Top Spotify Podcast Exec Courtney Holt to Leave Company

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRic Parnell, who played the fictional band Spinal Tap’s drummer Mick Shrimpton in the classic 1984 heavy metal “mockumentary” “This Is Spinal Tap,” has died at the age of 70, according to a post from the group’s Harry Shearer and Yahoo News. No cause of death was initially reported.Ric Parnell, our drummer in This is Spinal Tap, passed away today.

Spotify said it is not experiencing any negative effects from blowback over podcast hosts like Joe Rogan, with the company’s first-quarter results exceeding Wall Street forecasts.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSpotify topped guidance for total monthly listeners in the first quarter of 2022, despite the loss of 1.5 million paid subscribers in Russia and a roiling controversy over Joe Rogan’s podcast that had elicited calls for a boycott.The audio streamer’s monthly average user base grew 19% in Q1, to 422 million, representing a net gain of 16 million in the period. Spotify exceeded expectations on MAU growth even excluding a “one-time benefit” of 3 million users who had created new accounts to access the service after an outage in early March.Spotify netted 2 million Premium subscribers, to reach 182 million (up 15% year over year).

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSpotify topped guidance for total monthly listeners in the first quarter of 2022, despite the loss of 1.5 million paid subscribers in Russia and a roiling controversy over Joe Rogan’s podcast that had elicited calls for a boycott.The audio streamer’s monthly average user base grew 19% in Q1, to 422 million, representing a net gain of 16 million in the period (more than twice its previous forecast). Spotify topped expectations on MAU growth even excluding a “one-time benefit” of 3 million users who had created new accounts to access the service after an outage in early March.Spotify netted 2 million Premium subscribers, to reach 182 million (up 15% year over year).

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could soon become one of the biggest power couples in Hollywood, an expert predicts. Former US President Donald Trump has urged the Queen to strip the Sussexes of all their royal titles and according to popular culture guru Nick Ede, they’d rocket to fame as a result.

Michelle Obama will not be renewing their lucrative podcast partnership with Spotify after clashing with the streaming giant over exclusivity and how much they were expected to appear in episodes.  The former first couple are said to be looking instead for a new deal at Amazon with its Audible service, or at iHeartMedia, according to Bloomberg which first revealed that the arrangement was not being renewed.  The Obama's signed their deal with Spotify in 2019 for an undisclosed sum but it is likely to be in the realm of $30million, the amount scored by Harry and Meghan in 2019 for a multi-year deal.

Meghan Markle paid tribute to late mother-in-law Princess Diana by channeling her wardrobe during her appearance at the Invictus Games over the weekend.The 40 year old attended the opening ceremony of the veteran sporting event on Saturday wearing an ivory off-the-shoulder top with ruching at the centre paired with black tailored trousers. Meghan looked stunning in the off white-bodysuit from designer Khaite’s latest collection, which appeared to be an almost identical style of that worn by the Princess of Wales decades before.The elegantly fashioned Cerise Knotted Bodysuit, as it is titled on the designer’s official website, is comprised of stretch-cotton jersey forming a slim fit perfect for wearing underneath high waisted skirts and trousers.

Daily Mail, Markle not only styled the look with a gold pendant and delicate chains around her hand but also wore Princess Diana's Cartier watch, which was gifted to the Duchess by her husband.Meghan Markle attends the Invictus Games on April 15, 2022. If you think the look feels slightly familiar, you must be completely up-to-date on all things royal. Just last month, wore a white suit by Alexander McQueen during her to Jamaica with .

@Spotify I was [lucky] enough to lead and interact with,” Holt wrote on Twitter. “The goals we set were ambitious, and yet we achieved so much.

Spotify executive Courtney Holt is exiting the streaming giant after a four-and-a-half-year run.

Archewell Audio, the production company launched by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, has filed an application to trademark the word "Archetypes," Fox News Digital has learned. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database, the application was filed two days after the Duchess of Sussex announced her forthcoming Spotify podcast, titled "Archetypes," last month.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThree members of Congress have written to Spotify co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek, criticizing him over the company’s policy of promoting an artist’s music on its Discovery Mode platform in exchange for a reduced royalty rate. Among other notes, the letter requests that Spotify label such as paid content; the company announced the policy, which has come under heavy criticism, in 2020.The letter, written on official Congress stationary and obtained by Variety, is dated March 26, 2022 and signed by Reps.

Meghan Markle is attempting to trademark the word “archetypes” – the name of her first Spotify podcast series – it is claimed. The application for exclusive use of the word was made at the at the US Patent and Trademark Office last month by Archewell Audio, one of the companies established by Meghan and Prince Harry. The list of goods and services involved are “in the fields of cultural treatment of women and stereotypes facing women” and include podcasts, TV shows, and entertainment services distributed in various ways, the Daily Mail reports.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn a move that sounds like a “Who’s on first?” routine, Shira Knishkowy is joining Another Management Company, leaving Spotify after three years to join the company that oversees the careers of such artists as Kurt Vile, Waxahatchee, Stephen Malkmus, Mary Timony, Snail Mail, Mdou Moctar and Horsegirl, as well as High on Fire, Protomartyr, Sheer Mag and others. Knishkowy’s artist-centric role at Spotify and previous multi-year roles at Matador Records, Partisan Records and Big Hassle Media make her a solid fit for her new role as artist manager and director of digital and creative strategy.Another co-founder Rennie Jaffe says, “I have ultimate confidence that Shira will take the relationships, skill-sets and most importantly the instincts she’s developed over the past 10+ years as a leading music publicist to quickly emerge as a world class artist manager.

Spotify if his podcast becomes censored to the point at which he has to “walk on eggshells” and mind his “Ps and Qs”.The host of The Joe Rogan Experience, which is Spotify’s biggest podcast, said in a recent episode that he’ll back out of his reported $200million, three-and-a-half-year exclusivity deal he agreed with the platform in 2020 should it decide to bow to external criticism.Rogan became embroiled in controversy recently after Neil Young demanded his music be removed from Spotify if the platform wasn’t willing to remove podcast episodes in which Rogan had broadcasted dangerous misinformation over the COVID vaccines.During a recent episode, Rogan, an ex-mixed martial arts commentator and TV host, got into a conversation with MMA fighter Josh Barnett about the podcast industry.“I will quit. If it gets to a point that I can’t do it anymore, where I have to do it in some sort of weird way where I walk on eggshells and mind my p’s and q’s, fuck that!” Rogan said, which you can see in a clip above.He alluded to other controversies, which include his past use of racial slurs that recently came into the spotlight, saying that he worries about “every little thing” being picked on.“There’s more people poring over it but it’s the same thing.

In the rippling wake of Will Smith’s reaction to Chris Rock’s joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, many are calling for the organization to strip Smith of his coveted golden statue. The actor took home the best actor award for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams in "King Richard," and what was supposed to be a grandiose night of celebration for his performance has since turned into a loud cry for Smith to have the honor rescinded as punishment for the slap, which was seen by millions across the world.

He’s still just a Regular Joe, Joe Rogan seemed to be saying on his Spotify podcast yesterday.

again.The hugely popular, and hugely controversial, podcast host is threatening to quit the music streaming giant, leaving their $200 million deal on the table. During a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Podcast,” the former mixed martial arts commentator got into a conversation with MMA fighter Josh Barnett about the cutthroat podcast industry ring.“I will quit.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSpotify, which suspended its paid subscription service in Russia earlier this month due to that country’s unprovoked and bloody invasion of Ukraine, has announced it will “fully suspend our service in Russia,” apparently indefinitely. It joins dozens of other music companies that have ceased operations in the country.“Spotify has continued to believe that it’s critically important to try to keep our service operational in Russia to provide trusted, independent news and information in the region.