Spotify paid podcast creators $100 million in Q1 2025
Spotify’s Partner Program and ad revenue model is helping creators to thrive, while spotlighting the platform’s growing focus on video.
Spotify pays out $100m to podcasters in Q1 2025
Spotify has revealed that it paid over $100 million to podcast publishers and creators in Q1 of 2025 alone. This figure highlights Spotify’s investment in its creator ecosystem and its ongoing push to become a dominant player in the podcasting space- particularly in the thriving video podcast sector.
In its announcement, Spotify called the milestone a testament to their commitment to helping creators succeed. A large part of that success is being driven by the Spotify Partner Program, which launched earlier this year and is already having a considerable impact.
Revenue is up
Spotify says the $100 million payout came from a mix of ad revenue and revenue generated through the Spotify Partner Program. While ad revenue is available to all eligible creators, the expanding Partner Program allows video podcasters to earn from Spotify’s subscription revenue when premium subscribers watch their content.
So far, it’s working. Spotify reported a 23% spike in Partner Program earnings from January to February, followed by a 29% rise from February to March. These increases show that the program is rapidly gaining momentum and helping creators grow their income- whether they’re “just starting out or looking to scale an existing show”.
Spotify’s podcast offering has also caught the attention of some of the world’s top advertisers, including McDonald’s, Google, and Chelsea FC. Recognizing that podcasts can help them reach their audience, advertisers are helping to further boost creator revenues.
Video podcasts are driving audience growth
The program doesn’t just bring in more revenue for creators, but it also helps expand the reach for creators. The Partner Program incentivizes creators to publish video podcasts thanks to the monetization opportunity that comes with it. Since the program’s launch, active monthly video podcasts have grown 28%.
Creators are seeing strong audience engagement too. Spotify boasts that weekly consumption of certain shows has grown between 12% and 45% after joining the program. For example, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast saw weekly consumption rise 12%, with total consumption climbing 30% between January to March.
“Since joining the Spotify Partner Program, we’ve seen weekly consumption grow by over 45%. That kind of trajectory is exceptional, and it speaks to the power of a global platform that is committed to creator success. Spotify has opened up a new competitive revenue stream and allows us to tap into a deeply engaged audience.”
Christiana Brenton, Chief Revenue Officer at FlightStory and Co-Founder of FlightStory Studio
Spotify’s podcast ambitions
As Spotify continues to invest in tools that support and reward podcasters, especially those embracing video, the company is positioning itself as a leading platform for creators to grow both their reach and their income.
Spotify’s video podcast ambitions are clear, but YouTube still holds the crown with over one billion monthly podcast users. Whether Spotify can compete at that scale remains to be seen, but the current signs seem promising. For now, Spotify’s Partner Program is off to a flying start and is helping creators earn to the tune of $100 million.
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