened up about the issues.
Netflix is still awaiting Prince Harry’s Heart of Invictus series, while Spotify has only received a 34-minute long podcast special from the duo, titled 2020 Archewell Audio Holiday Special, for a whopping $25m.
The podcast comprises various uplifting yet basic confessions about leading one’s life during the coronavirus pandemic. The testimonials came from the couple’s celebrity friends, namely James Corden, Sir Elton John and more.
While Spotify expected a “full-scale” launch of episodes in 2021 as per the couple’s promises, which also promised to include diverse voices to “build community through shared experiences and values”, such plans never came to fruition.
More than a year later, such hollow claims of using the podcast to “drive powerful conversations” that would “inspire, challenge and educate” their listeners seem to have gone down the drain. Spotify has now decided to hire its own producers to create and launch an Archwell Audio that would feature the prominent voices of various women.
Meanwhile, Netflix Animation researcher, Andrea Oxley has let out a hiring call to recruit production designers for Markle’s Pearl.
Although they have not yet managed to produce much content, forcing platforms like Spotify to “finally” take “matters into their own hands”, they have made appearances in various TV shows, podcasts and more.
The “ideal candidate”, according to Spotify, will have “experience working with high-profile tаlent, and аn interest in the intersection of sociаl аctivism аnd populаr culture”.
Recently, Prince Harry was seen defending Netflix’s The Crown found itself in a major controversy with the British Royal family.
