Joe Rogan's podcast made $30 million last year.Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
- Joe Rogan's wildly popular podcast is moving exclusively to Spotify, the company announced Tuesday.
- The multiyear licensing deal is worth more than $100 million, per The Wall Street Journal.
- "The Joe Rogan Experience" is downloaded nearly 200 million times per month and made $30 million last year, making the comedian and UFC commentator the highest-paid podcaster of 2019, per Forbes.
- The 52-year-old podcaster's guests have included Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, actor Robert Downey, Jr., and right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
- Rogan is a controversial figure who has been criticized for his choice of podcast guests and been accused of making racist and transphobic remarks.
Joe Rogan's wildly popular podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," is moving exclusively to Spotify starting in September, the company announced Tuesday.
The multiyear licensing agreement could be worth upwards of $100 million based on the podcast's performance metrics and other factors, a source told The Wall Street Journal. Spotify declined to comment on the financial details of the deal.
"The Joe Rogan Experience" is downloaded almost 200 million times per month and brought in $30 million last year, making the comedian and UFC commentator the highest-paid podcaster of 2019, per Forbes. Rogan's podcast guests have included Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, actor Robert Downey, Jr., and right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
After the news was announced, Spotify shares spiked by 11%. "The Joe Rogan Experience" has been the most-searched podcast on Spotify since at least early 2019 despite not yet being available on the platform, the company told Business Insider.
Rogan's eclectic career has spanned various industries. He's worked as a stand-up comedian, an actor, a UFC commentator, and a martial arts teacher.
He also has a penchant for controversy. Rogan has been criticized for hosting guests like alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones — who called the Sandy Hook mass shooting a hoax — on his podcast twice. He's also been accused of making transphobic and racist comments.
Rogan did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment for this story.
Here's what we know about Rogan's life, career, and new deal with Spotify.
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