Is taking matters into their own hands too?

Is taking matters into their own hands too?
Is Netflix taking matters into their own hands too?

Netflix has followed Spotify and is now also taking steps to get Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to produce some shows in 2022 - 16 months after they signed a reputed £120million deal to make TV.

The streaming giant, whose stock tumbled more than 20 per cent on Friday after warning subscriber growth would slow substantially in early 2022, placed the advert for a production designer on Instagram

It came as audio giant Spotify reportedly took production into its own hands after the Sussexes' £18million podcast deal a year ago, with a pledge to promote 'shared values', has produced limited content.

Meghan and Harry have only made 35 minutes of content for their Archewell Audio channel, which was put together with Spotify's Gimlet Studios, since December 15 2020. They had promised a series in 2021 but it has never happened. 

Rebecca Sananes was appointed head of audio for Archewell in July last year - but ever since then there has been no update at all about the New York based producer, who has won the prestigious National Murrow Award for Best Audio News Documentary for her podcast episode: 'Why Is Vermont So Overwhelmingly White?' 

Now Netflix, whose huge cash deal was one of the first to be announced after they quit as frontline royals, is looking for a production designer for their debut, Pearl. The animated show, created by the Duchess of Sussex, is about a young girl who is inspired by influential women in history and counts Sir Elton John's husband David Furnish and star documentary maker Liz Garbus among its executive producers.

The new job ad posted on social media states the person 'will help to develop, create and support the aesthetic vision of the executive producer team'.  

After the couple's deal with Spotify resulted in only one show being streamed, the online audio behemoth is advertising for in-house staff to cover 'every step' of the process. The person will need 'an interest in the intersection of social activism and popular culture', and the show will feature 'high-profile women,' according to the job adverts posted on LinkedIn.

One producer will definitely work with the Sussexes own Archewell Audio team. Two other posts are also being advertised, but it is not clear if they will also be mucking in.    

MailOnline has asked Netflix and Spotify to comment. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently working on documentaries and a cartoon series as part of another multimillion deal with Netflix

There also appears to be some movement with Spotify, six months after they appointed Rebecca Sananes as head of audio for Archewell in July last year

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently working on documentaries and a cartoon series as part of another multimillion deal with Netflix. There also appears to be some movement with Spotify, six months after they appointed New Yorker Rebecca Sananes (right) as head of audio for Archewell in July last year

Netflix is looking for a production designer for their debut, Pearl. The aminated show, created by the Duchess of Sussex, is about a young girl who is inspired by influential women in history

Netflix is looking for a production designer for their debut, Pearl. The aminated show, created by the Duchess of Sussex, is about a young girl who is inspired by influential women in history 

After the couple's deal with Spotify resulted in only one show being streamed, the online audio behemoth is advertising for in-house staff to cover 'every step' of the process for helping the couple make content

After the couple's deal with Spotify resulted in only one show being streamed, the online audio behemoth is advertising for in-house staff to cover 'every step' of the process for helping the couple make content

What HAS happened to Meghan and Harry's £18m Spotify podcast deal?

Meghan and Harry's £18million Spotify podcast deal has been under scrutiny - after their expected 2021 Archewell series remained missing in action with the streaming giant refusing to say if and when it will air.

The Royal couple, who inked the lucrative contract last year, have been completely silent on the platform since December 15 2020.

They have only produced 35 minutes of content for their Archewell Audio channel, which was put together with Spotify's Gimlet Studios.

Neither they nor Spotify responded to questions about the future of the aural endeavor.

But - unlike the rest of its shows - Archewell Audio is notable by its absence on Gimlet's website.

And Spotify's press release of December last year now looks to be completely off the mark.

It had trilled: 'Archewell Audio will leverage Spotify's global reach—with 144 million Premium subscribers and 320 million monthly active users—to spotlight powerful and diverse voices and perspectives. 

'The first complete series from Archewell Audio and Spotify is expected next year and will be available to stream for free on Spotify.'

But in July 2021  Rebecca Sananes was appointed as head of audio but there have been no updates.

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Spotify announced the partnership with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Archewell Audio in December 2020 as they were 'citizens of the world' who wanted to 'elevate underrepresented voices'. 

But aside from a 33-minute 'holiday special' that month featuring friends such as Sir Elton John and James Corden – and the intensely private couple's son, Archie, speaking his first public words – there has been a deafening silence. 

The latest move follows Harry and Meghan adding two more 'entertainment' companies to their growing business empire in Delaware.

The pair, who stepped back from royal duty last year, are setting up a complex network of companies all based in the opaque tax haven state.

Spotify had said it expected the first 'complete series' from Archewell Audio in 2021, but has since given no further updates. 

In July, Archewell hired an experienced podcast producer, Rebecca Sananes, and confirmed it was 'looking forward to sharing more content later in 2021'. 

Now Spotify is hiring producers through its podcast arm, Gimlet, to work with Archewell Audio. 

The jobs are being offered to applicants on six-month contracts based in Los Angeles. 

One advert for a senior producer role reads: 'We're currently assembling a show team that will build and launch a new original show with Archewell featuring the voices of high-profile women. 

'The ideal candidate has experience working with high-profile talent, and an interest in the intersection of social activism and popular culture.' 

In the meantime, Harry has guest-starred on numerous other podcasts and made a series on mental health with Oprah Winfrey, with whom he and Meghan gave their shocking TV interview last March. Meghan has undertaken several media appearances. 

She and Harry are also working on documentaries and a cartoon series as part of another multimillion deal, with Netflix. 

Gimlet Projects develops and launches podcasts for Spotify, often involving 'high-profile collaborators'. 

It says the new senior producer will be involved with 'every step of the show including development, research and producing episodes'. 

Two other producing jobs are linked to the advert, but do not mention Archewell.

Aside from a 33-minute ‘holiday special’ featuring friends such as Sir Elton John (pictured above, in New Orleans on January 19) – and the intensely private couple’s son, Archie, speaking his first public words – there has been a deafening silence

James Corden, who also appeared in the couple's 'holiday special', pictured on The Late Late Show on January 18

Aside from a 33-minute 'holiday special' featuring friends such as Sir Elton John (pictured above, in New Orleans on January 19) – and the intensely private couple's son, Archie, speaking his first public words – there has been a deafening silence. James Corden, who

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