Podcaster and media personality Joe Rogan has inked a new distribution deal with Spotify for “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
The deal, reportedly valued at up to $250 million, includes an upfront minimum guarantee and a revenue-sharing arrangement based on advertising sales, as per The Wall Street Journal. A departure from his initial deal, Spotify will now sell ads for and distribute Rogan’s show in a video format on YouTube.
Rogan, who started podcasting in 2009, gained immense popularity, reaching megastar status with his first Spotify deal in 2020, valued at a reported $200 million.
The former comedian and “Fear Factor” host has been a lightning rod for controversy due to his comments on topics like the COVID-19 pandemic and politics. He faced criticism for disseminating misinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
In 2022, Spotify faced a significant backlash over some content on Rogan’s podcast, leading to the removal of numerous episodes from its platform.
Reflecting on his podcasting journey, Rogan mentioned, “I always feel like, in starting this podcast, I stumbled into this fantastic accidental education just by being interested in talking to people, and being fortunate enough that people want to listen,” in a blog post announcing the new Spotify deal.
