Barack and Michelle Obama sign deal to produce podcasts for Spotify

Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama have signed a deal to produce a series of podcasts for music streaming platform Spotify. Under the multiyear deal between Spotify and the couples' Higher Ground Productions, the duo is set to develop, produce, and lend their voices to select podcasts on a variety of topics.

According to Variety, the deal is with Higher Ground Audio, a new division of the Higher Ground production company. "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," the former president said in a statement provided by Spotify. Michelle said through these podcasts their aim is to tell inspirational stories which can help people connect emotionally.

"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," she added. Spotify will distribute the Obamas' podcasts worldwide to its paid and ad-supported user base. The streaming platform, however, did not provide details on the specific projects the Obamas may be planning at this point.

"President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are two of the world's most important voices and 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," said Spotify chief content officer Dawn Ostroff.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)