Former ESPN host and current podcaster Jemele Hill has reportedly exited her contract with streaming giant Spotify following a dispute over her pay. According to multiple outlets, Hill expected to be paid a similar amount to the massive $100 million that was given to Joe Rogan, host of the Joe Rogan Experience.
According to Bloomberg, Hill is in ongoing talks with Spotify on the terms of her exit. The Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast was streaming exclusively on Spotify’s streaming platform along with a host of other shows under her Unbothered Network. Presumably, all of those shows will be leaving along with Jemele Hill.
A few years ago, Spotify began attempting to dominate the podcast streaming market by paying massive sums to stars like Joe Rogan, Jemele Hill, and Alex Cooper, star of the Call Her Daddy podcast. While this meant a massive payday for the often controversial Hill, it did not leave her thirst for social justice satiated.
With many assuming that Spotify was looking to cut costs after CEO Daniel Ek announced the company had become “carried away” in its investments, podcasters are certainly not in the driver’s seat in contract negotiations. Ek said, “The next era of Spotify is one where we’re adding speed plus efficiency — not just growth at all costs — that’s a big shift…but now we’re going to have to live up to that.”
Hill’s complaint with the company seems to stem from her desire to see a black podcaster become the highest-paid on the platform. Hill also expressed some concern over the acquisition of Joe Rogan back when Spotify announced the deal. In an interview with the New York Times, she said, “What I would like to see, is for them to hand $100 million to somebody who is Black.”
Hill also took to Twitter to say that the claim that she was demanding $100 million from Spotify is untrue, saying, “A lot of what’s been reported just isn’t true. My podcast hasn’t been cancelled. I never asked Spotify for $100M. This shit is truly comical.”
People: A lot of what’s been reported just isn’t true. My podcast hasn’t been cancelled. I never asked Spotify for $100M. This shit is truly comical.
Next week’s guest is: Sabrina Elba.
In the coming weeks: Blair Underwood, Kasi Lemmons, JR Smith, Kenny Latimore and more.… https://t.co/L9v4Ce61xS
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 3, 2023
Hill went on to explain further in a later reply.
“You should probably comprehend better, or maybe read the original piece — which was about me wanting to see Spotify make that investment in prominent Black podcasters. I never told Spotify or the NYT, that I deserved $100M. My deal at Spotify is pretty fair. This was about investment and growth.”
While the issue seems to be resolved from Hill’s point of view, it still leaves a glaring issue for Spotify as it tries to navigate the wokesters who demand that a white man not be the highest-paid podcaster on the platform. Given the incredibly large viewership of The Joe Rogan Experience, it will be very difficult to find any talent, regardless of skin color, that is deserving of a larger deal.
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