Spotify Competes With Apple by Expanding Podcast Subscriptions Program

In late April, Spotify began testing a Podcast Subscriptions program as a way for creators to offer paid subscriber-only content to listeners, and today the streaming music service announced this monetization option is now available to all U.S. creators. Spotify said creators can mark episodes as subscriber-only and publish them to Spotify and other platforms through its podcast creation platform Anchor.

spotify podcasts
Spotify also announced that it plans to expand the Podcast Subscriptions program internationally starting September 15 of this year.

Spotify said its model is built to maximize revenue for creators, who will receive 100% of subscription revenue minus payment processing fees until 2023, when the company plans to implement a 5% fee on subscription revenue.

Two changes are being made to the program to benefit creators: additional pricing tiers for subscription fees and the option to download a list of email addresses for subscribers so creators can further engage with their audiences.

Apple rolled out its own Podcasts Subscriptions feature worldwide in June, with the company receiving 30% of a subscriber's revenue in the first year and 15% if they remain subscribed for longer than one year. Creators are also required to enroll in the Apple Podcasters Program for $19.99 per year in order to offer subscriptions.

Benefits of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions for creators include the ability to offer subscriptions for individual shows or for groups of shows through a "channels" feature, the choice to offer fully paid subscriptions or freemium subscriptions with a mix of free and paid episodes, and availability in over 170 countries and regions today. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions also has options for soliciting subscriber email addresses.

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Top Rated Comments

Zimmy68 Avatar
50 months ago
Spotify: We need to compete with Apple Music
Employee: By adding a free lossless tier for consumers?
Spotify: Hell no, let's let Podcasters charge for podcasts!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N1noodle Avatar
50 months ago
Really thats greedy, pay to be able to offer subscription and then 30% to apple on top of that ouch.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jamcgahey Avatar
50 months ago
I contribute Spotify to single-handedly destroying Podcasts as what we new prior to their heavy investment. Maybe podcast subscriptions eventually would have happened, but I don't doubt it was expedited due to the fact that Spotify is trying to do everything they can to monetize alternatives to music to lessen the stranglehold the music industry has on their business.

Prior to Spotify joining the podcast game you could (for the most part) download any podcast app that was your preference and listen to just about any podcast. Now, as is the same with streaming video (i.e. netflix, amazon, hbo, etc.), I need to have Spotify downloaded to listen to Joe Rogan. I need Amazon downloaded to get early access to Wondery or Smartless.

It's incredibly frustrating, but it is what it is.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nburwell Avatar
50 months ago

I wish they would part out the podcasts into its own app. We have a family account with content restrictions, but podcasts are open season - and there is some wild content that little kids can access.
100% agree here. This is one of the big reasons why I switched to Apple Music. I don't need/want to see podcasts be front and center of the screen when I launch the app. I use Pocket Casts to manage/listen to podcasts I subscribe to.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Morgenland Avatar
50 months ago

I contribute Spotify to single-handedly destroying Podcasts as what we new prior to their heavy investment. Maybe podcast subscriptions eventually would have happened, but I don't doubt it was expedited due to the fact that Spotify is trying to do everything they can to monetize alternatives to music to lessen the stranglehold the music industry has on their business.

Prior to Spotify joining the podcast game you could (for the most part) download any podcast app that was your preference and listen to just about any podcast. Now, as is the same with streaming video (i.e. netflix, amazon, hbo, etc.), I need to have Spotify downloaded to listen to Joe Rogan. I need Amazon downloaded to get early access to Wondery or Smartless.

It's incredibly frustrating, but it is what it is.
My tip: Just try Apple's podcast. And your world will be easy again.
There's enough for you if you go your own way there and are free to avoid tips from the Android community.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
50 months ago
I wish they would part out the podcasts into its own app. We have a family account with content restrictions, but podcasts are open season - and there is some wild content that little kids can access.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)