Alexandra Cooper (born August 21, 1994) is an American podcaster and co-creator and host of Call Her Daddy, a weekly comedy and advice podcast on Spotify. In 2021, Time Magazine called her "arguably the most successful woman in podcasting" after she signed a three-year exclusive deal with Spotify worth $60 million.[1] Making $20 million per year made her Spotify's highest earning female podcaster and the second-highest paid podcaster, behind only Joe Rogan.[2][3] The show was also the second most popular podcast globally on Spotify for 2022 behind Rogan.[4][5]
Alexandra Cooper | |
|---|---|
 Cooper interviewed by Barstool Radio in 2023 | |
| Born | August 21, 1994 Newtown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Boston University |
| Occupation | Podcaster |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Spouse | |
Rolling Stone labeled her "Gen-Z's Barbara Walters" for frequently enlisting high-profile Hollywood talent and influential individuals in American popular culture to be guests on her podcast.[6] In 2023, Cooper was named to the Time 100 Next list.[7]
Early life and education
editCooper was born in Newtown, Pennsylvania,[citation needed] and is the youngest of three siblings. Her father is a TV sports producer and her mother is a psychologist.[8]
She attended The Pennington School in Mercer County, New Jersey, and matriculated at Boston University, where she studied film and television in 2013 while playing on the school's Division I soccer team.[9] She graduated in 2017 from the College of Communication.
Career
editBarstool Sports (2017–2021)
editAfter college, she moved to New York City and worked in advertising sales. In 2018, Cooper and her roommate, Sofia Franklyn, created the Call Her Daddy podcast. One month after its first episode, it was acquired by Barstool Sports.[2] The podcast rapidly increased in popularity, with downloads rising from 12,000 to 2 million in two months.[10]
Spotify (since 2021)
editIn 2021, she signed a three-year exclusive deal with Spotify worth $60 million.[11] Beatriz Serrano writes "without Sofia, Alexandra decided to go for a Call Her Daddy where the second voice was always provided by her guests."[3]
Since signing with the music streaming service, she "has steadily grown in stature," according to Vanity Fair,[12] which reported that "her show [is] an increasingly common forum for celebrity interviews and the leading archetype in a large ecosystem of podcasts centered on relationships and advice."[12]
In 2023, Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, noted Cooper's podcast is driving engagement of younger women with the service, helping to drive its recent surge in year-over-year monthly active users and revenue by 27% and 11% respectively.[13]
Spotify's data show that guest appearances on Cooper's podcast's led to dramatic spikes in musician's streaming numbers.[5] Anitta’s streams rose 155%, Madison Beer’s climbed 130%, John Legend's 200%, and John Mayer's 350%.[5]
In September 2023, she started The Unwell Network, a podcast network to partner with Spotify’s enterprise platform, Megaphone, for the hosting and distribution of popular podcasts, signing Alix Earle and Madeline Argy for 'Hot Mess with Alix Earle' and 'Pretty Lonesome with Madeline Argy.'[14][15][16]
On September 21, 2023, Earle debuted her first episode, landing 1st on The Podcast Charts, with Cooper in 2nd.[17] On, October 2, 2023, Argy debuted her first episode, reaching the top 5 on The Podcast Charts within the week.
In August 2024, Cooper signed a $125 million, three-year deal with Sirius XM which is set to replace Spotify as her distribution and advertising partner.[18]
Personal life
editCooper discusses her personal life on her show, which includes having gone out with numerous well-known men.[citation needed]
In 2023, Cooper became engaged to producer Matt Kaplan. They married on April 6, 2024, in Riviera Maya, Mexico.[7][19]
References
edit- ^ Dockterman, Eliana (July 21, 2021). "Call Her Daddy's Alexandra Cooper Made Her Name Talking About Sex. With Her Massive Spotify Deal, She's Pushing Beyond That". Time Magazine. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ a b Caruso, Skyler (August 24, 2023). "All About Alex Cooper, Host of the 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast". People. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ a b Serrano, Beatriz (July 2, 2023). "How podcaster Alexandra Cooper built a million-dollar empire off discussing intimacies and 'girl stuff'". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Chan, J. Clara (November 30, 2022). "Joe Rogan, Alex Cooper and Emma Chamberlain Top Spotify's Most Popular Podcasts List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c Aswad, Jem (July 6, 2023). "Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast Brings Big Bump in Streams for Anitta, John Mayer, More". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Dickson, Ej (September 19, 2023). "Alex Cooper Went From Raunchy Podcaster to Gen-Z's Barbara Walters". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "2023 TIME100 Next: Alexandra Cooper". Time. September 13, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Hennemuth, Britt (September 20, 2023). "Alex Cooper Is Taking 'Call Her Daddy' to New Heights". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "Alexandra Cooper - Women's Soccer". Boston University Athletics. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ Lorenz, Taylor (May 19, 2020). "The 'Call Her Daddy' Feud: What Happened?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (June 15, 2021). "Spotify Clinches $60M-Plus Deal With Alex Cooper for 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast, Yanking It Away From Barstool". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Adler, Dan (November 9, 2023). "The Enrapturing Church of Alex Cooper and Call Her Daddy". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Goldsmith, Jill (July 25, 2023). "Spotify Eyes Younger-Skewing Podcasts As CEO Gives Shout-Out To 'Call Her Daddy', Mum On Archewell; Q2 Subscribers Jump, Losses Widen". Deadline. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Huston, Caitlin (October 12, 2023). "Spotify Partners With Alex Cooper's The Unwell Network". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (August 8, 2023). "'Call Her Daddy' Host Alex Cooper Launches The Unwell Network, Inks Development Deals With Influencers Alix Earle and Madeline Argy". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Tingley, Anna (September 14, 2023). "TikTok Star Alix Earle Announces Podcast 'Hot Mess' for Alex Cooper's Unwell Network (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "Alix Earle, Alex Cooper go 1-2 in Spotify podcast charts after teaming up at new media company". Tubefilter. September 26, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Maruf, Ramishah; Wagmeister, Elizabeth (August 20, 2024). "Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' podcast signs deal with SiriusXM for $125 million". CNN. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ Macon, Alexandra (April 24, 2024). "Inside Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan's Intimate Beachside Wedding in Riviera Maya". Vogue. Retrieved April 30, 2024.