The Obamas are said to be shopping for a new podcasting partner because they're frustrated with the slow pace of development at Spotify, where they're more interested in introducing new voices than on hosting shows themselves.
Former President Barack Obama, 60, and former First Lady Michelle, 58, are looking at new deals with other companies, three podcast industry sources told Insider.
The duo's Higher Ground Audio company signed a three-year deal with Spotify in June 2019, but sources say it can be hard to get a show green-lit at the Swedish music streamer.
Moreover, the Obamas are more interested in putting forth 'young new voices' rather than on carrying shows themselves, according to Vanity Fair, which first reported rumblings of the couple's dissatisfaction.
The news comes as Spotify faces backlash over Joe Rogan, the most popular podcaster on the platform, over what some call his peddling of COVID-19 misinformation.
In July 2020, the Michelle Obama Podcast debuted with the former president as the first guest. Above, the former First Lady interviews her brother Craig Robinson Barack Obama interviews Bruce Springsteen during the former president's eight-part podcast, Renegades: Born in the USA The Obamas are said to be shopping for a new podcasting partner because they're frustrated with the slow pace of development at SpotifyThe Obamas signed a deal to 'develop, produce and lend their voices' to select podcasts to be featured on the music streaming service back in June 2019.
Under the deal, Obama has hosted the eight-episode podcast Renegades: Born in the USA alongside Bruce Springsteen. It premiered on April 5, 2021.
In July 2020, the Michelle Obama Podcast debuted with the former president as the first guest. The last episode was released on September 16 of that year.
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Other podcasts produced by the Obamas include Tell Them, I Am, which features stories from Muslim voices, and The Big Hit Show, which premiered in January.
The Big Hit Show is hosted by journalist Alex Pappademas. Its first season focuses on the impact of the Twilight book and film series.
One source told Insider that it's possible the Obamas could renew their Spotify deal, though they now face stiffer competition than before as streaming services from Amazon and Apple have upped their investment in podcasts.
Another source said that Higher Ground's pitches don't always align with Spotify's interest in popular, wide-reaching shows.
News of the Obamas' dissatisfaction comes as Spotify faces backlash for Joe Rogan's peddling of alleged misinformation on his show Neil Young in Santa Monica, California on September 9, 2019Joni Mitchell in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2021Late last month, folk singer Neil Young told Spotify in an open letter that he wanted his music off the streaming service because Joe Rogan's podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, 'is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them.'
Spotify complied and began pulling the singer-songwriter's catalogue from the service on Wednesday. A few days later, Joni Mitchell also demanded that her music be removed.
The Joe Rogan Experience is Spotify's highest-rated show, with each episode bringing over 10 million listeners.
The streaming service cut a deal believed to be worth over $100 million in late 2020 for the exclusive rights to host the former Fear Factor host's podcast. The Obama's deal was reportedly worth a similar amount.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift fans are calling for the pop star, 32, to remove her music from the service in solidarity with Young and Mitchell.
'The fact is that Taylor Swift could probably end Joe Rogan with one tweet to Spotify,' one fan tweeted on Sunday to more than 6,700 likes.
Rogan addressed the controversy in an Instagram video on January 31.
'It's a strange responsibility to have this many viewers and listeners. It's nothing that I've prepared for. I'm going to do my best to balance things out.
'I'm just a person who sits down and talks to people and has conversations with them. I'm interested in telling the truth and finding out what the truth is.
'I'm very sorry that [Neil Young and Joni Mitchell] feel that way. I most certainly don't want that,' he said.
Rogan spoke hours after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have their own deal with the outlet, were in touch with Spotify to express their concerns the outlet could be spreading 'pandemic-related misinformation'.
Spotify boss Daniel Ek pushed back at employees demanding the ouster of Joe Rogan, saying the controversial podcaster is vital to the platform's future and it's not the company's place to 'dictate the discourse' of his show.
Fans are calling for Taylor Swift to remove her music from the Swedish streaming giant'There are many things that Joe Rogan says that I strongly disagree with and find very offensive,' Chief Executive Daniel Ek said at a company town hall on Wednesday, according to a transcript published by The Verge.
But 'if we want even a shot at achieving our bold ambitions, it will mean having content on Spotify that many of us may not be proud to be associated with.'
'Not anything goes, but there will be opinions, ideas, and beliefs that we disagree with strongly and even makes us angry or sad,' he added.
Spotify has found itself stuck between its $100million flagship talent and a popular backlash over COVID-19 misinformation on his shows.