In short
- Spotify launched paid podcast memberships on October 20.
- Creators choose the perks: bonus episodes, fewer ads or early access, across different price tiers.
- They keep 90% of the revenue. It’s rolling out in 34 markets, including the US.
Spotify wants your favorite podcasts to stop sending you to Patreon. As of October 20, podcasters can sell memberships directly on Spotify, and not just for bonus episodes.
How do Spotify podcast memberships work?
Each creator sets up their own membership and decides what’s in it. It can be one of these or a mix:
- Bonus episodes in audio or video.
- Fewer ads.
- Early access to new episodes.
Creators can also offer multiple tiers at different prices, for casual listeners and for superfans. You go to the show’s page on Spotify, pick a membership, pay, and get access straight away. One catch: you buy it on the web, not inside the app.
How much does Spotify take?
Not much: creators keep 90% of membership revenue. Spotify didn’t announce fixed prices because each podcaster sets their own.
Who can offer memberships?
There’s a minimum bar. A show needs to:
- Be hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone.
- Have at least 100 hours of listening.
- Have at least 100 listeners or viewers.
- Have three or more episodes published.
It launched with shows like Sam Harris’s Making Sense, The Shawn Ryan Show and 12 podcasts from YMH Studios. It’s rolling out in 34 markets, including the US, so check your app if you’re in the UK or Australia.
Why it matters
If you listen to podcasts, you’ll start seeing membership buttons on your favorite shows, and some episodes might end up behind a paywall. If you make a podcast, it’s a way to get paid without sending your audience to another platform. For Spotify, it’s part of a bigger fight: it wants video creators too, and it’s going straight at YouTube. Member badges and welcome clips are coming soon.
Quick answers
Do I have to pay to listen to podcasts on Spotify now?
No. Podcasts are still free. Memberships are an optional extra that each creator chooses to offer.
How much does a Spotify podcast membership cost?
It depends on the creator, who sets their own prices and tiers.
Can I pay in the app?
No. You sign up on Spotify’s website.
Sources: TechCrunch
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