Spotify Rolls Out Paid Podcast Memberships In 34 Markets
Podcasters can offer paid perks in multiple tiers and keep 90 percent of membership revenue, provided their shows meet Spotify’s eligibility requirements.
Spotify is rolling out paid podcast memberships in 34 markets, including the United States. The feature lets creators offer subscribers perks such as bonus audio or video, early access and fewer ads. Creators can set different prices and combine benefits across multiple tiers, while keeping 90 percent of membership revenue.
Table of Contents
How memberships work
Listeners will find membership offers on a podcast’s Spotify page, where they can choose a tier and access its benefits after subscribing. TechCrunch reports that purchases will be completed on the web rather than through in-app purchases. The Verge says Spotify is also offering targeted promotions and free trials to help podcasters attract members.
The available perks are up to each creator. Alongside additional episodes, a membership could include early access to a show or an experience with fewer ads, according to TechCrunch. That gives podcasters room to offer different packages to fans who want more from a show than its regular releases.
Who can offer them
To qualify, a show must be hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone, with at least 100 consumption hours, 100 listeners or viewers, and three published episodes, according to all three reports. Spotify first previewed the membership program at its Investor Day in May.
TechCrunch reports that launch participants include “The Adam Friedland Show,” “Making Sense with Sam Harris,” “Shawn Ryan Show,” “The Sculpt Society” and “Two Hot Takes.” It also says YMH Studios is bringing memberships to 12 shows across its network.
Where the feature fits
Memberships add another option alongside advertising and Spotify’s Partner Program. Engadget notes that Spotify has offered a way for creators to sell exclusive podcast content since 2021, while The Verge describes the new feature as a more flexible, Patreon-style membership system rather than the same subscription product. Creators who manage subscriptions elsewhere can also bring paywalled content to Spotify through its Open Access feature, according to The Verge.
Spotify is adding tools intended to help creators build a paying audience, though the reports differ on the timing of some community features. The Verge describes member badges and welcome clips among the available engagement tools; TechCrunch says Spotify plans to offer those features soon. For podcasters, the central change is the ability to sell a wider mix of benefits through tiered memberships on Spotify, rather than relying on bonus episodes alone.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.