So, what’s the deal with Spotify and Joe Rogan?

Well, it’s complicated. They have a deal with Rogan, one of the most popular podcasters in the world, but it’s expensive as hell. And now that the deal is expiring, Spotify has to decide whether to renew it or not.

On the one hand, Rogan is a huge asset to Spotify. He’s one of the most popular podcasters in the world, and his show brings in a lot of listeners and revenue.

On the other hand, he’s also a bit of a liability. He’s been known to say some controversial things on his show, and he’s even been accused of spreading misinformation.

This has put Spotify in a tough spot. They need to decide whether or not to keep him on their platform, and if so, how much to pay him.

There are a few factors that Spotify needs to consider when making this decision.

First, they need to think about the financial implications. Rogan is a big name, and he’s not going to come cheap. They need to consider whether or not they’re willing to pay him what he’s asking for.

Second, they need to think about the reputational implications. Rogan has been controversial in the past, and Spotify needs to decide whether or not they’re willing to associate their brand with him.

Finally, they need to think about the impact on their users. Some Spotify users love Rogan, while others hate him. They need to decide whether or not they’re willing to alienate a portion of their user base by keeping Rogan on their platform.

So, what should Spotify do?

Well, it’s not easy. But here are a few options:

Renew the deal - but for less money. This would be the most obvious option, but it’s also the most risky. Rogan knows he’s in demand, and he may not be willing to take a pay cut. Give him more control over his content. This could be a way to keep him happy and avoid any more censorship controversies. But it could also backfire if he uses his newfound freedom to say something really offensive. Make the deal non-exclusive. This would allow Rogan to release his podcast on other platforms as well. This would be good for him, who would have more reach, but it would be bad for Spotify, which would lose some of its exclusivity. End the deal altogether. This would be the most drastic option, but it’s also the one that would give Spotify the most flexibility. They could then invest their money in other podcasters, or they could try to create their own original content. Ultimately, the decision of what to do with Joe Rogan is up to Spotify. But it’s a decision that they need to make carefully. Rogan is a valuable asset, but he’s also a bit of a loose cannon. And Spotify needs to figure out how to balance those two things.

In the meantime, here’s what I think would happen if Spotify did end the deal with Rogan:

Rogan would probably launch his own podcast network. He has the money and the influence to do it, and he would probably be able to attract a lot of listeners. Spotify would lose some of its audience, but it would also save a lot of money.

And then, in a few years, Rogan would probably sign a deal with another streaming platform. Maybe Amazon Music. Maybe Apple Podcasts. Maybe even YouTube.

Because that’s just how things work in the media world. The big personalities always end up on the biggest platforms.