Meghan Markle’s podcast rebrand is ‘recipe for failure’ as expert spots key changes needed
EXCLUSIVE: Meghan Markle’s new podcast team has to “bring something fresh to the table” to see success, a celebrity PR specialist has warned.
Meghan Markle’s new podcast is a “recipe for failure” unless her new team makes key changes to its existing format, a celebrity PR specialist has warned.
The Duchess of Sussex secured a partnership with Lemonada Media after Spotify’s exclusive deal with Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions ended mid-2023 after just one 12-episode series.
Under the new deal, Lemonada will distribute the first season of Markle’s Archetypes series for all audio platforms and then develop a new, currently untitled, original podcast series hosted by the Duchess.
Speaking on behalf of Betfred, celebrity PR specialist Kayley Cornelius exclusively told Express.co.uk: “For Meghan Markle’s new podcast to see more success than Archetypes, she and her team are going to have to bring something seriously fresh to the table.”
She explained that Archetypes, which welcomed guests such as singer Mariah Carey, TV host Trevor Noah, and actor Deepika Padukone, “lacked a solid marketing strategy” to keep listeners engaged on a weekly basis.
Kayley added: “The success of Meghan’s new podcast will depend on a variety of factors such as the marketing, guests, and topics discussed.”
Meghan only released one 12-episode series of Archetypes (Image: Getty)
The celebrity PR specialist explained how a novel approach is needed for the podcast to gain traction.
She said: “Simply rebranding the same format under a different name is likely a recipe for failure. The podcast industry is booming, but while there’s a lot of demand for this new form of media, the main reason people tune in is because they are invested and feel connected to the host.
“For this new podcast to stand any chance of succeeding, Meghan will have to find a way to connect to her audience more, or perhaps recruit the help of an experienced co-host to help add structure and extra personality to the show.”
Archetypes was originally billed as a “podcast where we investigate, dissect, and subvert the labels that try to hold women back”.
When the royal duo’s Spotify and Archewell Audio deal ended, Harry and Meghan’s production company said they had mutually agreed to part ways. However, there were soon concerns that the streaming giant had been unimpressed with the couple’s lack of output.
In a separate podcast, Bill Simmons, who is head of podcast innovation and monetisation at Spotify, criticised the pair, calling the royal couple “f****** grifters”.
Meghan signed with Lemonada Media in February 2024 (Image: Getty)
Lemonada Media announced its new partnership with the Duchess of Sussex on February 13. The platform is set to launch her newest work in 2025, but the title of the podcast and details on what it will be about have not been revealed as of yet.
Meghan also issued a statement to express her excitement about the new podcast, stating: “I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting.
“Being able to support a female-founded company with a roster of thought-provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024.”
She continued: “Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works.
“I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”
