- Is the football player going to be the top earner on the podcast?
While Taylor Swift (34) is conquering the music world, Travis Kelce (34) is potentially also rising to become one of the top earners in the podcast world alongside his football career. Since September 2022, the footballer has been co-hosting the "New Heights" podcast with his brother Jason Kelce (36). According to the Wall Street Journal, the brothers are now aiming for a deal worth $100 million, which is approximately €92.27 million.
One of the most popular podcasts
The business magazine reported that the two have already held talks with Amazon's podcast studio "Wondery". If such a deal were to materialize, the podcast could compete with giants like Joe Rogan (56) and his "The Joe Rogan Experience". Rogan reportedly signed a deal with Spotify in February that could bring him up to $250 million, or approximately €230.6 million.
In terms of listenership, the Super Bowl winner and former Philadelphia Eagles player are already among the big names. According to data from Edison Research, "New Heights" was the fourth most listened-to podcast in the US in the first quarter of 2024. This is a significant jump from the previous quarter, where it was in sixth place outside the top 5. With this momentum, it's looking good for the podcast to achieve its desired sum.
Suddenly outside the NFL community
Since the beginning of his relationship with Swift, Kelce has suddenly gained more attention, especially outside of sports. To the dismay of some NFL fans, he has been making headlines as "Taylor Swift's boyfriend". Additionally, some sports fans have been annoyed by Swift's fans, who have been regularly attending Kelce's games since September 2023.
The NFL has used the hype around the musician to reach new viewers. Commentators have spoken about her, and social media channels have posted images and videos of her in the stands. After a victory in October, the NFL's X-account changed its banner to a collage of Swift's photos at the game, as reported by People, among others. Moreover, fans of the pop star have shown up at Chiefs games with banners saying they are only there because of Swift.
These things seem to have upset some American football fans. In December 2023, they booed Swift and her Swifties at a game when her face appeared on the stadium's screens. Swift reacted calmly in a cover story for Time magazine: "I don't notice if I'm being shown too much and I'm annoying a few dads, Brads, and Chads."
More than just "Taylor Swift's boyfriend"
Kelce has been making a name for himself as a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013 and has become the face of the team alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes. With Mahomes, he won the prestigious Super Bowl in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Kelce's stats also speak to his talent: he set the record for being the tight end to reach 10,000 receiving yards the fastest, a mark that only five tight ends have reached.
Kelce's two-year contract extension until 2027 will bring him $34.25 million, according to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero. This makes him the highest-paid tight end, with approximately €31.59 million. Outside of sports, Kelce is building a career in television. In 2023, he hosted an episode of "Saturday Night Live". He will also reprise his role as the host of the Amazon Prime show "Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?".
Travis Kelce's brother Jason, also a part of the 'New Heights' podcast, shares the same ambition as his brother, aiming for a potential $100 million deal, identical to what Joe Rogan signed with Spotify. The Kelce brothers, along with Taylor Swift's partner, have been making waves, with their podcast becoming one of the most popular in the US, as reported by Edison Research. Their listenership has seen a significant increase, placing them in the fourth position in the first quarter of 2024.
