Making It Easier for Video Podcasters to Earn on Spotify

Podcasts are stepping onto a new stage this week as the Golden Globes recognize the medium for the first time. To mark this milestone moment, we’re hosting our first-ever Golden Week Nominees Night with The Hollywood Reporter, and just announced Spotify Sycamore Studios, our brand-new podcast space in West Hollywood.

But that’s not all. We’re also celebrating the Spotify Partner Program’s first anniversary, with major updates designed to help creators grow on their own terms. Starting today, even more creators will be able to take advantage of the Spotify Partner Program. And coming soon, creators will have new ways to easily manage their sponsorships, and publish and monetize video on Spotify—even if they’re hosted on another platform.

Over the last year, the Spotify Partner Program has helped eligible video creators transform their shows into sustainable businesses, offering them greater flexibility and control to navigate industry shifts and maintain consistent revenue streams. 

These latest updates are designed to make Spotify an even better platform for creators, whether they’re on the rise, an established name, or a publisher managing a network of shows.

Here’s what’s new.

More creators can now join the Spotify Partner Program

When we introduced the Spotify Partner Program, our goal was to help creators around the world turn their passion for podcasting into a sustainable living. One year in, that vision is becoming a reality. Creators are seeing meaningful growth in their earnings through a mix of Premium video and ad revenue while giving Premium subscribers a seamless, high-quality video experience.

That success is built on the deep engagement of Spotify listeners. In the U.S., compared to casual listeners, loyal fans on Spotify stream nearly 20 times more of a show and are 2.5 times more likely to stick around after six months.

Now, to help even more creators connect with this valuable audience, we’re expanding the Spotify Partner Program by lowering our eligibility thresholds: 

• • From 2,000 listeners to 1,000 engaged audience members on Spotify, based on plays over the last 30 days.
  • From 10,000 hours consumed to 2,000 hours consumed over the last 30 days.
  • From 12 published episodes to 3 published episodes (all time). 

Creators can check if they’re eligible to apply by visiting the Monetize tab on Spotify for Creators.

Smarter, more flexible sponsorship management for video

Sponsorships are one of the most valuable revenue streams in podcasting, but managing them hasn’t always been easy. Re-editing episodes to swap out outdated messaging can be time-consuming, and keeping sponsorships fresh over time often requires extra effort from creators.

Starting this April, we’re simplifying the process and making it more seamless with a new suite of creator sponsorship tools rolling out across Spotify for Creators and Megaphone.

Creators enrolled in the Spotify Partner Program will be able to:

• • Easily remove, replace, and add host-read sponsorships in video episodes for more timely messages. 
  • Schedule updates ahead of time, whether editing host-read sponsorships, inserting new slots, or refreshing older material.
  • Track how each sponsorship performed over time with new delivery metrics.

These updates build on our existing toolkit for managing earnings across multiple revenue streams, giving creators and publishers even more customization, control, and confidence in how they monetize content.

Publish and monetize video on Spotify from other platforms

We believe creators should be able to easily tap into the power of video without having to change the platforms, tools, and workflows they’re already using. That’s why we’re introducing our new Spotify Distribution API.

Soon, creators and publishers will be able to publish and monetize videos on Spotify directly from participating hosting platforms without needing to change how they work or re-upload any content. 

We plan to launch with leading platforms Acast, Audioboom, Libsyn, Omny, and Podigee, with others joining soon. This means more choice, more flexibility, and more ways for creators to unlock the value of video on Spotify.

“Acast has always believed in giving podcasters choice, empowering them to be heard and make money wherever their audience is,” said Acast CEO Greg Glenday. “As the industry evolves, we’re bringing the same flexibility to video. Our partnership with Spotify is built on that principle of creator autonomy: providing the tools to scale and earn on every platform without compromising control. This is a major milestone in our mission to support stories, wherever they’re told.”

For eligible creators hosted on platforms that integrate with the API, they will have:

• • The ability to publish video to Spotify and participate in the Spotify Partner Program without having to switch hosting platforms. 
  • The opportunity to earn Premium video revenue, while Spotify Premium subscribers in select markets enjoy their video content uninterrupted by dynamic ads.
  • The opportunity to earn ad revenue when fans in select markets watch or listen on the free version of Spotify, or in markets without Premium video revenue.
  • The ability to tap into our new and flexible sponsorship management tools without having to switch hosting platforms.

If you host with one of our participating partners, look out for more information on availability soon. 

“Spotify has long been a valued partner of Audioboom,” said CEO of Audioboom Stuart Last. “As the world’s largest video podcast network, this new offering allows us to support creators in both growing their audiences and unlocking additional revenue opportunities.” 

Brendan Monaghan, CEO of Libsyn, added, “Partnering with Spotify gives Libsyn creators more flexibility, more reach, and more ways to grow—without changing how they work. That’s a win for creators and a meaningful step forward for the podcasting ecosystem.” 

This is a step toward the future of podcasting on Spotify, where creators have more paths than ever to make a living by doing what they love.

Find out more about the Spotify Partner Program by visiting the Spotify for Creators website.

In markets where the Spotify Partner Program is available and eligible creators are participating, Spotify Premium audiences may still experience breaks in video episodes due to creator sponsorships.