Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sign exclusive podcast deal with Spotify

Deal was signed for an undisclosed amount

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have signed an exclusive deal with Spotify that will see them host and produce podcasts.

Under the new multi-year deal, announced Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will create exclusive content for the streaming giant with their newly formed Archewell Audio production company.

The content, which is expected to premiere in 2021, will “build community through shared experience, narratives and values,” Variety reports.

“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 couple said in a  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.”

Prior to the duke and duchess’ first podcast series, they will release a holiday special with Spotify, according to a landing page on the platform.

In a brief audio clip, the couple discuss their motivation for starting Archewell Audio, with Meghan stating: "One of the things my husband and I  have always talked about is our passion for meeting people and hearing their stories.

“And no matter what the story, they usually offer you an understanding of where someone else is coming from, and at the same time, remind you in some way of a story about yourself.”

According to Prince Harry: “That’s what this project is all about."

“To bring forward different perspectives and voices that perhaps you haven’t heard before. And find our common ground, because when that happens, change really is possible," he said.

The couple’s latest partnership comes just months after they signed a deal with Netflix for exclusive content including  documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming, and a day after it was revealed that Meghan has become an investor in an oat milk latte startup.

Earlier this year, the duke and duchess announced they would be stepping down from their roles as senior members of the royal family and would be seeking financial independence. They have since relocated to California with their son Archie.

Of their latest partnership, Dawn Ostroff, Spotify’s chief content and advertising business officer, said: "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.

“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.”

With the deal, Meghan and Harry join other notable names who have partnered with Spotify to create podcasts, including Barack and Michelle Obama.