With podcasts hitting the global awards stage for the first time last week, Spotify have announced an expansion of their Partner Program and made available new video sponsorship tools to reflect their continued investment in the medium. Spotify also celebrated reaching the $10B milestone, having now contributed more than USD $10B to the podcast industry over the last five years fueled by direct creator monetisation.
After launching the Spotify Partner Program in January 2025 to help creators build sustainable businesses by unlocking multiple revenue streams, Spotify have updated the offerings to reduce friction across platforms, and give creators more flexible ways to earn, including:
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Expanded eligibility: Creators can now apply earlier in their journey with updated thresholds of 1,000 engaged audience members, 2,000 hours consumed over the past 30 days, and three published episodes, enabling more shows to earn through a mix of Premium video revenue and advertising.
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New sponsorship tools for video creators: Rolling out in April across Spotify for Creators and Megaphone, creators will be able to update, schedule, and measure host-read sponsorships in video episodes more easily.
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Spotify Distribution API for video: Creators will soon be able to publish and monetise video podcasts on Spotify directly from participating hosting platforms—without changing workflows or re-uploading content. Launch partners include Acast, Audioboom, Libsyn, Omny and Podigee.
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Prithi Dey, Head of Podcasts AUNZ at Spotify, said:
“The start of 2026 marks a pivotal shift in how we support the Australian creative community. Our evolved distribution strategy is designed to lower the barriers for video, from local independent creators to the major networks representing Australia’s most extraordinary talent. With these changes, we are reinforcing our commitment to a space where all creators can distribute, monetise, and deepen engagement with their audiences. We want Spotify to be a cornerstone of every creator’s multi-platform strategy; ultimately, our success is defined by their growth, and we are privileged to be part of that journey.”
Since launching the Spotify Partner Program, monthly video podcast consumption on the platform has nearly doubled.
Image: Spotify’s new Sycamore Studios in West Hollywood, supplied. It is the new home of The Ringer podcasts, and will also be available to select creators, by invitation only, in the Spotify Partner Program.