As quickly as Spotify with Joe Rogan in 2020 to turn into the unique distributor of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, it was evident that the corporate was paying him a reasonably penny. Initial stories pegged the worth of the deal at round $100 million. However, within the wake of over claims that Rogan was enabling the unfold of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, a brand new report suggests Spotify is paying way more than that.

According to , the three-and-a-half 12 months deal is price no less than $200 million, with a risk of further funds. As the report notes, that is greater than Spotify paid to purchase main podcast manufacturing corporations and — every of these offers was price just a little below $200 million.

Rogan’s present is Spotify’s hottest podcast in 93 international locations, together with the US. Episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience can garner tens of thousands and thousands of listeners. Spotify CEO reportedly that massive unique offers such because the Rogan one helped make the corporate as profitable as it’s. Spotify has remained behind Rogan, even after his use of racist language on the present got here below the highlight. Rogan some episodes containing that language from Spotify.

The backlash in opposition to Rogan and the corporate ramped up after lots of of medical doctors, nurses, scientists and educators to Spotify in January urging the corporate to take extra motion in opposition to the unfold of misinformation. They despatched the request after Dr. Robert Malone made claims about COVID-19 vaccines on The Joe Rogan Experience that they referred to as “false and societally harmful assertions.”

Notable critics together with and accused Spotify of spreading dangerous misinformation and pulled their music from the platform. Around the identical time, put episodes of her Spotify-exclusive podcasts on maintain. Film director Ava DuVernay with Spotify final 12 months, however minimize ties this month earlier than producing any content material for the corporate. recommend and could not renew , which is about to run out in a number of months.

Spotify has additionally faced criticism from staff over Rogan. The host and editor of Gimlet’s Science VS podcast mentioned they’d till “Spotify implements stronger methods to stop the spread of misinformation on the platform.” There was one exception to that stance, although. Wendy Zukerman and Blythe Terrell are publishing episodes that debunk misinformation being unfold on the platform. They that examines a number of the claims made in Rogan’s chat with Malone.