Michelle Obama’s Podcast Struggles on Apple and Spotify Amid Exodus of Viewers on YouTube
Michelle Obama might be one of the most recognizable women in the world, but the former First Lady’s podcast has struggled to get off the ground a month after its launch.
Four weeks after rolling out IMO (In My Opinion) alongside her brother Craig Robinson, Mrs. Obama’s new media venture is stalled in a media marketplace with no shortage of options.
Despite a high-profile launch and popular guests, the podcast has seen a notable drop-off in viewership on YouTube and is lagging behind other shows on the charts.
The first episode, released on YouTube on March 12, got off to a promising start with 335,000 views. But each subsequent episode has struggled to maintain that momentum.
The next episodes released clocked in at:
- 252,000 views
- 225,000 views
- 194,000 views
- 140,000 views
IMO‘s most recent episode — uploaded five days ago – racked up only 62,000 views on YouTube.
That’s a steep decline in less than a month, especially for a show fronted by someone as universally known as Michelle Obama.
The situation on audio platforms isn’t much better for Obama and Robinson. As of Monday, IMO was ranked 34th on Spotify’s podcast chart, and 19th on Apple Podcasts – respectable numbers, but not exactly the breakout success many would expect given the star power involved.
When the podcast was announced in early March, The Hollywood Reporter billed it as a thoughtful, conversation-driven series designed to tackle life’s big questions.
Michelle Obama said at the time the podcast would be a haven for chats about life, family, and “hope.”
“My brother Craig and I launched the IMO podcast to create a space for people to come as they are, ask honest questions, give their opinions, and have thoughtful conversations about life,” she said. “There is no single way to deal with the challenges we may be facing — whether it’s family, faith, or our personal relationships — but taking the time to open up and talk about these issues can provide hope.”
While IMO is still in its infancy, the show has stumbled out of the gate at a time when Democrats are eager to expand their media footprint and advance their messaging after last November’s election.
