Exclusive | Ringer founder Bill Simmons is a free agent approaching the Spotify deal

One of the mainstays of sports podcasting may be about to hit the market.

Bill Simmons’ contract with Spotify ends in early 2025 after the Swedish audio giant signed him to a five-year deal when it bought The Ringer for $250 million in 2020.

He was eventually named Head of Podcast Innovation and Monetization at the parent company.

Simmons has had exploratory talks with other companies about the possibility of launching a new platform, The Post has learned.

Sources said Simmons has privately expressed frustration with trustees about Spotify’s corporate structure in which he hasn’t had full personnel autonomy to bring in all the talent or shows he wanted to add to the group.

However, Simmons and Spotify have had an ongoing dialogue about the possibility of a new deal.

A spokesman for Simmons dismissed the story as “inaccurate and idle speculation.”

“As part of Spotify, The Ringer has enjoyed years of audience growth, format expansion and increased roles for the Ringer team within Spotify,” a Spotify spokesperson told The Post in a statement.

“Spotify looks forward to continuing this partnership and has no plans to sell The Ringer.”

Simmons rose to prominence as a writer for ESPN’s Page 2 vertical and became the most popular sportscaster in the country as he wrote from a fan’s perspective in a format that predated blogging.

He was also an early adopter of the podcast format and was a driving force behind the “30 for 30” documentary series for the network.

Before his acrimonious departure from ESPN in 2015 over comments he made about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, he had led ESPN’s Grantland website, which blended sports and pop culture and grew to dozens of employees, many of whom developed influential platforms at The Ringer and around the world. internet.

Spotify bought Ringer amid a spending spree on original podcast content that included big deals with Barack and Michelle Obama, Joe Rogan, “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Rogan renewed with Spotify earlier this year in a deal worth up to $250 million.

Deals with the Obamas and former British royals have ended, and the Wall Street Journal has reported that “Call Her Daddy” is “close to a $100 million deal” to join SiriusXM.