How stories can be reported different ways.
Over in those US progressive sites I read there was a story about how several big companies were bidding for the Obama’s podcasts etc. Because the Spotify deal was coming to an end and who wouldn’t want to pay tens of millions to get them, eh?
Myself, being a cynical bastard, I noted that Spotify wasn’t among the bidders. Hhhm, now why would that be? The Telegraph being about as cynical as I am:
Barack and Michelle Obama are reportedly cutting ties with Spotify amid speculation that their ideas had failed to impress bosses at the streaming service.
The former first family’s production company, Higher Ground, has opted not to sign a new deal with the audio giant in favour of releasing more content on other platforms.
It is attempting to thrash out deals with rivals worth tens of millions of dollars, according to Bloomberg, which could herald one of the most lucrative contracts in the podcast industry
Only about as cynical of course, not actual as. For my reasoning would be that it was a money loser, therefore they don;t want to extend.
speculation that their ideas had failed to impress bosses
Lol.
Black-ish Jesus and his hulking, sulking Megawife don’t get massive, loss-guaranteeing book advances and media contracts because of their “ideas” and it has nothing to do with selling books, podcasts or Netflix subscriptions.
Infinitely more popular YouTubers, Twitchers and Tiktokers with proven audiences numbering in the millions don’t even get those opportunities. It’s just how bribery works at senior levels in the United States. The infeasibly lucrative “speaking circuit” is another one, as is the family “charity” route.
And to be fair, the Obamas aren’t white trash enough to have a crackhead son pretending to be an international gas expert.
I came here to say what Steve has already said.
It’s a strange old world these days with vast media corporations throwing shedloads of cash at power couples like the Obama’s and the Hewitt’s for what turns out to be f all of nothing.
Makes the old “book advances” and “speaking fees” look a bit old hat although anonymously paying half a million a pop for the daubings of your idiot offspring is quite inventive on a small scale even if NFT’s would be funnier while allowing for much bigger sums to be washed through.
Just as likely – the Spotify deal was part of the ‘quiet payoff’ at the end of their political career. Spotify pays them a lot of money ‘for their work’, then they move to another company that does the same, so on and so on, and they’re taken care of.
Similar to how a government bureaucrat after retirement moves into a series of board seats of companies grateful for the assistance they provided while in government service.
Sufficient time has passed that this can’t be called a bribe payout.
A money loser, therefore they don;t want to extend
Same as:
CNN+ to shut down one month after launching
$300 Million cost, 150,000 world wide signed up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnQok1wJmv0
Private sector sees failure, end it, write off sunk costs
Public sector sees failure, pour more money in then it might work