Spotify launches podcast Memberships; creators keep 90%

Spotify is launching podcast Memberships in 34 markets, a paid fan feature that replaces the podcast subscriptions it introduced in 2021 and lets eligible creators charge for exclusive content.

What Memberships offer creators and listeners

Creators decide what a Membership includes: exclusive audio or video, bonus episodes, fewer ads, early access, access to a show's archive, or any combination of those options. Benefits can be split into up to three tiers, each with its own price. Spotify is not setting prices; its mockups use $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial as an example.

Both Free and Premium Spotify users can find a show's Membership options on the show's Spotify page and listen to member content without leaving the app. Checkout happens on the web rather than through in-app purchases, presumably so Spotify does not have to give Apple and Google a cut. Members can display a badge when commenting on episodes, and creators can greet new members with welcome clips.

Revenue share, creator tools and eligibility

Memberships sit alongside advertising, sponsorships, and the Spotify Partner Program as ways creators can earn money on the platform. Spotify says it will provide targeted promotions, free trials, analytics on what is driving sign-ups, and exportable member data, including contact information from fans who choose to share it.

Creators keep 90% of the revenue from Memberships.

To be eligible, a show 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 previous 30 days.

Rollout and early adopters

Spotify first previewed Memberships at its Investor Day in May. The feature is rolling out in 34 markets:

• Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US

Among the first shows to offer Memberships are The Adam Friedland Show, Making Sense with Sam Harris, The Shawn Ryan Show, and YMH Studios' network, which is bringing Memberships to 12 shows.