Based on reporting by The Verge.
What happened
Spotify is launching Podcast Memberships, a subscription feature that lets creators earn more by offering fans exclusive content, and it is distinct from the podcast subscription introduced in 2021.
The rollout begins today in 34 regions and applies to shows hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone that have at least 100 consumption hours, 100 listeners, and three published episodes.
Creators can set pricing, bundle benefits across multiple tiers, and offer perks such as additional content, early access, bonus episodes, and reduced ads, with users subscribing in a few taps on a podcast’s Spotify page.
Spotify retains 90 percent of membership revenue and supplies tools for audience analysis, targeted promotions, free trials, and community features like member badges and welcome clips.
Memberships are separate from the 2021 subscription feature, and Spotify’s Open Access allows podcasters to bring paywalled content from other services onto the platform.
AIBeat analysis
This could give podcasters a stronger revenue stream, as keeping 90% of fees and having built‑in analytics and promotion tools may encourage creators to produce more exclusive material, potentially expanding paid content on Spotify.