Joe Rogan strikes $250M deal with Spotify, including distribution on YouTube

Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster and media personality, has struck a fresh distribution deal with audio provider Spotify for “The Joe Rogan Experience.”

The deal, estimated to be worth up to $250 million, according to The Wall Street Journal, involves an upfront minimum guarantee in addition to a revenue-sharing agreement based on advertising sales. In a deviation from his first deal with the company, under the new deal Spotify will sell ads for and distribute Rogan’s show in a video format on YouTube, the Journal noted.

Rogan began podcasting in 2009 and has grown in popularity in the years since. He was propelled to megastar status with his first deal with Spotify in 2020, worth a reported $200 million.

The former comedian and host of “Fear Factor” has sparked controversy on a number of occasions with his commentary on the coronavirus pandemic, politics and other current events. He faced particular backlash for spreading disinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

In 2022, a top executive at Spotify called the backlash the company received over some of the content on Rogan’s podcast a “real learning experience” after the company pulled dozens of episodes off its platform.

“I’ve also learned so much — not just from all the episodes themselves — but also from all the audiobooks I’ve listened to, articles and books that I’ve read, and documentaries I’ve watched either for the show, or because of the show,” Rogan said as part of a blog post announcing his new deal with Spotify. “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.”