Leading podcast host Joe Rogan had some big-name guests on "The Joe Rogan Experience" throughout 2023.
Among including musicians, politicians, controversial figures, and a recent fourth appearance from the world's richest man Elon Musk.
What Happened: Rogan tops the list of most popular podcasts on Spotify, a unit of Spotify Technology (NYSE: SPOT), for the fourth year in a row.
"The Joe Rogan Experience" beat out second place "Call Her Daddy," which was second for a second straight year. Both these podcasts are exclusive to Spotify. Eight of the top 25 global podcasts on Spotify's year-end list were Spotify-owned and licensed podcasts.
"This past year, there was no single trend or topic that commanded the cultural conversation for too long - something new was always emerging. But throughout these massive moments, listeners consistently took the time to slow down, learn about these trends, and connect with other fans through the immersive world of podcasts," Spotify said.
Spotify is the most-used audio podcast platform according to data from Edison Research.
Why It's Important: Spotify Head of Podcast Editorial Lizzy Hale highlighted reasons why people listen to podcasts on the platform.
"Podcasts are the perfect format for audiences and fans to engage in cultural moments due to a key few factors," Hale said.
Rogan hosted many figures throughout 2023 including Dr. Jordan Peterson; viral music sensation Oliver Anthony; 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; musician Post Malone; musician Jelly Roll; controversial podcast host and actor Russell Brand; and former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.
The podcast host also had Elon Musk on for a fourth time in October, an episode that featured Musk's comments on a number of topics and a demonstration of shooting an arrow at the highly anticipated Cybertruck pickup truck from Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA). Rogan discussed the Cybertruck during multiple podcasts in 2023, often asking guests if they had heard of it and the podcast host praising his current Tesla vehicles.
Controversial topics and guests often led to strong interest in the podcast, as demonstrated by the number one position for a fourth straight year.
"The Joe Rogan Experience" is exclusive to Spotify as a part of a deal signed in 2020, according to Variety. The deal signed in 2020 was for three and a half years, which could mean it expires in mid-2024.
Spotify is paying more than $200 million over the current contract to Rogan. The company will have a decision to make if it wants to renew the deal. Whether it shells out similar or more money remains to be seen.
The audio company has hinted at reigning in costs, which could make doing a new deal with Rogan difficult. Rogan also brings controversy along with his popularity with several artists boycotting Spotify after a series of anti-vax episodes of "The Joe Rogan Experience" were not removed.
SPOT Price Action: Spotify shares are up 1% to $184.32 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $71.72 to $184.92. Spotify shares hit new 52-week highs this week and are up over 120% year-to-date in 2023.