Spotify announced on Thursday, October 8 that it has signed a new multi-year licensing agreement with Joe Rogan for The Joe Rogan Experience, extending a partnership that began in 2020, according to Music Business Worldwide. Spotify did not disclose the financial terms, but the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported the terms are similar to Rogan's previous 2024 agreement, which carried an estimated earnout of $250 million. Dexerto characterized the renewed deal as worth nine figures. Rogan said in Spotify's announcement that "the partnership with Spotify has been an amazing fit, and they're incredible to work with."

Spotify's Head of Content Partnerships, Jordan Newman, said in the announcement quoted by Music Business Worldwide: "Joe has built something incredibly enduring, and his show continues to resonate with a massive global audience because there's simply nothing else like it." He added that Spotify's podcast business has grown alongside JRE over the years. The stakes are high for the platform's broader podcast strategy: the renewal lands as Spotify expands its Partner Program, which pays eligible video podcast creators a share of Premium video revenue and lets them monetize with ads. On September 17, Spotify said it would bring the program to more than 35 new markets including Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.

The Rogan renewal arrived the same week as a very different podcast deal claim. Yahoo Sports reports that a viral social media claim that basketball star Caitlin Clark signed a $20 million exclusive Spotify podcast deal is unverified: the $20 million figure comes from an X account, and fact checks found no reliable outlet reporting the deal and no announcement from Spotify or Clark's public accounts. Yahoo Sports notes Clark remains under contract with the Indiana Fever through 2027 and has documented partnerships with Nike and Wilson — a contrast between what Spotify officially confirms and what social media spreads about creator deals.

Fans can keep expecting weekly episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience on Spotify, with the show also remaining available on other digital platforms like YouTube and Apple Podcasts, per MMA Crossfire's report on the renewal. MMA Crossfire notes Rogan, 59, originally signed with Spotify in 2020 for a reported $100 million, with a $250 million extension in 2024, and that the show has remained among the most popular podcasts despite years of criticism over its guests. For now, neither Spotify nor Rogan has signaled any change to the format — and in Spotify's accompanying Q&A, Rogan even shared his workout playlist, describing a love of '90s hip-hop from Wu-Tang, Nas, Biggie, and Kool G Rap.