Joe Rogan dethroned from top Spotify position by Tucker Carlson as old JD Vance clip goes viral
The Joe Rogan Experience is no longer the leading podcast on Spotify, having been booted from the #1 spot by The Tucker Carlson Show following a resurfaced clip involving Tucker Carlson and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. The clip in question stems from the canceled 'Tucker Carlson Show' on Fox News.
In 2021, Carlson interviewed Vance, who disparaged United States Vice President Kamala Harris. He attacked her for having no children, sharing a controversial view that childless people have no stake in the United States' future, and referred to her as a 'cat lady,' often used to describe lonely older women.
The clip has since resurfaced and gone viral, prompting an uptick in interest in Carlson to the detriment of Rogan's podcast, which previously drew more listeners. Nevertheless, the UFC color commentator remains a popular voice on the internet, with his podcast still occupying the second spot on Spotify's podcast charts.
Curiously, Rogan has featured Carlson on his podcast, and just three months ago, no less. The pair conversed on episode #2138 of The Joe Rogan Experience, which has become a platform for a variety of figures and opinions, many of whom harbor views that clash with those of Rogan's other guests.
As a proponent of free speech, Rogan does not discriminate against anyone, even those with whom he disagrees, welcoming virtually anyone to his podcast. Few have been denied the opportunity to sit from across him in conversation, with Brian Johnson, more infamously known as 'The Liver King,' being among them.
Joe Rogan recently renewed his deal with Spotify
Back in 2020, Spotify acquired exclusive distribution rights to The Joe Rogan Experience in a deal reportedly worth around $200 million. Before the agreement, the podcast had been available on various platforms, most prominently YouTube, which would thereafter be deprived of new episodes.
However, in Feb. 2024, a new agreement was signed between Joe Rogan and Spotify for an estimated $250 million. Curiously, their contract renewal included new terms, with Spotify no longer enjoying the exclusive distribution rights it once did. Exactly what went into the decision is known only to Rogan and his lawyers.