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Alex Cooper, the host of beloved podcast Call Her Daddy, just made headlines by signing a three-year deal with SiriusXM that will earn her around $125 million, according to Variety.
This means the end of her previous $60 million deal with Spotify. Fans will still be able to listen to Call Her Daddy on that platform, but it will now also be available on SiriusXM, Apple Podcasts, and more.
But how did the 30-year-old media mogul gain such star power?
It all started in 2018, when Cooper created the podcast with her roommate, Sofia Franklyn. Within months, the podcast, which combines relationship and sex advice, funny stories, and no-holds-barred jokes about taboo topics, had two million listeners. They were bought by Barstool Sports that same year.
In 2020, a contract dispute with Barstool ultimately led Franklyn to leave the show, leaving Cooper as sole host. Call Her Daddy has continued to increase in popularity – it was the fifth most popular podcast on Spotify in 2020, and rose to the rank of No. 2 podcast in the subsequent two years. Her brand of humor and media savvy has made her the most listened-to female podcast host in the world, according to Spotify.
Cooper and her husband, Matt Kaplan (the Hollywood producer behind the Netflix hit To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before), have begun producing other podcasts and media projects which will also go under the new Sirius XM deal. They currently produce Hot Mess with Alix Earle and Pretty Lonesome with Madeline Argy, and will be creating more content through Cooper’s production company, The Unwell Audio Network. They also run a media company, Trending, that is working on creating projects for TV, film, touring events, and more. According to their statement, as reported by Variety, Trending is “a Gen Z media venture ‘committed to elevating today’s voices and crafting tomorrow’s stories for an independent, resourceful and inclusive generation.’”
When announcing her SiriusXM deal, Cooper’s official statement said: “I am beyond excited to work with SiriusXM. 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.”
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