Tag: video

Spotify’s Partner Program Helps Creators Increase Revenue and Consumption of Video Podcasts

February 13, 2025

Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new monetization system for creators in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia. Just one month in, we’re already seeing the positive impacts on consumption and revenue growth for enrolled creators. 

First announced at our Now Playing event, the Spotify Partner Program offers creators multiple revenue streams, including audience-driven payouts from Spotify Premium video engagement (in select markets), as well as ad monetization on Spotify Free and other podcast platforms. The flexibility gives creators greater control over their businesses, helping them adapt to shifts in the growing podcast audience while driving incremental revenue.

The results also speak for themselves: Spotify’s video podcast consumption is up more than 20% since the program’s launch, with payouts to creators in January increasing by 300% compared to the same period a year ago. In addition, hundreds of creators surpassed $10,000 in monthly revenue on Spotify in that same time, with the top earners crossing well into six figures in the first month alone.

Video podcasts that have experienced success through the Spotify Partner Program include Modern Wisdom, hosted by Chris Williamson, which increased consumption on Spotify by 36%; We’re All Insane, the mental health podcast hosted by Devorah Roloff, which earned more than $17,000; and Kinda Funny Gamecast, a video game podcast that’s earned $10,000. 

As video consumption continues to grow on Spotify, we aim to give creators more opportunities to earn while giving our users a more seamless and delightful viewing experience. 

Ready to unlock the full potential of your content? Get started now with the Spotify Partner Program.

From Hobby to Phenomenon: ‘Acquired’ Cohost David Rosenthal on the Secret to Podcast Success

November 13, 2024

Some of the world’s top creators joined Spotify at our L.A. campus today for Now Playing, where we unveiled a series of new offerings aimed at helping them better monetize their video podcasts on Spotify and grow their audiences. This marks our biggest update to podcasts on Spotify, including an exciting evolution of the name and brand of our accompanying platform to Spotify for Creators—all to better serve the multiformat needs of our community.

Guests mingled with Spotify leaders and employees, explored our cutting-edge production facilities, and attended panels to hear more about their business opportunities on Spotify. Among these creators was David Rosenthal, who cohosts Acquired with Ben Gilbert. 

David Rosenthal, Colin Rosenblum, Samir Chaudry and Austin Lamon (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Spotify)

Acquired delves deep into the world’s most fascinating companies, delivering one multihour, meticulously researched episode every six weeks or so. Since debuting in 2015, the show has become a podcast sensation. It has racked up more than 5.2 million listening hours on Spotify since 2019, with consumption hours tripling in the last year alone. And in September, Acquired packed San Francisco’s Chase Center with 6,000 fans for a live show, which included a conversation with Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek.

With so much buzz about the future of podcasting, For the Record caught up with David to learn about Acquired’s origins, the creative process behind the show, and the impact Spotify has had on its journey.

What inspired you to start your show?

We were just friends with a common esoteric interest in company histories and wanted an excuse to scratch that itch and spend more time together. We had no idea or expectations that it would ever amount to anything more than a hobby, let alone change our lives so totally and completely!

How do you select the topics you cover?

We just follow our interests! While we do have a long list of potential future companies to cover, after each episode Ben and I generally just ask ourselves, “What are we most excited about doing right now?” and go with that. Sometimes that’s already on the list and sometimes it’s not.

How has working with Spotify helped strengthen your connection with your fans?

We can’t overstate enough how much Spotify has done to make podcasts mainstream and grow the ecosystem over the past several years. There’s no way we’d be able to reach an audience that’s now in the millions without the platform Spotify has built!

What advice do you have for emerging creators?

One, only do this if you love it. Not because there’s no money in it—there is plenty. But the marketplace for content is so incredibly vast today that unless you’re truly the most obsessed person in the world about your particular niche, someone else will do it better than you. (And they are only one click away, for your audience.) And I think the only way to be the most obsessed person in the world about something is to deeply love it.

Two, quality over quantity—always, always, always. One truly great episode per month is worth infinitely more than four or 10 mediocre ones.

Are there any Spotify features or tools that are especially helpful for you?

We don’t do video often, but when we do for something special (like our recent Chase Center show), being able to have it seamlessly integrate and sync with the audio version on Spotify is tremendously awesome.

Who are some of your favorite creators to follow?

Resonant Arc (deep retro video game analysis). It’s like Acquired for the old-school video games I grew up with.

What are you currently listening to?

Ben Thompson’s [Stratechery episode] on Meta’s AI advantage.

Check out more coverage from Spotify’s Now Playing event.

Spotify Unveils Uninterrupted Video Podcasts, Audience-Driven Payments, and the New Spotify for Creators Platform

November 13, 2024

Live from Spotify’s LA campus, today we announced a series of new offerings aimed at helping creators significantly grow their audiences and better monetize their video podcasts on Spotify. During Now Playing, some of the world’s leading creators, artists, and authors joined us for valuable updates on our business from company executives, connected with Spotify’s Creator Partnerships team, and explored our state-of-the-art video and audio production facilities.

Daniel Ek (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Spotify)

“Spotify Premium has long set the standard for listening on any device,” shared Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek. “By delivering a best-in-class video offering uninterrupted by ad breaks, combined with Spotify’s flexibility and ubiquity, we can provide an experience for your audience that is superior to any platform. And by giving you, the creators, another path to monetization beyond ads, we’re freeing you up to spend more time doing what you love: creating.”

So, what’s in store for creators? They’ll be part of a new and industry-leading audience-driven payout model for Premium video consumption, and their fans will now get video content uninterrupted by ads. Spotify’s Partner Program, a brand-new monetization program for creators hosted with Spotify, will launch that allows creators to earn more for their audio and video content. This program will offer both audience-driven payouts from our premium video revenue and an Ads component.

Spotify is one of the largest platforms in the world for creators, with more than 640 million users and more than 250 million subscribers. Video consumption is rapidly growing on Spotify, so we’re improving the viewing experience and equipping creators with the tools and resources they need to connect with fans, grow, and monetize. 

We’ve seen shifts in podcast trends across the industry globally, and one of them is that video consumption hours have expanded rapidly—more than 250 million users have watched a video podcast on Spotify, and nearly two-thirds of podcast listeners say they prefer podcasts with video.

The number of creators actively publishing videos monthly on Spotify has grown by more than 50% year over year. There are now more than 300,000 video podcast shows on Spotify, including popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience, Call Her Daddy, The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, Rotten Mango, The Comment Section with Drew Afualo, Therapuss with Jake Shane, What Now? with Trevor Noah, Modern Wisdom, Erika Taught Me, and more. We’ve also recently activated music videos in 85 additional markets, and the engagement has continued to soar.

Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Spotify

“By many metrics, it is the fastest way to succeed on Spotify today. Half of the new podcasts that build sustained audiences include video,” said Spotify Co-President and Chief Product Officer Gustav Söderström. “And with the new tools, features, and experiences we’re launching, we expect that edge will continue to grow. This is an opportunity for everyone in the room and beyond.”

For creators 

How does it all work? Whether someone is a current audio-only podcaster, new to embracing video on our platform, or an established video creator not yet on Spotify, our latest video offerings will unlock additional paths to monetization and growth.

Monetize
Eligible creators can apply now to join the Spotify Partner Program. This new monetization program opens more opportunities for creators to earn revenue for their content and transform their shows into sustainable businesses. The Spotify Partner Program has two components: Premium Video Revenue and Ads. Both programs will be available to creators to earn revenue based on video consumption from Spotify Premium subscribers in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia beginning in January.

Grow
We’re evolving our podcaster platform to better serve the needs of today’s multiformat creators with a more expansive and streamlined hub: Spotify for Creators.

Connect
We’re creating more opportunities for creators to deepen connections with their fans and deliver the best video-viewing experience with Spotify.

Discover
We’re introducing video clips for creators to enhance discoverability and promote their podcast episodes on Spotify.

Click to read more details about these new opportunities and programs for creators and consumers.

“This is an opportunity for everyone in the room and beyond,” Gustav continued. “Our goal is to build the best experience for you so that you can better connect with your audience. And deliver your creativity to the world.”

For the fans

As we’ve made it easier for fans to navigate and discover music, podcasts, and audiobooks on Spotify, we’re leveraging our platform’s flexibility to give fans new ways to experience video. 

In addition to Premium subscribers in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada getting video content uninterrupted by ads beginning in January, we’re making it easy for fans to stream their favorite video content in the foreground or background without disrupting the experience—whether they are using Spotify Free or Premium. For example, they can begin an episode while getting ready for the day, watching in the foreground before slipping their phones into their pockets to continue listening in the background as they commute. 

Fans can expect an array of great video features, including chapters, comments, pinch-to-zoom, thumbnail scrubbing, and new ways to find and go deep on podcasts.

Check out more coverage from Spotify’s Now Playing event.

Podcasts Are Booming in Spain—Here Are Five Shows Driving the Surge

October 30, 2024

In recent years, Spain’s podcast scene has exploded, becoming a top source of entertainment, education, and conversation. From comedy to thought-provoking cultural discussions, Spanish podcasts are captivating audiences across the country.

Spotify highlighted this growth earlier this month in Madrid at Next in Podcast, our first event dedicated to the medium and its evolution in Spain. Our data has revealed a surge in consumption, with the number of podcast listeners in Spain increasing by more than 30% year over year.

Video podcasts have emerged as the star format, with Spotify seeing a remarkable 70% increase in video podcast consumption in Spain over the past year. Nine out of 10 viewers are fully engaged, watching these episodes in the foreground. Today, Spain is the second-fastest-growing market for video podcasts in Europe.

For Spanish-language listeners on the hunt for new shows, here are five Spanish podcasts at the forefront of this exciting evolution.

NUDE PROJECT PODCAST

Hosted by fashion entrepreneurs Bruno and Alex, NUDE PROJECT PODCAST features interviews with prominent figures across music, business, philosophy, psychology, and sports.  Guests like Quevedo, Becky G, and Marc Cucurella draw a predominantly under-35 audience, solidifying the podcast’s cultural relevance among younger generations. In just one year, the show has seen its monthly listenership explode on Spotify.

Start here:

La Ruina

Hosted by stand-up comedians Tomás and Ignasi, La Ruina is recorded live in theaters across Spain. Audience members are invited to share their most hilariously disastrous stories, competing for the coveted “ruina” (wrecked) title. Each episode, a celebrity guest adds to the comedy by recounting their own ruinous experiences. With consistently sold-out shows and a growing line of merchandise, La Ruina is a certified phenomenon.

Start here:

No es el fin del mundo

Navigating the complexities of a rapidly changing world can be daunting. No es el fin del mundo breaks down international topics and geopolitical events into an easily digestible format, helping listeners make sense of everything from ongoing conflicts to economic trends.

Start here:

El Podcast de Marian Rojas Estapé

Marian Rojas Estapé continues to promote emotional well-being and lead the mental health podcast space with the latest season of her eponymous show. As the most-streamed mental health show in Spanish worldwide, it demystifies complex psychiatric topics, making them accessible to a global audience.

Start here:

Sofá, manta y crimen

On Sofá, manta y crimen, hosts Coral and Yayo blend captivating true crime storytelling with comedic flair. Named one of Spotify’s RADAR Spain Creators in 2023, the show has grown increasingly popular in other Spanish-speaking countries, consistently charting in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia.

Start here:

Bonus recommendations

For our true crime fans, check out these other hit shows:

    • Terrores Nocturnos: Blends horror and true crime for a spine-chilling listening experience.
    • Criminopatía: Offers in-depth analyses of infamous criminal cases. 
    • Crims: A Catalan-language podcast focused on crimes in Catalonia.

Revisit Some of Music’s Most Iconic Hits With Our ‘Spotify Anniversaries’ Video Series

October 15, 2024

Music serves as a powerful memory booster, and Spotify recently introduced a new video series that revisits top albums from some of the industry’s biggest luminaries in a compelling new way. 

In Spotify Anniversaries, artists reflect on, discuss the impact of, and share untold stories about the making of landmark albums. The episodes also feature the artists performing new renditions of beloved tracks. Accompanying EPs of those new tracks are found exclusively on Spotify.

“It’s a celebration not only of the projects, but also the growth of each artist as they revisit their classics,” shared Sarah Patellos, Head of Spotify Music Studios.

Pop icon Christina Aguilera is the latest to be featured and marks the 25th anniversary of her self-titled debut album. Filmed at Spotify’s Mateo studios in Los Angeles, the episode includes reimagined and unplugged versions of six hits from the album. Sabrina Carpenter joins Christina for “What a Girl Wants,” and mgk shows off his guitar skills on “Genie In a Bottle.”

 

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Fans who aren’t yet ready to relinquish their nostalgia can find Spotify Anniversaries episodes celebrating the 30th anniversary of Weezer’s Blue Album and the 10th anniversary of Isaiah Rashad’s Cilvia Demo.

 

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Sit back, relax, and tune in to all three EPs below.

Music Videos in Beta Brings an Improved Viewing Experience to New Markets

October 15, 2024

Earlier this year, Spotify introduced music videos in beta, giving Premium subscribers in 12 markets another way to connect with the songs and artists they love. Today we are starting to roll out that offering across 85 additional markets, giving even more Premium subscribers the opportunity to dive into the visual worlds of artists like Charli xcx, LISA, Fontaines D.C., Nick Ward, Anirudh Ravichander, and Fireboy DML. 

Music videos are a powerful way to build connections between artists and fans. In fact, users who discover a song and then watch the music video on Spotify are 34% more likely on average to stream the song again the following week.* And on average, songs discovered with music videos are 24% more likely to be saved or shared in the following week by those who watched. 

Music videos help immerse fans in the experience—whether they’re listening to a new song or revisiting an old favorite. As part of this expansion, Spotify is also adding new features to make the music videos in beta experience even better. These include:

  • Fans can easily find and discover new music videos to watch (on mobile and desktop) with video indicators on tracks.
  • Users can also more easily find the music video they’re looking for alongside its related track by typing the track or artist into search.

In addition, users will now have the option to seamlessly switch between music tracks and videos with a single tap of a button (on mobile and desktop).

Want to give it a try? Here’s how it works:

  • If you’re a Premium subscriber in one of our 97 beta markets, open Spotify on your iOS, Android, desktop, or TV device and tap the “Switch to video” button for music tracks with video. 
  • The music video will start playing within the Now Playing view, picking up right where you left off.
  • If you want to return to background listening, simply press “Switch to audio” to head back to the music track.
  • You can even watch the music video in full screen by turning your mobile device to watch in landscape mode.

The beta version of music videos on Spotify is starting to roll out in new markets today with a limited catalog of music videos — and will continue rolling out over the next few weeks. We’re always working to build lasting connections between artists and fans, adding features like Countdown Pages, Canvas, Clips from your artists, Artist Profiles, Live Events, and Merch to deliver a rich music listening experience. And for Premium subscribers, music videos in beta—along with offerings like DJ, Jam, and AI Playlist—is yet another way we’re making that experience even richer. 

Stay tuned, as we hope to expand the catalog of music videos, share new places for you to watch them, and take the feature to more users and markets.

 

*Than users who discover the song but do not watch the music video.

Introducing the RADAR Creators U.S. Class of 2024

October 9, 2024

Discovery is at the heart of what we do at Spotify, and since 2020, our RADAR program has helped introduce rising artists, burgeoning songwriters, and promising creators in more than 30 markets to new audiences around the world. 

Previously, we’ve supported creators through our global RADAR Podcasters playlist. But as more creators experiment and engage audiences through both video and audio, we want to be inclusive of all the ways they’re expressing their creativity. That is why we are expanding RADAR Podcasters to be RADAR Creators, reflecting our commitment to supporting creators across all formats on Spotify. In addition, we’re expanding the reach of RADAR Creators to several new markets: the U.S., Australia, Sweden, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico.

To kick off RADAR Creators, we’re announcing our U.S. Class of 2024. Featuring diverse and engaging voices, these five shows cover topics that span pop culture, sports, wellness, true crime, and comedy. 

Here’s the scoop on the new RADAR Creators class.

Joy of Missing Out

After spending their twenties working for other people, Chloe Shih and Eric Wei are betting on themselves as they navigate their thirties. With their video podcast Joy of Missing Out, the two hosts provide listeners with a fresh and engaging perspective on taking “the road less traveled” and not conforming to societal expectations.

I’m Right You’re Wrong

We all have those friends we love to get into debates with over brunch. And every week on I’m Right You’re Wrong, hosts Isa Medina—who previously cohosted the hit podcast Sounds Like a Cult—and Lydia Keating explore the ethical questions that people in their twenties and thirties face every day by picking a side and engaging in a humorous debate. So if you’re unsure of where you land on nepo babies, or whether dating a friend’s ex is right or wrong, this is the video podcast for you. 

 

Small Ball with Kenny Beecham 

A self-described NBA super fan, Kenny Beecham has built up a dedicated following as a video creator who talks all things basketball. With a new season of hoops around the corner, Small Ball with Kenny Beecham is back to keep you up-to-date on all the action.

Black People Love Paramore

Every Thursday, Black People Love Paramore explores the niche interests of Black people that might seem random at first glance but are definitely a thing. From anime to Tony Hawk to title inspiration Paramore, host Sequoia Holmes aims to make Black listeners feel seen and connected through this lighthearted, Webby Award–nominated dive into pop culture. 

PRETEND

PRETEND offers a fresh approach on the true crime genre by uncovering the stories of the most notorious scams and con jobs. Host Javier Leiva pulls back the curtain on cult leaders and undercover FBI agents, exposing the transgressive masterminds who pretended to be someone they weren’t. 

Discover even more rising creators by visiting our RADAR Creators hub on Spotify.

Spotify’s Biggest German-Language Podcast, ‘Gemischtes Hack,’ Returns With a New Twist: Video

September 27, 2024

Since landing on Spotify in 2019, German-language podcast Gemischtes Hack has grown to become not just one of our most-streamed podcasts globally, but our most popular podcast in Germany. 

And earlier this month, hosts Tommi Schmitt and Felix Lobrecht returned from their summer break ready to record a fresh season of the wildly successful podcast in a brand-new studio that the pair built in collaboration with Spotify. 

Spotify and Crunchyroll Present the Sounds of Anime

August 19, 2024

The world of anime is rapidly expanding, finding fans all over. On Spotify, global streams of anime music have surged by 395% since 2021, and there are 6.7 million user-generated anime playlists—proving that listeners enjoy being fully immersed in the audio of their favorite series and movies. Now, Spotify is teaming up with global anime brand Crunchyroll to bring fans epic listening adventures on a whole other level. 

Within Spotify’s Anime hub, fans will find custom Curated by Crunchyroll playlists including: 

  • Crunchyroll Anime Essentials: A brand-new anime season has arrived on Crunchyroll this summer! Listen along to the music behind the lineup.
  • The Broody Black-Haired MC: Anguished with a tragic past, this character’s demeanor may intimidate some, but deep down they just need a hug.
  • The Bubbly Pink-Haired BFF: Always close at hand when a friend is in need, this character brings light, positivity, and an often underestimated strength.
  • The OP White-Haired Sensei: Underneath their cool, unbothered exterior, this character is an enigma to be unraveled.
  • The Journey Begins: You are the main character of your own story. The fate of the world depends on you … and of course there are side quests.

Crunchyroll will also have a dedicated shelf of content within the hub, including the brand’s recently released podcast Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect, which digs into the latest anime headlines and features guest stars like rapper Denzel Curry and J-Pop icon LiSA.

“We are thrilled to partner with Crunchyroll to bring listeners a new curation of anime music to explore,” shared Kyota Onishi, Head of Music in Japan at Spotify. “On Spotify, global streams of anime have surged over the past few years, and we hope the Anime hub will become an indispensable part of anime culture.”

The Anime hub also includes an editorially curated lineup of playlists like Anime Now, Anime On Replay, and Women of Anime.

If you’re looking to bolster your own playlists with new tracks or artists, take some inspiration from what we’re seeing from listeners on Spotify. When looking at global user-generated anime playlists, top songs added include “紅蓮華” by LiSA, “unravel” by TK from Ling tosite sigure, “ブルーバード” by Ikimonogakari, “Kaikai Kitan” by Eve, and “シルエット” by KANA-BOON. LiSA takes the reign as the top artist added to user-generated anime playlists on Spotify, followed by Linked Horizon, 7 Minutoz, Hiroyuki Sawano, and FLOW, respectively. 

To get started listening, check out the Anime hub here.

250,000 Video Podcasts and Counting: Creators and Audiences Are Embracing Video Content on Spotify

June 28, 2024

As one of the most powerful forms of human expression today, video ​​is becoming core to the global Spotify experience. We have been steadily investing in the format to connect creators and fans in new, deeper ways on our platform, from the recent launch of music videos in beta to testing video-based learning courses in the U.K. But the medium has seen the most growth in the podcasting space, where video is truly changing the game—in fact, more than 170 million users have watched a video podcast on Spotify.

Spotify introduced video podcasts for a select number of shows in 2020, and we’ve since made the format available for creators in nearly every market. We recently made it possible for non-hosted podcast creators to upload video to Spotify for the first time, opening up yet another avenue for their engagement and success.

All the while, video podcasts have been growing in popularity, with creators around the world leaning into the format to deepen engagement with their fans. More than half of the top 20 podcasts on Spotify have video, including heavy hitters like The Joe Rogan Experience and Call Her Daddy. The format is resonating with audiences, who want to be able to choose how to engage with their favorite content. Globally on Spotify, the average daily streams of video podcasts have increased by more than 39% year-over-year. In the U.S., nearly two-thirds of podcast listeners say they prefer shows with video, according to a recent Cumulus Media survey.

“Spotify is always evolving to better serve our users and drive success for creators,” said Jordan Newman, Head of Content Partnerships at Spotify. “With podcasts, the video format can add an additional layer of authenticity and connection for fans. That’s why we continue to hear that audiences want the ability to not only listen, but also watch their favorite shows. And we see that in the data: Audience retention increases when creators add video—and every creator wants a loyal, highly engaged fan base that keeps coming back.”

“We continue to see demand for video from both creators and their audiences,” Newman continued. “The number of creators publishing video each month keeps growing, and more and more of our users are watching. As demand continues to rise, we will keep enhancing our video capabilities.”

The rise of video content on Spotify

Globally, video consumption hours on Spotify have grown faster than audio-only consumption hours year-over-year, and audiences retain video podcasts at higher rates than audio podcasts. But what exactly does that growth look like? During VidCon 2024 this week, Spotify revealed new stats around the popularity of video as a medium on our platform.

  • There are now more than 250,000 video podcast shows on Spotify—up from 100,000 in 2023.
  • More than 170 million users have watched a video podcast on Spotify.
  • More than 70% of users consuming video podcasts watch them in the foreground. 
  • On Spotify, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. podcast monthly active users (MAUs) engage with video, while nearly 1 in 4 global podcast MAUs engage with video. Globally, the number of video podcast MAUs has grown by 40% year-over-year.
  • The number of creators actively publishing video each month has grown nearly 70% year-over-year.
  • The largest markets by creators publishing video are the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico.
  • In Brazil and the Philippines, roughly 20% of all monthly active podcast creators are publishing video. This share has nearly doubled since last year.
  • At the market level, especially in Chile and Brazil, we are seeing video grow its share of total podcast consumption hours. In Chile, video hours make up a quarter of total podcast consumption hours. In Brazil, video hours make up more than 15% of total podcast consumption hours.

For creators on Spotify, video offers a huge opportunity to deliver content to new global audiences. For the Record spoke with Jon Youshaei, host of the popular weekly podcast Created with Jon Youshaei, about the medium and its impact.

What are the benefits of video for creators?

Video has been our edge, especially when it comes to our intros. A lot of viewers comment on how our podcast intros feel like mini movie trailers. We spend a lot of time picking the right sound bites, using sound design, and adding graphics to draw you in. During the actual interview, we create a lot of custom visuals, which often get shared on social media afterwards to help draw even more people back to our Spotify page.

What are some of the content trends you’re seeing right now?

We’re living in the super-long-form era. The pendulum is swinging from short form back to longer viewing sessions as creators start to rival traditional Hollywood shows when it comes to consumption. Video plays a huge role in this, especially as more people start to watch creator content on their TVs.

You’ve been called “The Creators’ Creator.” What words of wisdom do you have for aspiring video content creators?

There are three phases to the creator journey: Upload, upgrade, and upscale. If you’re starting out, just focus on uploading. Get your reps in. Learn the craft. After that, it’s time to start upgrading your gear: Get a better microphone, camera, and think more about your production quality. After that, it’s important to upscale your team, hire, and create processes to sustain your business. Most creators get overwhelmed because they try to upgrade before they upload. Or they think they have to upscale their team on day one. The order of the phases—and what you do during each phase—matters a lot.

How have Spotify’s different creator tools and resources helped you?

Spotify has been essential to building our show—and the community around it. One of my favorite features is the audience polling. We use it to ask whom we should interview next, get insights on episodes, or ask for feedback. Spotify has also been helpful in providing the support and analytics so we can double down on what’s working.

At Spotify, we’re committed to building the best podcast and video tools for creators to make great content, find new audiences, and grow. To that end, our Spotify for Podcasters platform will host a video-related Masterclass on July 25. Led by Jordan, it will feature two masters of the video format: Colin and Samir, cohosts of The Colin and Samir Show. Click here to register.

Music Videos Rolling Out in Beta to Premium Spotify Users Across Select Markets

March 13, 2024

In the early neon-infused ’80s, music videos burst onto TV screens, turning some of the most beloved songs into visual experiences that redefined the way fans connected with artists around the world. Since then, not only have music videos become one of the many ways that fans discover and fall in love with artists, but iconic videos have become part of pop culture, igniting conversations and influencing style.

They’re a powerful way for fans to discover and connect with music, and a natural fit to live on Spotify. That’s why we’re excited to launch music videos in beta for Spotify Premium users across 11 markets, adding another way to enhance the artist-to-fan connection. 

Spotify is where fans go to dive deeper into an artist’s music. So whether you’re a superfan who wants to rewatch the videos you love and share them with friends, or a casual fan on the lookout for new releases, music videos create a new point of connection with artists.

“So many times in my own experience and for countless others, music videos play a key role in hooking you: taking you from being a listener to leaning in and becoming a fan,” says Charlie Hellman, Vice President and Head of Music Product at Spotify. “They’re an important part of so many artists’ tool kits, and it’s a natural fit for them to live in the same place that more than half a billion people choose to listen to music.”

Through Spotify features like Canvas, Clips, Artist Bios, Live Events, and Merch, artists are able to connect with new fans and loyal listeners in meaningful ways. Canvas visuals in particular have been shown to drive engagement, with users sharing, saving, or adding songs to playlists at a higher rate.

The beta version of music videos on Spotify begins rolling out today with a limited catalog of music videos, including hits from global artists like Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and Ice Spice, or local favorites like Aluna and Asake.

 

How to watch music videos on Spotify: 

  • We’ll begin to roll out music videos from a select catalog for Premium users in the U.K., Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya. 
  • Premium listeners in those markets can head to their iOS, Android, desktop, or TV device and select the “Switch to Video” toggle for supported music tracks. Then, the music video will start playing from the beginning within the Now Playing view. 
  • Want to return to background listening? Simply press “Switch to Audio.”.
  • You can even watch the music video in full screen by turning your mobile device to watch in landscape mode.

In this beta launch, we’ll continue to innovate and iterate based on feedback from both users and artists. Stay tuned as we hope to expand the catalog of music videos and bring the feature to more users and countries. 

*Update as of May 28, 2024: Music videos in beta is now available in Egypt.

Latin American Creators Show Off Their Creativity With Video Podcasts

June 7, 2023

Many podcast hosts are getting up close and personal with fans in a new way—with video. Video podcasts introduce an extra dimension of interactivity and closeness, allowing listeners to watch facial reactions or take notice of a host’s environment. Some creators are even excited about getting dressed up and showing off their fashion-forward “lewks.”

The shift toward video podcasts is occurring around the world, and in the Latin American market, specifically, a few fan favorites are bringing this new layer to their shows.

Mexican creator Roberta Woodworth, whose podcast LIBRE&LOCA reflects on intimate and personal topics like self-love and heartbreak, is one of those creators currently experimenting with video in her newest season. The show Escuela de Nada, which is made by three Venezuelan friends based in Mexico, is also embracing video as a new way to connect with listeners. And then there’s multifaceted Mexican creator Juanpa Zurita, who introduced video for Season 2 of his Spotify Original podcast, No Hagas Lo Fácil.

Meanwhile, some new podcasts are incorporating video from the get-go. The Brazilian Spotify Original podcast Carona Podpah, featuring Igor Cavalari (known informally as Igão) and Thiago Marques (known as Mítico) from the popular podcast Podpah, premieres on Spotify June 7 and will include video for each of its weekly episodes. The show follows the hosts as they interview guests inside a car, making video an essential part of the podcast.

We caught up with Libre & Loca host Roberta, No Hagas Lo Fácil host Juanpa, Escuela de Nada founder and cohost Chris Andrade, and Carona Podpah hosts Igor and Thiago to learn how video is changing their podcast game.

What excites you most about introducing video to your podcast?

Igor Cavalari and Thiago Marques: Podpah started as a video podcast and the public has always enjoyed that aspect of it a lot—we were the most-listened-to podcast on Spotify in Brazil in 2022 and the 24th globally. Video is fundamental to our show format because we have entertainment as a background for everything we produce—whether we talk about cooking, soccer, or music. When a platform as relevant as Spotify is interested in a partnership with us for a video podcast, it shows us and the market that the product still has a lot to be explored.

Roberta Woodworth: My podcast is very intimate, and I think video invites the listener to get closer, reflect, and empathize even more with these “intimate, universal” topics we cover in Libre & Loca.

Juanpa Zurita: It was something my community asked me for in every episode of last season. So it makes me very happy that we made it for the second season! Listening is nice, but nothing compares to seeing. I think the connection and the dynamic of the podcast is more intimate than before. And people are happy, which makes me very happy!

Chris Andrade: Escuela de Nada, being an improvised comedy podcast, draws on the power of interaction in its videos with its fans. Being able to react to jokes and see the response of the followers has been a change that has excited us a lot.

How has video influenced the way you approach each episode?

Igor and Thiago: Video gives us freedom to create more and more. There are challenges—Carona Podpah involves filming in a tight space as we take our guests inside the car and learn more about the songs that have marked their lives—but that doesn’t hinder us from trying new things.

Roberta: I’m very expressive, and being on camera reminds me that the whole world is going to see my face. That in itself makes everything more human, organic, and real. I am no longer just a voice that accompanies you. I am a person.

Juanpa: There was a drastic change to our set to give it the NHLF look and feel we wanted. We also had to reinvent the intros of the episodes, and I’m really proud of the result.

Chris: Video has led us to have a new type of continuity and closeness with our fans. By being able to see and hear us as hosts, we’re noticing that the engagement from fans is much higher.

How is video helping you connect with your fans?

Igor and Thiago: The main characteristic of a video podcast is that the audience can experience reactions. What we like about having the video feature is that our audience will be able to follow the podcast as if they were with us in the car seeing everything that happened. Video makes the program more dynamic and allows us to establish a greater connection—not only with our guests, but with those on the other side of the screen.

Roberta: It brings us much closer because people not only hear what I think and feel, but also see it. And I talk so much about emotions, so it’s very interesting how that connection becomes deeper.

Juanpa: There’s something very special about body language, and you can’t feel that if you can’t see it. I also want to thank our fans for all the love during Season 1 and for everyone’s insistence on us using video. Without them we wouldn’t have made it. 

Chris: Video has helped us further expand and disseminate our content to a social media platform where video is dominant. Each person has their own way of consuming content, and without a doubt, the video adds a lot to us and brings a lot of value to the new generations.