While Trevor Noah builds his post–Daily show career, the comedian adds a new job to his resume: Spotify podcaster.
The currently untitled podcast, which will debut later this year, will be released weekly and will feature Noah’s commentary on hot topics and in-depth conversations with influential figures from around the world, the company said on Cannes Lions Tuesday.
The series will be a Spotify Original podcast, produced under the recently merged Spotify Studios umbrella that now includes podcast stores Gimlet and Parcast. But unlike Spotify’s big exclusive talent deals of the past, Noah’s podcast will be available on all major platforms.
“It is very exciting to embark on a fun new adventure with Spotify where we will engage in interesting and meaningful conversations with some of the world’s most fascinating people,” said Noah.
The comedian presented earlier The daily show podcast until he left the late-night talk show late last year to pursue other projects. “Maybe it’s because I didn’t grow up in America, but I believe everything must come to an end,” Noah said. The Hollywood Reporter last November of his decision to leave the show. “A lot of American companies and American media just say, ‘Keep going as long as you can’, but I think it’s healthy for things to end when they’re still in a good place. I want to leave before I burn out because there are many more things I would like to do.”
Since leaving, Noah has landed a book deal, hosted the Grammys, and gone on tour. He will join Spotify’s roster of podcasting talent – including Call her daddyfrom Alex Cooper, Everything goes’ Emma Chamberlain and The Joe Rogan Experience’s Joe Rogan, among others — at a time when Spotify is adjusting its podcasting strategy, rethinking high-priced star deals, and laying off employees under pressure from Wall Street to profit from podcasting. The audio giant has also dropped or otherwise terminated many of the exclusive deals it brokered to kick-start its podcast business, most notably with the Obama’s Higher Ground, Brené Brown, Esther Perel and, starting June 15, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell.
Instead, the audio company has pursued a broader distribution model, releasing shows such as Chamberlain’s once-exclusive Everything goes on all major platforms and focused on the advertising opportunities.
“Spotify is the ultimate audio destination, and partnering with Trevor Noah, one of the world’s most brilliant and distinctive voices, will deliver captivating stories that will delight our more than 100 million podcast listeners around the world,” Julie McNamara, Spotify vp and head of global podcast studios, said. “We are excited to partner with Trevor to create an original podcast that seamlessly blends his unique wit, insightful commentary and consummate global-scale interviewing skills.”
