In a groundbreaking move for the podcasting industry, Alex Cooper, the dynamic host behind the popular podcast Call Her Daddy, has secured a multiyear deal with SiriusXM Holdings Inc. The agreement, valued at $100 million over more than three years, transitions Cooper from $60m deal with Spotify (where Call Her Daddy was the #2 podcast in 2023) to SiriusXM.
The deal grants SiriusXM exclusive rights to sell advertisements on both the audio and video versions of Call Her Daddy, including bonus content and live events associated with the show. This strategic partnership is expected to strengthen SiriusXM’s content offerings, particularly as the company faces a competitive landscape in audio entertainment.
Call Her Daddy was launched in 2018 with Sofia Franklyn and by 2020 it became #5 Spotify most listened to podcast. When Cooper signed with Spotify in 2021 it was the biggest exclusive deal for a woman-led podcast.
Cooper, known for her fearless and unfiltered approach to discussions on relationships, sex, and culture, has amassed a massive following, making her one of the most influential voices in the podcasting world. According to Edison Research, Call Her Daddy was the seventh-most-popular podcast in the United States during the first quarter of this year, boasting over 4 million followers.
“I am beyond excited to work with SiriusXM,” Cooper said in a statement. “The Daddy Gang will always be my top priority, and with SiriusXM we will continue to find new ways to evolve and provide my listeners the best experience. The Daddy Gang wants more, so we’re getting ready to give them more… I can’t wait for this new chapter to begin.”
Scott Greenstein, President of SiriusXM, highlighted Cooper’s unique appeal in a statement: “Alex’s fearless, unfiltered approach, where no topic is off the table, has created a passionate and dedicated fanbase that is unmatched in podcasting and perfectly aligns with the content that SiriusXM subscribers have come to love and expect from us.”
As part of the deal, SiriusXM will also gain exclusive rights to podcasts on Cooper’s Unwell Network, which features popular influencers like Alix Earle and Madeline Argy. The new content under this partnership is set to debut in 2025, as SiriusXM continues to expand its offerings to stay ahead of industry trends.
This partnership with Cooper is the latest in a series of high-profile podcast acquisitions for SiriusXM, which previously signed a $100 million deal with SmartLess, hosted by actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes. The move underscores SiriusXM’s strategy to bolster its content library and attract new subscribers, particularly as it prepares for the potential end of its contract with Howard Stern in 2025.
SiriusXM shares saw a notable increase of up to 7.2%, reaching $3.26 in New York trading following the announcement of the deal. Analysts from Bloomberg Intelligence, Geetha Ranganathan, and Kevin Near, suggested that exclusive content like Call Her Daddy will play a critical role in reinvigorating subscriber growth for the satellite radio giant.
As the podcasting landscape continues to evolve, this deal represents a major milestone not just for Alex Cooper, but for the entire industry, signaling the increasing value and influence of podcast creators in the world of digital media.
