Creating a podcast takes a lot of effort, research, countless hours of hard work, and at times, expensive pieces of equipment. One way to appreciate your work is through earning some revenue from your podcast, and if you have just begun podcasting on Spotify, there are some really good monetization options for creators. Earlier, before Spotify acquired Anchor, there were a lot of questions regarding “Does Spotify Pay Podcasters,” and the options were quite limited back then. But now, things have changed, and this is the updated guide on how you can monetize your Spotify podcasts and earn some good revenue from it.
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Does Spotify Pay Podcasters?
Yes, Spotify does pay podcasters through Ads and other revenue models. But the monetization feature is limited only to a few countries and is expected to be available globally soon.
Earlier, there weren’t many options for podcasters to earn from Spotify, and though still limited to the United States, the ad options and approval were restrictive. As of now, Spotify offers four ways to earn money through their podcast platform – Ambassador Ads, Automated Ads, Podcast subscription, and Fan-supported “Listener Support.” Podcast subscription and Listener support are only available in a few regions currently, and Ambassador Ads and Automated Ads are invite-only based approvals.
Let’s discuss all these four monetization options in detail and see how to earn with Spotify podcasts.
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How to Monetize Your Spotify Podcasts? Earn While You Speak
As mentioned before in this guide, there are four options to monetize your Spotify podcasts. Unfortunately, two of them are invite-only and require your podcast to be a popular one.
| Monetization | Qualification | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Ambassador Ads | 100 listeners on the podcast in the past 60 days, and an episode published for the same period | Invite only: US, UK, and Australia (Expanding soon to more countries) |
| Automated Ads | Invite only | Invite only: US, UK and Australia (Expanding soon to more countries) |
| Podcast Subscription | Show managed through Spotify for Podcasters | Available in 34 markets across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific |
| Listener Support | Show managed through Spotify for Podcasters | US Only |
1. Ambassador Ads
Ambassador Ads is one of the popular options out there, and in a lot of podcasts, you might have heard the host speaking a word or two about a product and advertising it. These ads are one of the favorable options as you can seamlessly integrate the product into your content and speak about it without having it look like an Ad.
Also, Ambassador Ads give you the freedom to read out the script in the most favorable part of your content and the way you like it. However, you still need to follow some requirements to be approved for these ads and use them in your show.
These Ads play across all the distribution platform that uses your Podcast’s RSS Feed and across the Spotify platform itself. For podcasters in the US, you can easily get Ambassador Ads and invite only in Australia, Brazil, and the UK. You can also expect Ambassador Ads in more countries soon, so while you are reading this guide, it is good to check if the Ambassador Ads are now available in your region.
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2. Automated Ads
Automated Ads are the future of monetization on Spotify for podcasters, and it is the best way to revenue from your podcasts. With automated ads, hosts or podcasters can insert sponsor-read ads in selective ad breaks or time frames.
Now, this monetization option for your Spotify can be considered better than ambassador ads. There are major reasons for this from my point of view; the first reason is with automated ads, you don’t have to present the ad, so there is less work to design a script around it; everything is already done for you. And secondly, with automated ads, you can adjust how many ads your show will have and where they will be placed.
Automated Ads will work across all the podcast platforms as they are distributed using the Podcast RSS feed. And this ad format is so popular that Spotify has made it available to only the beta circle. So you apply for the ad, and if you are approved, you get a chance to run these automated ads. Also, this program is currently only available in the UK, the US, and Australia.
Our assumptions dictate the program will soon be available to all users across the globe and might have strict criteria. So it is best to start building your Spotify podcast so you can easily apply for automated ads later. Also, if you already have a great podcast and live in the US, UK, or Australia, you can apply for the beta and test it out.
3. Podcast Subscription on Spotify
Who doesn’t want their premium content to be exclusively available for their community? That’s a great sign of brand building, and podcast subscriptions help you build this brand. But that are rarely podcast platforms that offer private podcasts or integrate a subscription into the existing podcast playlist.
Spotify allows you to collect monthly subscriptions on your podcast, allowing listeners to directly connect with their favorite creators and get exclusive content, like BTS, bonus tracks, and added perks. Also, Spotify helps you integrate a subscription email list so you can engage with your audience on a more personal level.
This feature is available across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, covering around 34 marketplaces and expanding to add more. So, be mindful to check if this feature is available in your region while reading this guide. The requirement is your show should be hosted on Spotify for Podcasters to avail of this monetization feature.
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4. Listener Support
Listener support is another name for Super Chat on YouTube or fan donations in general. This monetization feature is great for podcasts that talk about NGOs, social help, or podcasts towards society. You can collect donations and then use them for the cause.
But wait, if you are a popular creator, you can also set up the “Listener Support” feature for your own. It is a great feature when your audience wants to support your show via a monthly donation of their choice. Currently, the Listener Support monetization is only available in the United States and may roll out globally for Spotify podcast creators in the near future.
With listener support, your loyal fans can contribute towards your show only if they wish to, and not necessarily every time.
How Much Will I Earn with Monetizations on Spotify Podcasts?
The most obvious question any creator would have is how much they will earn with monetizations on Spotify. To clarify this, Spotify specifies that the earning differs from one monetization model to another, and you will be shown pricing before you accept the program.
Also, just to make clear, no matter what monetization program you apply and use on your Spotify podcast, Spotify will keep a small share before releasing the amount in your bank account. As per my research, the percentage of shares is not disclosed publicly, and if you find it, you can let us all know in the comment section. But it is evident that Spotify will keep a certain share to keep its platform running.
There are also a lot of questions on the internet if creators can use multiple monetization options to maximize their revenue, and the answer is yes. You can use multiple monetization options but only use one fan-supported option at a time. So, if you are using listener support, you cannot use podcast subscriptions and vice versa.
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Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Yes, Spotify is expected to expand monetization options to more countries in the future. It’s a good idea to check for updates to see if new features are available in your region.
Yes, your show should be hosted on Spotify for Podcasters to avail of the Podcast Subscriptions monetization feature.
Yes, if you have a popular podcast and reside in the US, UK, or Australia, you can apply for the beta version of Automated Ads and test it out.
Listener Support is a feature that allows podcasters to collect donations from their audience. It is currently available in the United States and may be expanded to other regions in the future.
Podcast subscriptions allow listeners to pay for premium content exclusively available to subscribers. It is available in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, covering approximately 34 marketplaces.
Yes, you can use multiple monetization options, but only one fan-supported option (either Podcast subscription or Listener Support) can be used at a time.
Yes and no. Spotify does pay podcasters through Ads and other revenue models, but the monetization feature is currently limited to a few countries and is expected to expand globally soon.
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Wrapping Up: Does Spotify Pay Podcasters?
Yes, Spotify does pay podcasters, and creators can earn through various monetization options; Ambassador Ads, Automated Ads, Listener Support, and Podcast subscriptions are a few of the available options. Spotify monetization options are widely available in North America, Asia Specific, Europe, and Australia as of now. Hopefully, monetization options are expected to be available in more regions and globally so each and every creator can earn from their podcasts.
I hope this guide on “Does Spotify pay podcasters” came in handy to you. Feel free to explore more of our Podcast Guides, and if you have any queries, do let us know in the comment section below. If you like this article, do give this a quick share on your social media handles, and do tag us. Also, join our Telegram channel, Facebook page, and Twitter to never miss a quick update.
