Peter Kafka

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@swodinsky @benyt Even Spotify isn’t sure tbh. But it’s a smart bet: more $ than most of the market can afford, but not so much that whiffing will kill them. And if it works out , a great compliment to the core biz, acquired at a good price. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt (But, of note: *none* of the other Spotify podcast m&a stories included the phrase “and then Apple made a huge counteroffer”.) Thanks for checking out my SoundCloud https://t.co/2QiOOxYT5J — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt (I reserve my opportunity to walk all this back if it turns out that Eddy Cue and Tim Cook were blazing up with Joe Rogan in attempt to woo Joe Rogan.) — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt The fact that they’ve spent so much for so little there (5mm active users for a nearly free product, per Bloomberg) should be chastening. But also, maybe a good argument for trying harder at video and not spending time wooing Joe Rogan. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt The most convincing argument is that they think video is a much bigger prize (true) so they are throwing their efforts behind that. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt Maybe they are lying but I believe them. Maybe they are wrong and will change their minds, like they did with streaming. If so, they can claw market share back like they did with Apple Music. All those devices lets you make up for misjudgment. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt Specifically: Apple believes the podcast market won’t get big enough to be meaningful for them anytime soon. And they don’t like the podcast advertising business model, which is predicated on the kind of targeting Apple says they detest. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt They built the app that made podcasts valuable. But complaints about Apple’s app are beside the point: they under-resource podcasts because they don’t think podcasts are a business. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@benyt What did they blow? — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@hankgreen Do you want Apple to make its own deals to balance things out? — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@TanMan466 @joerogan Yes they have a couple of these — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

🚨Joe Rogan went to Spotify🚨 So I talked to podcast expert @zachthemack about it. Zach also produces my shows and that’s why he sounds so much better. Free! Short! https://t.co/2QiOOxYT5J — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@erikd @ogrover @aweissman @JoeConyers Yeah tho I wonder if there's really much difference. Still paying people to make shows. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

WSJ puts Spotify's Rogan deal at >$100mm plus, with caveats (don't know how many years, don't know size of bonuses, etc). https://t.co/HFBXlICqHg https://t.co/b0KBvxWf56 — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

Really enjoyed Devin Gordon's Joe Rogan piece last summer. Really helpful context for today's news: https://t.co/hkDSVnD36C — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@hunterwalk @bmorrissey wait wait i can play: *zero marginal cost *wouldn't steal it if it wasn't so expensive *DRM suxxx *make it up by going on tour — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@CharlieZvible Apple seems profoundly uninterested in being in the podcast business. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@aweissman @JoeConyers Dude. Stern was $100m/a year, 5 years. In 2004 dollars. https://t.co/8hmDXHOvbE — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@aweissman @JoeConyers half a simmons? — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@JoshSchoen Right, they're describing it as licensing. In terms of any blowback, though, distinction without difference. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

On the other hand: They know this. And it worked out fine for Sirius and Howard Stern. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

To beat this into the ground: Like *many* of the big tech/content companies, Spotify describes itself as a platform/marketplace, where they aren't directly involved in the stuff people make/consume. But now they're directly employing someone who's a lightning rod. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

@rfradin it's a very long hang — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

Rogan was an obvious target for Spotify, but he comes with risk: Now Daniel Ek and co will find themselves responding to any controversy Rogan courts. By, say, interviewing Alex Jones. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

Unlike Bill Simmons, Spotify isn't *buying* @joerogan - it's locking him up for a multiyear licensing deal. But, unlike The Ringer and other pod deals Spotify has made, this will be exclusive: You'll have to listen to him on Spotify by the end of this year. — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

https://t.co/NdItQEQPNb — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

RT @nwquah: two things for this Tuesday: got to interview Bill Simmons about selling The Ringer to Spotify —> https://t.co/3aLHMEuikm — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

https://t.co/qlfm6qGRb1 — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

AppleTV+ has 5mm active users, per Lucas and Mark. Reminder: You don't actually have to buy new Apple hardware to get the service. https://t.co/grQVKlWl6D — PolitiTweet.org

Peter Kafka @pkafka

Asked Apple folks over and over about this: Why not buy shows and movies people have heard of, so they can watch that as well as your Jennifer Anniston show? A verbal shrug, every time. — PolitiTweet.org