Spotify has lowered the eligibility requirements for creators to monetize video podcasts on its platform, a move aimed at expanding access to its Partner Program and strengthening its push into video content.
Under the updated criteria, podcasters now need to have published at least three episodes, reached 2,000 consumption hours, and attracted 1,000 engaged listeners over the past 30 days to qualify for monetization. This represents a significant reduction from the original requirements introduced last year, which mandated 12 episodes, 10,000 consumption hours, and 2,000 listeners within the same period.
The Spotify Partner Program allows creators to earn revenue based on how many Premium subscribers watch their video podcasts, alongside a share of advertising revenue generated from free-tier users. By easing entry requirements, Spotify is positioning the program as more accessible to emerging creators while encouraging broader adoption of video podcasts on the platform.
Beyond lowering thresholds, Spotify is rolling out new sponsorship tools designed to give podcasters greater control over host-read video ads. The tools will allow creators to update, schedule, and measure sponsorship placements and will be integrated into the Spotify for Creators app and Megaphone, the company’s podcast hosting and monetization platform, starting in April.
The changes align with Spotify’s broader effort to compete more aggressively with YouTube, which currently dominates video podcast consumption. As part of this strategy, Spotify is launching a new application programming interface (API) that enables creators to publish and monetize video podcasts on Spotify directly from their existing hosting platforms. At launch, podcast networks and hosting providers including Acast, Audioboom, Libsyn, Omny, and Podigee have adopted the API.
Spotify said engagement with video podcasts has surged since the introduction of its Partner Program. According to the company, video podcast consumption on the app has nearly doubled, and the average podcast listener now watches twice as many video shows per month compared to pre-launch levels. While Spotify attributes the growth to increased interest in video formats, the rise may also reflect greater visibility of video content within the app.
The company is also expanding its physical infrastructure to support creators. Spotify announced plans to open a new podcast and video recording studio in West Hollywood, which will serve as a base for the Ringer podcast network and be made available to select creators enrolled in the Partner Program. The studio will join Spotify’s existing facilities in Los Angeles, New York, Stockholm, and London.
These moves come as Spotify continues to explore new growth channels beyond music streaming, particularly as competition intensifies across audio and video platforms. By lowering barriers to monetization and investing in creator tools and infrastructure, Spotify is signaling its intent to make video podcasts a central pillar of its long-term content and revenue strategy.
