NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce have hit the jackpot with a lucrative podcast deal worth a whopping $100 million with Amazon. The three-year agreement, announced on Tuesday, grants Amazon’s Wondery audio network exclusive multimedia rights to the brothers’ popular podcast, New Heights.
The Kelce brothers expressed their excitement about the deal as they gear up for the third series of their podcast, which they launched in 2022. Known for their brotherly banter and humor, the duo interviews celebrity guests and shares insights into their own lives on the show.
Travis Kelce, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, has gained wider fame as the boyfriend of pop sensation Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, elder brother Jason recently retired after a successful 13-season career with the Philadelphia Eagles and has transitioned into an analyst role with ESPN.
The podcast deal with Amazon marks a significant milestone in the growing popularity of sports podcasts and the podcasting medium in general. New Heights was even honored as the podcast of the year at the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards.
Jen Sargent, the head of Wondery, praised the Kelces and their podcast, stating that New Heights has become a cultural phenomenon that resonates with audiences beyond just sports fans. The rise of podcast consumption is evident in recent data, with a 45% increase in Americans listening to podcasts over the past five years and a doubling of listeners in the past decade to reach 183 million people.
The UK has also seen a similar surge in podcast consumption, with ad revenue in the industry skyrocketing to billions of dollars globally, according to PwC. This shift reflects changing consumer habits, with younger audiences increasingly turning to podcasts over traditional linear TV.
The Kelces’ deal with Wondery follows in the footsteps of other high-profile podcast agreements, including comedian Dax Shephard’s recent partnership with the company. Notable podcast deals like Joe Rogan’s $100 million deal with Spotify and Alex Cooper’s agreement with Sirius FM highlight the growing trend of big-name personalities cashing in on the podcasting boom.
