Spotify is giving podcasters a fresh way to earn from their most loyal listeners with the official rollout of Podcast Memberships. First teased during the company’s Investor Day in May, the feature lets creators charge a monthly fee for exclusive content and perks. It is now available in 34 markets and replaces the podcast subscription model Spotify introduced in 2021.
Creators can customize what each membership includes, such as exclusive audio or video, bonus episodes, fewer ads, early access, full show archives, or a mix of all of these. Spotify allows up to three membership tiers with separate pricing, and creators set their own rates. The company does not fix prices, though its sample materials suggest a $4.99 monthly price with a seven-day free trial.
Both Free and Premium users can browse membership options directly from a podcast’s Spotify page and listen to exclusive content inside the app. However, checkout is handled through the web instead of in-app purchases, likely to avoid app store fees from Apple and Google. Members can display badges when commenting on episodes, and creators can welcome new subscribers with special audio clips.
Spotify says creators will keep 90% of membership revenue, making the program one of several monetization options alongside advertising, sponsorships, and the Spotify Partner Program. The platform is also offering promotional tools, free-trial options, analytics to track what drives sign-ups, and exportable member data, including contact details from fans who agree to share them. To qualify, podcasts must be hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone and have at least three published episodes, 100 listeners or viewers, and 100 consumption hours on Spotify in the last 30 days.
Early adopters include The Adam Friedland Show, Making Sense with Sam Harris, The Shawn Ryan Show, and YMH Studios, which is rolling out Memberships across 12 shows. The initial launch spans markets including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Singapore, New Zealand, and many more across Europe and Asia-Pacific.
