Tag: audio podcasts

Spotify Introduces Plays, a New Way To See What Content Is Resonating With Podcast Fans

May 6, 2025

At Spotify, we always seek ways to connect users with their next favorite podcast episode. We also work to give creators a deeper understanding of how content resonates with audiences. That’s why we’re introducing plays, a new podcast metric designed to help users see, directly within the app, which podcast episodes are most popular with fans.

For creators, plays are a helpful addition to their existing metrics and offer a more comprehensive view of the scale of all episodes on our platform. This will be another invaluable source of insight as they look to optimize their content for success, so they can continue to build a loyal fan base that comes back week after week.

Plays will capture engagement across audio and video content on Spotify, reflecting the number of times people have actively listened to or watched any episode. 

Starting this week, plays will be reflected across the Spotify app and in the Spotify for Creators and Megaphone dashboards.

A closer look at plays for creators

For creators, plays will be a key metric on the home dashboard, show overview, and individual episode analytics pages, offering a near-immediate snapshot of how content is performing based on active engagement. And because we want to give creators more comprehensive insight into the scale and depth of their audience, we’re also making consumption hour metrics available to all creators in Spotify for Creators, no matter where they’re hosted.

Existing monetization eligibility criteria and payout calculations for creators and publishers will remain unchanged. They will continue to be determined by streams and the podcast advertising industry standard of at least 60 seconds of engagement. For more details about how plays will work for creators and publishers, check out the latest on the Spotify for Creators blog.

Ultimately, plays will offer creators and their fans a clear way to measure which podcast episodes capture the most attention on Spotify. We’re always working to bring better insights to creators, foster greater discovery for people, and help content reach even wider audiences. Stay tuned for more.

From Audio to Video, Spotify’s $100 Million Payout Fuels Creator Success Stories

April 28, 2025

Podcasts have become a cornerstone of the Spotify experience, evolving from a niche interest to a cultural phenomenon. As the format continues to grow, we’re seeing an exciting trend emerge: the rise of video podcasts. At Spotify, we’re committed to supporting creators across all formats, and we’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone in that journey.

For the first time, we’re revealing that Spotify paid out more than $100 million to podcast publishers and podcasters worldwide in the first quarter of 2025 alone. This figure reflects our deep commitment to the creator economy and underscores Spotify’s position as a leading platform for audio and video creators alike.

We’re expanding creators’ reach to a global audience, providing flexible earning options regardless of format, and offering tools to capture and engage a loyal fanbase. Whether a creator is just starting out or looking to scale an existing show, Spotify provides the resources and opportunities to thrive.

For fans, this translates to an even richer library of diverse content and the unique ability to seamlessly switch between listening and watching their favorite podcasts on Spotify.

A platform for growth and innovation

This payout encompasses both ad-based revenue and revenue generated through the Spotify Partner Program, which launched earlier this year in select markets. The program is designed to provide creators with more ways to monetize their content, offering audience-driven payouts from Spotify Premium video engagement and the ability to monetize via ads in Spotify Free and on all other podcast listening platforms.

We’re seeing positive signals that this approach is resonating with creators. The Spotify Partner Program is driving growth, with total earnings for participating creators up 23% month-over-month from January to February, and 29% month-over-month from February to March. We’ve also seen a significant increase in video podcast adoption, with active monthly video podcasts up 28% since the program launched.

Recognizing the power of podcasts to reach valuable consumers, some of the world’s largest advertisers are booking campaigns through the Spotify Audience Network as part of the Spotify Partner Program, including McDonald’s, Google, and Chelsea FC, providing creators with even more monetization opportunities.

The creator perspective

The real impact of these opportunities is best illustrated by the success of individual creators. Shows like Your Mom’s House with Christina P. and Tom Segura and The Rest Is Politics: US have experienced a remarkable surge in engagement since joining the Spotify Partner Program, with weekly consumption up more than 45%. Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast has also seen significant gains, with weekly consumption up 12% since joining the program and total consumption time up 30% from January to March. Similarly, Two Hot Takes has seen weekly consumption grow by 12% since introducing video on Spotify. But these numbers only scratch the surface. Here’s what participants are saying about the program:

  • Tony Pastor, co-founder of Goalhanger: “Since we added video to our shows on Spotify, we’ve been delighted by the growth we’ve seen across the Goalhanger network. It’s clear that our audiences love watching their favourite hosts and we’re really encouraged by the engagement levels we’ve seen so far.”
  • Christiana Brenton, Chief Revenue Officer at FlightStory and Co-Founder of FlightStory Studio: “Since joining the Spotify Partner Program, we’ve seen weekly consumption grow by over 45%. That kind of trajectory is exceptional, and it speaks to the power of a global platform that is committed to creator success. Spotify has opened up a new competitive revenue stream and allows us to tap into a deeply engaged audience.”

Ultimately, Spotify is committed to building a sustainable ecosystem where creators can thrive. This $100 million payout is just one step in that journey. We’ll continue to invest in new tools, resources, and programs to support creators in all formats, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for podcasting on Spotify.