Following the recent news of Archewell's split from Spotify, reports have emerged that Meghan Markle extended a personal invitation to Taylor Swift to appear on her now-canceled podcast, "Archetypes." Swift, however, declined the request through her representative, according to the Wall Street Journal.
This revelation comes on the heels of the announcement that Archewell, the organization founded by Markle and Prince Harry, had mutually agreed to end its partnership with Spotify. The Journal's report delves into the Hollywood connections the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have cultivated since stepping back from their royal duties in 2020 and launching Archewell.
Their initial ventures included agreements with Netflix and Spotify. Their first major project was the documentary "Harry & Meghan," which premiered in December 2022. Sources suggest this documentary was crucial for maintaining their relationship with Netflix.
While "Harry & Meghan" garnered significant attention, their subsequent project, "Live to Lead," failed to achieve similar success. Additionally, their planned children's program, "Pearl," was canceled by Netflix. Although the couple has other projects in development, insiders speculate that Netflix may not renew their contract, which is set to expire in 2025.
The Spotify partnership, though initially promising with the success of "Archetypes," also faced challenges. Despite featuring high-profile guests like Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, and Mindy Kaling, the deal reportedly faltered due to Prince Harry's alleged failure to produce his own podcast, which was part of the original agreement.
Furthermore, sources indicate that the couple's lack of experience in the podcasting realm contributed to production challenges. Spotify, facing its own cost-cutting measures, was reportedly dissatisfied with the couple's output.
In early 2023, Archewell also saw the departure of two key executives, Ben Browning, head of content, and Fara Taylor, head of marketing. While the organization expressed gratitude for their contributions, the departures further underscore the challenges faced by the Duke and Duchess's media ventures.
