Star podcaster Alex Cooper made headlines last week when the news came out that she’d secured a three-year agreement with SiriusXM that sites like CNBC and Variety valued at “up to $125 million.”
This astounding amount is more than twice as much as her previous $60 million deal with Spotify from 2021, and it even surpasses the $100 million that SmartLess is said to have secured early this year. However, it’s not like the “Call Her Daddy” presenter can just kick back and collect $41 million a year.
The contract will include certain conditions, according to three sources who are aware of how SiriusXM negotiates these kinds of agreements. It won’t be easy for her to make as much money as the $125 million that has been widely reported. These insiders discussed private contract negotiations with Business Insider while maintaining their identity.
The first thing the three sources noted was that podcasting businesses, such as SiriusXM, have become more aware of the need for downside protection. The days when services like Spotify
Now, there is something that one podcast industry veteran referred to as “download insurance.” A podcast deal with a host like Cooper would be based on a certain number of downloads a month. It might be her present number or one predicated on an anticipation of growth. If that download number falls short by a large amount over a continuous time, her reward could shrink.
One of the leading audio agents stated, “These networks want to have some kind of downside protection.” “All the buyers have just gotten more risk averse since 2023 when the economy got more wonky.”
In addition, Cooper’s SiriusXM agreement covers her Unwell Network’s “full slate of current and future shows” in addition to “Call Her Daddy.” Influencer podcasts are included in this.
