Spotify signs new multiyear licensing agreement with Joe Rogan

Spotify has signed a new multiyear licensing agreement with Joe Rogan to continue distributing The Joe Rogan Experience, maintaining a partnership that began in 2020. Under the terms of the new arrangement, Spotify will manage ad sales and licensing for the program, which will remain available on multiple platforms, including YouTube and Apple Podcasts. While financial terms were not officially disclosed, the Wall Street Journal reported, via anonymous sources, that the deal includes an estimated earnout of $250 million over its term.

Spotify Adopts Non-Exclusive Distribution Model

The new agreement continues the non-exclusive distribution model established in February 2024. By moving away from the platform-exclusive model used at the start of the partnership, Spotify allows the podcast to reach audiences on other services while retaining the rights to monetize the show through its own ad sales infrastructure. Jordan Newman, Spotify’s head of content partnerships, stated that the company’s podcast business has expanded alongside the show, noting that Joe has built something incredibly enduring and that the program continues to resonate with a global audience.

The partnership with Spotify has been an amazing fit, and they’re incredible to work with. I’m extremely happy and excited to continue with them for years to come.

Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan Experience Leads US Podcast Market

Despite the emergence of new programs like Good Hang and Giggly Squad, the top tier of the U.S. podcast market has remained largely static since 2020. Data from Edison Research shows that The Joe Rogan Experience maintained its position as the most-listened-to podcast on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts throughout 2025. This concentration at the top of the charts creates a competitive environment where podcast networks frequently offer significant financial incentives to retain established talent, a cycle that highlights the difficulty of sustaining growth in the medium.

Historical Context of the Partnership

The relationship between Spotify and Rogan has evolved significantly since the original 2020 deal, which was reported at the time to be worth more than $100 million. In 2022, the platform faced public pressure when musician Neil Young removed his catalog from the service, citing the podcast’s handling of Covid-19 vaccine commentary. Spotify maintained its support for Rogan throughout that period. By March 2024, Young returned his music to Spotify, noting that other platforms like Apple and Amazon had begun hosting the same content he had previously opposed.

Operational Shifts in Podcast Networks

It remains unclear how Spotify’s continued investment in top-tier talent will affect its long-term profitability goals as it scales its partner program to new international markets, including Brazil, Mexico, and Italy.