Three months after signing a production deal at Netflix, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are lending their post-royal voices to Spotify. The couple has inked a multi-year partnership with the podcast
giant under their Archewell Audio production company, with plans to create exclusive content including original podcasts hosted and produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, "all with the goal to build community through shared experience, narratives, and values," per a press release.
“What we love about podcasting is that it reminds all of us to take a moment and to really listen, to connect to one another without distraction,” The Sussexes said in a joint statement. “With the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to do so, because when we hear each other, and hear each other’s stories, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are.” Their couple's debut series isn't expected until 2021, but they will host a holiday special set to premiere before the end of the year.
Archewell Audio, named in honor of their one-year-old son Archie, will partner with Spotify's Gimlet studio for a holiday special "that will feature stories of hope and compassion from inspirational guests in celebration of the new year," according to the Spotify statement. No release date or official guests have been announced for the episode, which will mark Harry and Meghan's first podcast hosting gig.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may live in California, but the power of their voices rests in their status as citizens of the world,” Spotify Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer Dawn Ostroff said in a statement. “That they are embracing the extraordinary capacity of podcasts on Spotify while also seeking to elevate underrepresented voices is a testament to their appreciation for the potential of audio storytelling. We are proud to partner with The Duke and Duchess and look forward to listeners hearing directly from them and the other creators that they will be elevating via our global platform.”
ELLE.com reported last month that Meghan, Harry, and Archie are expected to spend Christmas in California with Meghan's mother, Doria. A source close to the couple said that it is "anticipated they will be at their Montecito home in California and not be in the U.K. for Christmas," in part due to the latest U.K. lockdown.
Subscribe to the Archewell Audio hub and hear a teaser from the holiday special below.