Barack and Michelle Obama sign podcast deal with Spotify

Spotify has called them 'two of the world's most important voices'

FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2017 file photo, former President Barack Obama, right, and former first lady Michelle Obama appear at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago. The couple's production company is teaming up with Spotify to produce exclusive podcasts for the platform. Under the Higher Ground partnership announced Thursday, June 6, 2019, the former president and first lady will develop and lend their voices to select podcasts on wide-ranging topics to connect with listeners around the world.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
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Barack and Michelle Obama are set to produce a series of podcasts after signing a deal with Spotify.

Under a multi-year deal between the streaming platform and the Obama’s company High Ground Productions, the former first couple will voice, produce and develop podcasts covering a wide range of topics.

The deal marks the Obama's first steps into the world of podcasts, with Spotify calling them "two of the world's most important voices".

In a statement, the former US president said: “We’ve always believed in the value of entertaining, thought-provoking conversation. It helps us build connections with each other and open ourselves up to new ideas. We’re excited about Higher Ground Audio because podcasts offer an extraordinary opportunity to foster productive dialogue, make people smile and make people think, and, hopefully, bring us all a little closer together.”

Michelle Obama added: “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to amplify voices that are too often ignored or silenced altogether, and through Spotify, we can share those stories with the world. Our hope is that through compelling, inspirational storytelling, Higher Ground Audio will not only produce engaging podcasts, but help people connect emotionally and open up their minds — and their hearts.”

It comes after the Obamas signed a deal with Netflix to produce a number of original, scripted and unscripted documentary series and films, after setting up Higher Ground Productions last year.

Spotify will distribute the podcasts worldwide to its more than 217 million active users. Although it is yet to give any detail as to what the podcasts will cover, it has promised “a diverse slate of original podcasts”.

“President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are two of the world’s most important voices,” said Spotify chief content officer Dawn Ostroff. “It is a privilege to be working with them to identify and share stories that will inspire our global audience, which looks to Spotify for unique, breakthrough content.”