According to The New York Times, Joe Rogan‘s podcasting deal with Spotify was worth at least twice as much as initially thought. According to two anonymous sources, the streaming services’ exclusive deal with The Joe Rogan Experience was valued at “at least $200 million” for three and a half years, much above the previously reported deal cost of more than $100 million, according to The New York Times on Thursday.

This puts the former Fear Factor presenter and comedian’s transaction in the same ballpark as Spotify’s purchase of complete audio studios for little less than $200 million, including Gimlet and Ringer. The money was spent as part of the company’s overall strategy to become a prime destination for all audio material, not just music. Music has proven to be highly profitable for the streaming service, with two-thirds of income flowing to music rights holders on both the master recording and composition sides.

This news comes after a volatile month for the audio company and one in which musicians, podcasters, employees, and the medical community scrutinized the company’s work with the controversial podcaster.
Spotify reportedly paid $200 million for Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Photo Source: Instagram

The American podcaster is presently the most popular podcaster in the United States and 92 other countries, making him one of the most influential entertainers on the planet. Rogan’s recent episodes that included misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine sparked an exodus of musicians from the platform. Rogan is known for hosting guests from all walks of life — from a weed-smoking Elon Musk to a conspiracy-theorizing Alex Jones — in freewheeling discussions about various topics.

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In January, two hundred seventy doctors and scientists wrote to Spotify, expressing their worry about COVID-related disinformation on Rogan’s podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Despite internal assurances that the firm would take the matter seriously, Spotify was compelled to address the problem publicly after performers such as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Bruce Springsteen guitarist Nils Lofgren left the streaming service over the same issue.

Rogan is currently the top podcaster, in terms of audience, in the U.S. as well as in 92 other markets, making him one of the most influential entertainers in the world.
Joe Rogan is an American podcaster.
Photo Source: Instagram,

Spotify replied by adding content advisory warnings to podcast episodes that mentioned COVID-19, according to a statement published on the company’s website on Jan. 30. R&B musician India. Arie then posted footage on social media showing Rogan repeatedly using the n-word and making other racist statements.

In a nearly six-minute video, the podcaster responded, acknowledging that the unearthed footage was the “most regretful and disgusting thing I’ve ever had to talk about publicly.” Later, Spotify pulled 70 episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience. Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, addressed the situation in a letter to his workers, apologizing for Rogan’s “very upsetting” words and “racially offensive language.” He went on to say that those comments “did not reflect the company’s principles.”

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