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Spotify strikes deal with Barack and Michelle Obama to produce exclusive podcasts

New York (CNN Business)Barack and Michelle Obama's production company will start working with Spotify to produce podcasts, similar to its multi-year production deal with Netflix to produce TV shows and films.

The production company, Higher Ground, announced the Spotify partnership on Thursday. The Obamas will "develop, produce, and lend their voices to select podcasts, connecting them to listeners around the world on wide-ranging topics," Higher Ground said.

"Lend their voices" means the former president and first lady will sometimes be heard on the new podcasts -- but their primary role will be in the development and production phases.
The first podcasts from Higher Ground Audio are likely to debut in 2020 at the earliest. Higher Ground and Spotify said they would announce the specifics later.

The Obama-produced podcasts will be exclusive to Spotify's platform -- part of a broader push by the company to make a bigger splash in the podcasting space. Spotify, a digital music service with millions of songs that launched over a decade ago, has acquired several podcasting companies this year.

"President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are two of the world's most important voices and it is a privilege to be working with them to identify and share stories that will inspire our global audience, which looks to Spotify for unique, breakthrough content," Dawn Ostroff, Spotify's chief content officer, said in a statement on Thursday.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

But similar to the Netflix deal, the tie-up with Spotify was described as a multi-year agreement.

The initial lineup of projects for Netflix was announced in April. The list includes a drama set in post-WWII New York City, a scripted anthology, a children's series, and a number of non-fiction projects.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/06/media/spotify-obama-higher-ground/index.html

I'd love to hear the Barrack and Michelle hour a couple times a month! And I know my buddy 40 would tune-in too!

Here are the projects the Obamas are working on for Netflix

(CNN)Michelle and Barack Obama's Higher Ground Productions has unveiled its initial slate of projects for Netflix, and they are as wide-ranging as had been promised.

They include a drama set in post-WWII New York City, a scripted anthology, a children's series, and a number of non-fiction projects.

"We created Higher Ground to harness the power of storytelling. That's why we couldn't be more excited about these projects," President Obama said in a release. "Touching on issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights, and much more, we believe each of these productions won't just entertain, but will educate, connect, and inspire us all."

Here's a breakdown:

"American Factory": A documentary set in Ohio about the culture clash that occurs after a Chinese billionaire opens up a new factory where a General Motors plant once stood. The film is directed by Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winners Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert ("The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant").

"Bloom": A drama "set in the world of fashion in post-WWII New York City that depicts barriers faced by women and by people of color in an era marked by hurdles but also tremendous progress," according to a release. It is written and executive produced by Academy Award-winner Callie Khouri ("Nashville," "Thelma and Louise")

Untitled feature film: An adaptation of David W. Blight's "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom."
"Overlooked": An anthology scripted series based on the ongoing New York Times obituary column of the same name about remarkable people whose deaths were not reported by the newspaper.

"Listen to Your Vegetables and Eat Your Parents": A half-hour family show that will take viewers "around the globe on an adventure that tells us the story of our food."

"Fifth Risk": A non-fiction series based on the Michael Lewis book that will highlight "the importance of unheralded work done by everyday heroes guiding our government and safeguarding our nation," according to a release.

"Crip Camp": A documentary project about a summer camp for disabled teenagers that in the early '70s transformed lives and set in motion the disability rights movement.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/30/entertainment/obamas-netflix-shows/index.html

I highlighted the white paragraph because it is the most anti-Trump thing I've seen out of any real leader in this country to date. To entertain, educate, connect, and inspire us ALL is Trump's antithesis.

Some of these look like they will be huge hits with the Fox News crowd if they can figure out how to subscribe and interact with Netflix and Spotify! If any of y'all need help with that, just ask a young democrat.

All hail our new monarchs!

The Kennedy's could never.

40 - If the Obama's take this company public you should load up on it because it's going to be a home run!

Nah bro, they are just using their influence, skills, and higher morality to expose and educate people about some overlooked, misunderstood, and/or under represented truths. The issues they are talking about: race, class, democracy, and civil rights are all very important. So I don't see any reason they shouldn't start a profitable media company that might counter some of the Rupert Murdoch types in the world.

No they're just stupid neoliberalism running PR for themselves. No different than Bezos buying WaPo.

"Bloom": A drama "set in the world of fashion in post-WWII New York City that depicts barriers faced by women and by people of color in an era marked by hurdles but also tremendous progress," according to a release. It is written and executive produced by Academy Award-winner Callie Khouri ("Nashville," "Thelma and Louise")

Like this is the lamest thing ever.

I think your communism is showing a bit. 'Bloom' looks like an Oprah-ish series showing the women's equality struggle. Sure it's going to be made for entertainment, but it can still deliver a message or create awareness.

But I will agree that they are trying to build a legacy. Why shouldn't they? Why not do what they want the way they want in their own business as long as it's legal? This is still America.

You think somebody will deter the Trump's from monetizing EVERYTHING when he's out? GMAB

I have to laugh everytime a commie talks about neoliberalism.

It’s like a racist whining about multiculturalism. Nobody cares.

Bad take

Isn't it great that nobody is trying to force you to be their customer?