Spotify Launches Podcast Memberships, Letting Creators Keep 90% of Revenue
Spotify has launched Memberships, a paid feature that lets eligible podcast creators offer exclusive content to listeners. The company says creators will keep 90% of the revenue generated through the feature, with the service initially rolling out in 34 markets.
Creators can use Memberships to offer bonus episodes, exclusive audio or video, early access, fewer ads, or access to a show’s back catalogue. They can set up different access tiers and pricing options, while listeners can discover and access member content through a podcast’s Spotify page.
How Spotify Memberships work
The feature is designed to let creators build recurring revenue directly from their audiences. Spotify says eligible shows can promote memberships to listeners through targeted promotions and free trials, and use analytics to understand which activity leads to sign-ups.
Members can display badges when commenting on episodes. Creators can also welcome new members with audio or video clips. Spotify says creators can export member information, including contact details when a member chooses to share them.
Eligibility requirements for creators
To qualify at launch, a podcast must be hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone and have at least three published episodes. It must also have at least 100 listeners or viewers and 100 hours of consumption on Spotify during the previous 30 days.
Memberships add to Spotify’s other creator monetization options, including advertising, sponsorships and the Spotify Partner Program. The feature evolves Spotify’s previous Podcast Subscriptions offering, according to the company’s creator-support documentation.
Is Spotify Memberships available in Pakistan?
Pakistan is not included in Spotify’s initial list of 34 launch markets. The launch list includes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as several European markets.
That means creators and listeners in Pakistan may have to wait for a wider rollout before they can use the new feature locally. Spotify has not announced an expansion date for Pakistan.
Spotify describes the 90% figure as creators’ share of Memberships revenue. Its support documentation says a 10% platform fee is deducted from net earnings and that taxes may also be deducted where required by law. Actual payouts can also be affected by currency conversion.