Spotify has begun rolling out podcast Memberships, a subscription feature first previewed in May, across 34 markets. Both The Verge and TechCrunch report that it allows creators to charge for extras like bonus episodes, early access, and reduced advertising, with fans subscribing directly from a show's Spotify page.
The two outlets agree on the revenue split: creators keep 90% of membership revenue and can bundle perks across multiple tiers. Eligibility also matches: shows must be hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone, with at least 100 consumption hours, 100 listeners or viewers, and three published episodes. TechCrunch adds that purchases are made on the web rather than through in-app purchases, a detail The Verge does not mention.
The Verge notes an Open Access feature that lets podcasters bring paywalled content from other services to Spotify, while TechCrunch highlights launch partners including "The Adam Friedland Show" and "Making Sense with Sam Harris." Both frame the move as part of Spotify's broader effort to attract podcast creators, particularly as it pushes further into video.