Tag: International Podcast Day

Everything In Store for Podcast Listeners and Creators This International Podcast Day

September 28, 2023

At Spotify, you could say we think about podcasts 24/7. Spotify is now the most-used audio podcast platform in many key markets around the world and the number one podcast publisher in the US. We count over 100 million regular podcast listeners, a ten-fold increase since 2019, and over half a billion people who have listened to at least one podcast on Spotify since 2019. There are now over 5 million shows, with podcasts available in more than 170 markets.

So in the lead-up to International Podcast Day on September 30, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the medium and its creators globally. From Original and exclusive content to programs that empower and amplify new creators, there’s always something fresh to listen to or share, as well as ways to discover new shows or engage with the ones you love more deeply.  

At the BLK Pod Festival happening in Atlanta on International Podcast Day, Spotify for Podcasters’ Creative Director Gavin Guidry will speak onstage to emphasize the power of podcasts in marginalized communities. The festival, sponsored by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, aims to showcase Black audio creatives while educating attendees and cultivating relationships and experiences. 

“I’m excited to represent Spotify at the BLK Pod Festival, to have the opportunity to experience a community of Black podcasters in Atlanta, my hometown, and to hear some of the stories that they’re telling through the medium,” says Gavin. “We have a unique way of seeing the world, and it’s always inspiring to see how other creators are putting their stamp on podcasting.”

Gavin, who cohosts the Tools for Time Traveling podcast, will share his thoughts on breaking into podcasting, podcast monetization, trends among creators in the industry, and how creators can develop a sustainable brand.

“Spotify’s tools are primed for all of these opportunities,” he explained to For the Record. “From features like podcast polls and Q&As to opportunities to upload video, we’re always working to give creators more of what they need to reach the biggest, most engaged audience.” 

New Podcast Tools To Love

There’s plenty in store on our platform, too. We’re always creating new ways to make it even easier to listen, discover, and engage with your favorite podcasts, with the following new features starting to roll out to Free and Premium users globally: 

  • Making transcripts richer and easier to follow: We’re launching auto-generated and time-synced transcripts to more creators and shows so you can read along with an episode, making the transcripts more visually and textually accessible. While listening to an episode, scroll down the Now Playing View to find the transcript, then tap the card to follow along on full screen as you listen to the episode. We’ll be rolling out transcripts to millions of episodes in the coming weeks, and we’ll innovate more on this feature in the future, including ways to add media to transcripts. This is all part of our goal to bring more depth to the podcasts you’re listening to.

  • Expanding Podcast Chapters: Earlier this year at Stream On, we announced Podcast Chapters, making it easier for you to jump into episodes at a specific topic or section. Mobile users globally can now find the full list of chapters by scrolling down the Now Playing View, giving them more control over their listening sessions and more info about every episode as they dive in. 

  • Updating the Podcast Show pages: Learn more about a podcast before you listen to the episode in full, with additional content available before you jump in, on an improved Show Place. As it rolls out in the coming weeks, you’ll be able to click the “About” tab to find descriptions, images, and episode recommendations from creators. Plus, you’ll get recommendations for other shows in the “More Like This” tab. 

A Global Roundup

Worldwide, podcasts continue to educate and inspire—whether that’s on the part of the podcasters or the listeners. From Latin America to Europe to Africa, the Pacific and back, we took a look at notable podcasting moments happening across Spotify.

Brazil

In Brazil, one of the fastest-growing podcast markets, we’ve recently demonstrated our ongoing commitment to supporting the creator community through a number of initiatives, including:

  • Spotify Podcast Festival: A first-of-its-kind initiative that connects fans and creators through live sessions in Brazil that are set to take place in November.
  • Making Space studio: The first free podcast studio for creators in Brazil that provides podcasters with an equipped environment for recording audio content.
  • Spotify Labs program: A new live and online initiative aimed at teaching budding podcasters about strategies for developing and successfully launching a podcast on Spotify.

Nigeria

Podcasts are rising in popularity in Nigeria, increasing by 222% in listenership between 2021 and 2022. Gen Z listeners aged 18-24 account for 50% of total streams over three months. The top local podcasts among Nigerian listeners include The HonestBunch Podcast, I Said What I Said, Menisms, So Nigerian, and Tea with Tay, with listeners tuning in the most between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., possibly while commuting to work, sitting in traffic, or getting ready for the day. 

India

In India, another fast-growing podcast market, we took Spotify Podcasters’ Day to Delhi on September 23, bringing together existing and aspiring creators and storytellers for an evening of conversations and networking. We also took this opportunity to talk about our continued creator focus going forward, announcing the return of two creator programs: 

  • The Spotify Managed Partner Program: This initiative supports existing podcasters on our platform by offering them education, partner management support, and editorial promotion to further grow their listeners.
  • Pod-Start: This two-phase approach focuses on creators who are beginning their podcasting journeys. The first phase focuses on onboarding existing creators to Spotify, and the second empowers individuals with expertise in their respective fields to create podcasts on Spotify.

Japan

The numbers of podcasters and podcast listeners on Spotify have been steadily increasing in Japan. Since our global podcast focus began in 2019, the number of Japanese Spotify users who enjoy podcasts at least once a month has increased by more than 42 times. By summer 2023, monthly podcast consumption had increased by more than 168x from January 2019. Plus, the number of domestic creators in Japan using Spotify for Podcasters to create and distribute podcasts increased more than 34% since we started the local Creator Support Program in January 2022. Hear more from three Japanese creators on why they love podcasting.

Australia

Australia remains in the top 10 countries in the world for podcast listening by hours, with comedy, health & fitness, and society & culture topping the list of most popular genres. The second-fastest-growing Australian podcast in the country is Aussie podcaster Jemma Sbeg from the psychology of your 20s. She started out recording on her bedroom floor and is now a well-known force in the medium. Her top tips for aspiring podcasters:

  • You don’t need a fancy studio or equipment: Jemma started out recording on her phone in her room, and “while the audio quality wasn’t great, my ideas were!”
  • You don’t need to be famous or have a marketing budget to build a following: Jemma’s podcast built an audience purely through word of mouth. “Put yourself out there and your audience will find you.” 
  • Be unique and stay consistent: “If you are authentic and true to yourself, the listeners will come and they will stay!”

Sweden

Our Swedish-owned and -exclusive podcasts have recently gained traction, receiving 11 nominations in the prestigious award show Guldörat, which celebrates the most impactful podcasts, radio shows, and hosts of the year. Among the nominees is Spotify Dok, our flagship podcast for documentaries. With new episodes each week, the original show is growing rapidly as a trailblazer in the booming genre.

Middle East and North Africa

Across the Middle East and North Africa, podcast streaming on Spotify increased more than 190% year-over-year from 2022 to 2023. Long-form interviews and conversations are increasing in popularity in particular, with listeners tuning into shows like Finjan, #ABTalks, and The Mo Show for extended periods of time. This interest in longer-form content coincides with the rise of niche podcasts, catering to specific audiences with topics like mental health, business, and self-improvement. Self-improvement is popular in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with podcasts like Think with Hessa, Abajorra, and Sawalef Business. Comedy podcasts are popular in Egypt, with shows like Kefaya ba2a and Eshtry Meny attracting a dedicated following.

U.S.

Spotify is the most-used audio podcast platform in many key markets around the world and is also the number one podcast publisher in the U.S, according to the most recent Edison Research data. Top categories include comedy, health & fitness, true crime, society & culture, and news. See more about how U.S. listeners are tuning in.

 

This International Podcast Day, We’re Dishing Out Trivia on Some of Our Favorite Shows

September 30, 2022

graphic image of a woman listening to Spotify while sitting on a cloud

Today marks International Podcast Day, and as the world’s most popular audio-streaming subscription service with more than 4 million podcasts on our platform, it’s no surprise that we are a big fan of the audio medium.

Every month, our Podcast Editorial team is busy curating shelves that highlight popular genres so that you can find your next binge. And all around the world, our Sound Up program is arming underrepresented voices with the skills they need to create their own podcasts, and our RADAR Podcasters program is spotlighting emerging voices worldwide. Editors from different markets have also created a global hub titled “Celebrate International Podcast Day” which features some of the most popular podcasts around the world, and also some of the most popular in each market, that have been trending in the Podcast Charts over the past 30 days.

But today isn’t just about the millions of voices who have gone behind the mic. It’s also about the listeners who fuel the love that exists for podcasts. So fans, get ready—it’s time to test the breadth of your podcast knowledge with our special quiz on some of Spotify’s popular original or exclusive podcasts. How many can you answer correctly?


1. Call Her Daddy, a podcast from Alex Cooper, recently returned for the season two premiere. Daddy Gang, who was her first guest for the season?

2. Spotify's hit Chilean podcast Caso 63 is gearing up for its final season, giving audiences the epic conclusion of the story of Pedro Roiter & Dra. Elisa Aldunate. In the first season, where do these two characters meet?

3. Armchair Expert, cohosted by actor, filmmaker, and comedian Dax Shepard and Emmy-nominated producer and personality Monica Padman, has attracted a loyal following since its launch in 2018. What is the name given to fans of the podcast?

4. In her new podcast, Archetypes, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, dives into the labels that try to hold women back. What is the label that she discusses in her episode with actress Mindy Kaling?

5. What episodic milestone did The Ringer’s flagship show, The Bill Simmons Podcast, recently celebrate?

6. In his podcast, Tony Parker, Le Podcast, former NBA star Tony Parker aims to share his learnings, and those of his friends and celebrities, to have a positive impact on the younger generation. Who was Tony Parker's first guest?

7. Earlier this year, Batman Unburied launched in multiple languages around the world, with each version having its own localized cast and production teams. How many language adaptations are there?

8. In the Indian true crime show Death Lies and Cyanide, the homely church-going Jolly Amma Joseph is accused of killing six people over 14 years. Who were these people?

9. What was the first movie that was featured on The Rewatchables, a film podcast from The Ringer?

10. What other music podcast has The RapCaviar Podcast’s Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins hosted?

11. At the start of each episode, Toni and Ryan call a fan from somewhere in the world and ask for something. What is it they’re asking for?

12. Which of these topics hasn’t been tackled by the current season of Science Vs, a podcast that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between?

13. In 2021, one of the episodes of the podcast Mano a Mano, hosted by Brazilian rapper Mano Brown, was one of the most listened to episodes of any podcast on the platform in Brazil. Who was the guest?

Around the World With Our Spotify Studios Producers, Editors, and Engineers

September 30, 2021

Mano a Mano. Kaulitz Hills. Coming Out. Virus 2062. The Inspired Unemployed. These are just five of the 1000+ Spotify Original podcasts that have found their way into listeners’ podcast queues this past year. And there’s always more where that came from.

Spotify is dedicated to producing creative, engaging shows for our audiences around the world. Each podcast takes hours and hours of taping, producing, and editing. So to do this, we bring together a stellar team of producers, engineers, hosts, and editors across many of the countries we have offices in to work on every type of podcast from scripted to documentary to news podcasts. 

In honor of International Podcast Day, we asked several rising Spotify Studio team members from around the world to tell us how they fell in love with podcasting and about the exciting projects they’re currently working on. Get to know them below.

Podcasts Get Interactive With New Q&A and Polls Features

September 30, 2021

Historically, podcasting has been a one-way street: creators publish shows and their audiences listen. But podcasting has the power to be a community-building medium, and at Spotify, we believe there can be more to the story. 

In order to achieve this community, creators and listeners need channels through which they can engage directly with the content and with each other. Today, just in time for International Podcast Day, Spotify and Anchor are powering new capabilities to help creators and listeners interact more deeply: Q&A and Polls.

These interactive enhancements will make it easier for listeners to engage with the people behind their favorite podcasts and for creators to hear from their fans and listeners—directly on Spotify. Q&A and Polls allow listeners to respond to short questions posed by the shows’ creators on podcast episode pages in the Spotify app. Starting today, these features are available to all Anchor creators and Spotify listeners in 160 markets around the world.

When we talked about this development at Stream On in February, we were testing Q&A and Polls with a select group of creators. Since then, thousands of creators have expressed interest in getting access to these features. In testing, we’ve seen creators use Q&A and Polls in a wide variety of ways: to get suggestions for future guests, to garner feedback on topic choice and format, and to create fun gamification that keeps listeners coming back to hear the hosts’ take on their responses.

“We have sought to create an engaged community of film lovers,” said Michael Tucker, host of Beyond The Screenplay. “All of the Spotify features have been absolutely incredible for bringing us closer to our audience. The Polls feature, in particular, is really helping us to shape the show’s future episodes.”

Here’s how it works: 

If a creator has chosen to post a question or poll for a specific episode, listeners will be able to find the question at the bottom of the episode page from their Spotify mobile app (whether iOS or Android). Depending on whether the creator chose an open-ended Q&A or a Poll, listeners can follow the prompt to respond in-app.

After responding to a Poll, listeners will then get to see how the entire audience of respondents voted and how their answer stacked up. For Q&A, listener responses will be delivered privately to the creator. Creators can then choose and pin specific featured responses that will appear publicly below the question (displaying the respondent’s Spotify username). For details on how the features work for creators, check out Anchor’s blog post.

We believe the future of podcasting is interactive. For too long, podcasting has been hindered by one-directional technology and a lack of format innovation. By building interactive functionality directly into our creation platform, Anchor, we’re able to break this mold and power more unique uses for audio. 

In addition to direct podcast interactivity such as Q&A and Polls, we’ve been rolling out a suite of products that create an all-in-one experience for audio creation and listening, from the Music + Talk content format, to the recently launched Podcast Subscriptions feature. Stay tuned as we continue to create tools to evolve how listeners engage with shows—and give creators greater control over their content.

Ready to dive right in and celebrate International Podcast Day? We’re making it simple to find the perfect show for you with our “Find the One” personalized quiz. Answer a handful of questions, and let us help you find your perfect podcast match.

This International Podcast Day, Let Us Help You Find Your Perfect Pod

September 30, 2021

Creators worldwide have been busy this year chasing audio inspiration—and in the process have added nearly 1.5 million podcast titles to Spotify over the past year. So this International Podcast Day, there’s quite a lot to celebrate.

Leading the storytelling charge are Taiwan, Colombia, Japan, Spain, Peru, India, Turkey, the Philippines, France, Poland, Argentina, Italy, and the Netherlands. These 13 markets showed the largest growth in their catalog offerings in the last year, with new podcasts across all sorts of genres, topics, and themes. 

And this global audio boom shows no signs of slowing down, which is exciting news for listeners, who have more options than ever to fit their tastes. But our growing catalog also poses a challenge for newbies and audio experts alike as they try to narrow down the next track or even the first episode to add to their queue.

So to celebrate International Podcast Day this year, we’re making the choice simple with our Find the One experience. Answer a handful of questions and let us help you find your perfect podcast match. The experience is available to listeners in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Australia and gives recommendations inspired by your Spotify listening habits.

But that’s not the only way to discover new podcasts tailored to your tastes. Though each user is unique, we have found that some listeners who share a favorite artist also share a favorite podcast. We followed the data . . . and found some of the shows hitting all the right notes.

Many fans of snappy rhymes and rhythm are drawn to . . . horoscopes, gaming, and comedy.

For plenty of listeners, pop melodies and talk shows go hand-in-hand.

Rock ‘n rollers are hard to pin down.

Country fans are hooked on the world around them.

Plus, we noticed a few patterns across our listeners.

These are just a few of the most popular podcasts among some of our artists’ listeners. For those in search of something new, Spotify also has plenty of podcasts to enjoy this season, so be sure to mark your calendars.

Launching this week:

Bonus: Today at 6 PM EST, Spotify Greenroom will close the day with listeners’ favorite podcasts with hosts Gigi Robinson and Jayson Buford. Sign up for Greenroom to tune in and follow your favorite shows here.

Now it’s time to find your next favorite show. Celebrate International Podcast Day by exploring the “Find the One” experience for a personalized podcast recommendation.

Celebrate Spotify’s Biggest Year for Podcasts This International Podcast Day

September 30, 2020

It’s only September, but Spotify has already seen our biggest year ever for podcasts. The number of new shows added to the platform this year increased by 240%* compared to 2019, and fans are spending more time streaming podcasts on Spotify than ever before. And since today (September 30) happens to be International Podcast Day, we’re celebrating the milestone by taking a look back at some of the podcasting trends of 2020, as well as debuting some new shows, podcast playlists, and features.

When it comes to podcasts . . .

  • Laughter is the best medicine. Comedy has been the top-ranking global podcast category this year to date, with Call Her Daddy, The Misfits, and Office Ladies dominating.
  • We’re keeping up with the Os. The Obamas, that is. The Michelle Obama Podcast from Higher Ground held its spot on the Trending Charts Top 10 globally longer than any other podcast since July 2020.
  • DIY podcasting is a growing field. Since last year’s International Podcast Day, new podcasts created on Anchor, Spotify’s all-in-one podcasting platform, have increased by more than 380%.*

And to keep the momentum going, Spotify will be celebrating International Podcast Day all week with new playlists, podcasts, and special features. Take a look:

  • 9/28: We’re releasing Best of 2020 So Far, a podcast playlist full of this year’s top pods, handpicked by Spotify’s editorial team.
  • 9/30: Parcast’s Blind Dating and Gimlet’s Resistance podcasts are dropping exclusively on Spotify.
    • No one has ever found love on a podcast until now, on Blind Dating, the new Spotify Original on Parcast. Hopeful singles listen to voices of potential matches before making their choices and having their identities revealed.
    • Gimlet’s new podcast Resistance offers stories from the front lines of the movement for Black lives, told by the generation fighting for change. Listen to the Resistance trailer now on Spotify.
  • 9/30: It’s International Podcast Day! Stream your favorite pod, and don’t forget to check out Instagram for our International Podcast Day filter. Plus, Spotify for Podcasters is going global for podcasters in Brazil and Mexico. Finally, the most passionate podcast users in English-speaking countries will receive push notifications letting them know that they are in the top 5% of podcast listeners on Spotify—surely something to celebrate.
  • 9/30–10/2: Creators like Jemele Hill, Ashley Flowers, and Reba McEntire will be “passing the mic” to spotlight the podcasts they love via their social channels, so stay tuned. 

*Numbers stated are from September 30, 2019, to June 30, 2020.

How to Make Your Own Podcast Playlists

September 30, 2019

There are more than 3 billion user-generated playlists on Spotify. That means hours upon hours of carefully curated lists of tracks listeners can’t get enough of. Until recently, playlists were exclusive to music. But now, in the true spirit of Audio First, Spotify users can combine music and podcasts on the same playlists.

With this recently released, frequently requested functionality, users can build playlists of podcasts, or add podcasts to existing playlists for a mixed-media experience. Users can also set up a playlist of multiple podcasts in a row—perfect for a long drive or maybe a run—or integrate their favorite songs with news, comedy, or sports podcasts. (Here’s an idea: set up a selection of sunny, feel-good songs for before, after, and in between a bunch of great true crime podcast episodes—you know, to balance yourself out.)

 

With these new opportunities for creativity, the options are endless. And the best part—it’s as easy as making a playlist full of music. 

 To add a podcast to a playlist on mobile:

  1. Simply navigate to a podcast episode you love.
  2. Tap the three dots to the right of the track or episode.
  3. Tap “Add to playlist.”
  4. Select a playlist you’ve already created you like to add it to.
  5. Or, tap to create a new playlist from scratch.
  6. Play around with interspersing podcast episodes with music tracks to curate hand-picked listening sessions. 
  7. Share with your friends or make your playlists public—others are sure to love them too! 

Then, once you’re ready to play hours of queued-up content, head back to “Your Library” to see all your playlists in one place under the “Playlists” tab in Music. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever made a playlist for your favorite songs, you’re already a pro.

**Pro tip: If you’re using Spotify on your computer desktop, you can stream the playlists you’ve made on mobile that include podcasts. You just can’t make a playlist with a podcast in it from your desktop—yet.