- Spotify offers advanced features for discovering, following, and downloading podcasts, as well as integrating advertising and video into some episodes.
- Spotify for Podcasters allows you to easily record, edit, publish, distribute, and monetize podcasts from your mobile device or computer.
- Distribution is based on the use of an RSS feed and strict adherence to the platform's content and copyright rules.
- Detailed audience and playback metrics help optimize content and grow your podcast within Spotify.
If you listen to podcasts constantly and use Spotify daily, you'll want to know all the features the platform offers for following, managing, and creating shows . It's not just about pressing play: there are a ton of tools that, when used correctly, make the experience much more convenient, personalized, and, if you're a creator, also more profitable.
Throughout this guide, you'll see, step by step, how to get the most out of Spotify's podcast feature : from discovering new shows and organizing your favorites, to uploading your own podcast, monetizing it, and analyzing its statistics. Everything is explained in Spanish (Spain), with concrete examples and no unnecessary fluff, so you can get started in minutes.
What does Spotify offer for listening to podcasts as a user?
Spotify has become one of the world's most popular audio platforms, with hundreds of millions of users across dozens of countries . Within this ecosystem, podcasts have gained increasing prominence, to the point that the app now has a dedicated section for them, with features designed for both casual listeners and hardcore podcasters.
When you open the app, you can not only search for specific shows, but Spotify also shows you personalized recommendations and editorial selections created by the platform itself. So, alongside your usual podcasts, you'll find new suggestions based on what you listen to, the type of content you like, and your listening habits.
Among the basic options available to you as a listener are several very convenient features: you can save programs to your library to follow them , so that when a new episode is released, it will automatically appear among your content. You can also download episodes to listen offline, ideal if you often travel by subway, commute frequently, or don't want to use up your data.
In addition, some episodes include embedded video , allowing you to see the host or guests while they speak—a style very typical of interview or studio talk podcasts. However, these videos are only available in certain programs, usually original productions or those offered through specific agreements with the platform.
It's worth noting that even if you have Spotify Premium and don't hear ads during music, podcasts may still include advertising . In many cases, this consists of messages read by the host, mentions of sponsors, or promotional blocks inserted within the episode.
Types of ads and sponsorships on Spotify podcasts
A significant part of the Spotify podcast experience is advertising. Both free and Premium users will encounter ads and sponsored messages within episodes . This is normal: many creators fund their podcasts this way, and Spotify also incorporates its own dynamic advertising.
On one hand, there are Spotify ads . These are commercial messages that the platform automatically inserts at certain points in the episode. They can be from external brands, internal Spotify campaigns, or pieces created in collaboration with the podcasters themselves, and are dynamically placed based on the listener's profile and other criteria.
On the other hand, we have creator sponsorships , which are messages integrated directly into the original episode recording. This includes several formats commonly found in the podcasting world, all of which are easily recognizable to the listener.
A classic format is the presenter-read advertisement : the show's host takes a minute to talk about a brand, product, or service, often in a very personal tone. Another is the sponsored editorial segment, in which a specific part of the content is endorsed by a brand and may even include visual elements in video episodes.
There is also product placement, where a brand's product or service is prominently featured or mentioned repeatedly during the episode, sometimes seamlessly integrated into the conversation. Some of these sponsorships are part of Spotify's original, licensed content, and the hosts receive financial compensation for including them.
How to discover, follow, and manage podcasts on Spotify
One of the platform's strengths is how easy it is to discover new podcasts and organize the ones you already follow . Both on your phone and computer, you have shortcuts, tabs, and filters that save you time when finding something to listen to.
When you find a podcast that interests you, you can click the button to follow or save the program . From that moment on, the content is added to your personal library and new episodes will be saved automatically, without you having to search for them one by one each time they are released.
To quickly see what's new, on your mobile device simply go to Home → Podcasts → Following . There you'll find a list of the shows you've saved, and you can check the latest available episodes, resume those you left unfinished, and manage what you want to listen to at any given time.
The download function is also key. In each episode, you'll see a button that lets you save the audio to your device for offline listening . This is especially useful if you're traveling, have a limited data plan, or want to make sure the episode doesn't cut out due to poor coverage.
What is Spotify for Podcasters and why is it so important?
Beyond the listener aspect, Spotify has made a strong commitment to making life easier for those who want to create their own shows. For this purpose, there's Spotify for Podcasters , formerly known as Anchor, an application and web platform designed to manage the entire podcast lifecycle from a single location.
Spotify for Podcasters is a free tool that lets you record, edit, publish, monetize, and analyze your podcast without needing extensive technical knowledge or expensive equipment. You can work from your mobile device or computer, opening the door to independent creators, small brands, and even companies just starting out in audio.
The idea is to eliminate barriers to entry: with a simple microphone (your phone's will do, although an external one improves the sound), a recording app, and this service, you can launch a podcast with minimal or virtually no investment . For more complex editing, you can always use programs like Audacity, but for basic use, the platform itself offers plenty of options.
Furthermore, the tool integrates with the Spotify app we all know, so the episodes you create and publish can be listened to directly on the platform . This means your content can reach a huge audience, accustomed to consuming audio through Spotify and eager to discover new shows.
For artists, content creators, and brands, podcasts are a powerful way to strengthen personal or corporate branding, connect directly with audiences, and open up monetization avenues through subscriptions, advertising, or sponsorships. Spotify for Podcasters fits right in: it makes the entire process much easier to manage.
How Spotify for Podcasters Works Step by Step
Using Spotify for Podcasters is quite intuitive. The first step is to create an account or log in if you already have a Spotify account. You can do this with your email, Google, Apple, or Facebook account, and registration takes very little time. Once your email is verified, you'll have access to the control panel.
Within the panel, you'll see a central button, usually represented by the "+" symbol or labeled "Tools," which you can use to start creating a new episode . You have two options: record audio directly from the platform itself or import files already recorded with another program or device.
One interesting advantage is that, if you have a Premium account, you can integrate music from the Spotify catalog into your episodes . However, there is a significant limitation: these episodes with Spotify music can only be played within the Spotify app itself and not on other platforms like Apple Podcasts, iVoox, Podimo, or Amazon Music.
Another differentiating factor is the audience interaction options . The platform allows listeners to send voice notes to the podcast hosts . The creator can listen to these audio messages and decide whether to incorporate them into future episodes, thus fostering a closer relationship with their community.
In addition, there's a library of royalty-free sounds, effects, and melodies that can be used for transitions, intros, or outros . The built-in editing tools are basic, so for more detailed work, external solutions are recommended, but they're usually sufficient for a simple podcast.
Publish and distribute your podcast from Spotify for Podcasters
Once you have the audio ready, it's time to prepare the publication. The platform opens a form where you can configure all the episode details : title, description, season number, episode number, content type (for example, whether it's a regular episode, a trailer, etc.).
Optionally, you can upload a specific cover image for that episode or schedule the exact date and time of publication , which is very useful if you want to maintain a regular release schedule. After publishing the first episode, you'll also need to define the podcast's overall name, description, category, and main cover image.
Once published, the platform generates a direct link to the episode within Spotify, which you can share on social media , websites, newsletters, or anywhere else . In addition, Spotify for Podcasters offers interactive options such as polls and Q&A sections, available for podcasts hosted and published on Spotify.
If you want your show to be available on other podcasting platforms, you'll need an RSS feed . This is a file that contains essential podcast information (title, description, episodes, cover art, etc.) and that different apps and directories read to display your content to users.
Within the Spotify for Podcasters settings, you can enable RSS distribution. To do this, go to Settings → Podcast Availability → RSS Distribution and enable the feature. From there, you can copy the URL and use it to submit your podcast to other platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iVoox, Podimo, or Amazon Music.
This combination of direct publishing to Spotify and RSS distribution means you don't have to manually upload episodes to each site . You upload the episode once to your hosting (Spotify for Podcasters or another compatible service), and the other platforms detect and update it automatically.
Monetization and advantages of being on Spotify as a podcaster
For content creators, being on Spotify has a number of clear advantages. The first is the enormous potential audience : millions of users of all backgrounds, languages, and countries, who are already accustomed to discovering music and podcasts in the same app.
The second is the information the platform provides about listener behavior. Thanks to metrics and data dashboards, it's possible to better understand who is listening to the podcast, from where, and for how long . This data is invaluable when it comes to adjusting topics, episode length, posting frequency, or the overall tone of the show.
Regarding monetization, there are several avenues that can be combined. On the one hand, some tools allow you to offer exclusive episodes to subscribers in exchange for a monthly fee . You can also enable recurring donation systems from your most loyal listeners and, of course, insert advertisements from external brands within the episodes.
It's worth noting that, in many cases, Spotify doesn't pay podcasters directly simply for being on the platform, unlike YouTube with some formats. Revenue usually comes from brand deals, sponsorships, and subscriptions managed by the creator themselves, or from external platforms that offer exclusivity payments.
Even so, the value of being on Spotify is very high: visibility, ease of reaching new listeners, and advanced analytics tools . Many companies already use it for their corporate podcasts, and it's common for them to combine their Spotify presence with other platforms to maximize reach.
Upload your podcast to Spotify via hosting and an RSS feed
There's a key point that causes initial confusion: you can't directly upload an audio file to Spotify like a song . Spotify, when it comes to podcasts, functions as a directory that reads content from an external hosting service via an RSS feed, except when you use its own integrated system.
In practice, this means you first need a podcast hosting service to generate that feed. Platforms like iVoox, Spreaker, Libsyn, and many others, as well as Spotify for Podcasters, store your episodes and provide you with an RSS URL that you can then connect to various directories.
Traditionally, accessing Spotify required going through what's known as a podcast aggregator . These companies, in addition to providing hosting, manage content distribution across multiple platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.), similar to how music aggregators handle sending albums to digital stores like Spotify, Deezer, or Apple Music.
Today, Spotify works directly with podcasters through Spotify for Podcasters, but the concept of an aggregator remains useful for understanding how content is distributed across multiple services . Many hosting providers have added a simple "Submit to Spotify" button to their dashboard to streamline this process.
When you register your podcast on Spotify with an external RSS feed, the general process is as follows: you paste the RSS URL into Spotify for Podcasters, verify ownership of the show using a code sent to the email address associated with the feed , and fill in some basic information such as country, language, and category. If everything is correct and you comply with the content policies, the podcast will appear on the platform within hours or days.
Reasons why Spotify might reject your podcast
Not everything goes. Spotify has fairly clear rules, and if your content violates them, they can refuse to add the podcast or even remove it after having accepted it. It's essential to know these rules before submitting your show.
One of the most obvious reasons for rejection is that the content poses a legal risk . For example, episodes that support terrorist organizations, instructions for committing crimes, extreme hate speech, or material that incites violence. This type of content can not only cause your podcast to be rejected, but it can also put the account you used to upload it at risk.
Another very common reason is related to music copyright . If you include unlicensed commercial songs, use copyrighted material, or rely on music you can't prove you have the right to use, Spotify will very likely remove your program. Sometimes it might even be accepted initially and then removed later once the problem is detected.
In addition, you must respect the platform's content guidelines , which clearly prohibit hate speech, harassment, uncontrolled sexually explicit content, illegal material, or fraud (including attempts to manipulate metrics or monetization). Violating these rules may lead to the removal of your podcast or the closure of your account.
Therefore, the general recommendation is clear: use only music you've created yourself, that's in the public domain, or that's properly licensed , and make sure your content complies with Spotify's policies. Violating any of them not only jeopardizes your presence on the platform but also your relationships with potential sponsors and listeners.
Using music in podcasts: what you can and can't do
The question of whether or not you can include music in a podcast that will be published on Spotify is one of the most common, and the answer is more complex than it seems. Legally, music is protected by copyright and cannot be used freely simply because "the podcast is non-profit."
If you want to use commercial songs, you need specific licenses from the rights holders (record labels, music publishers, collecting societies, etc.) or use services that sell podcasting licenses, such as stock music libraries. Otherwise, you risk having your content removed and, in serious cases, facing legal action.
There are safer alternatives: you can work with royalty-free music or with royalty-free licenses designed for podcasts, as long as you respect the terms set by the provider (for example, citing the author, paying a monthly fee, or limiting use to certain projects).
The safest option remains creating your own music or commissioning a composer who grants you the usage rights. This way, you'll have complete freedom to use those snippets on Spotify or other platforms without fear that a future license change will leave you without content.
Even if your project is entirely amateur, intellectual property laws still apply. It's not enough to claim that the podcast "is just for friends" or that "I don't make any money from it." If you want to avoid problems, it's best to be conservative with your music and opt for materials for which you can provide proof of use.
Common mistakes and typical questions when publishing on Spotify
When starting out with podcasts, it's normal to make some mistakes that can delay or complicate publishing on Spotify. One very common mistake is not having your email address properly configured in your RSS feed . If, when claiming ownership of your podcast, the verification code arrives at an address other than yours (for example, your hosting provider's address), you'll run into problems.
It's also common to mistakenly believe that Spotify is both a hosting service and a directory in all cases. In reality, the platform reads content from your hosting provider, except when you use its own content creation system. This means you can't upload individual MP3s directly to Spotify if you're using a different hosting service; you always have to upload them through the RSS feed.
Another mistake is submitting the same podcast multiple times through different providers or forms, which can lead to duplicates of the program within Spotify . If this happens to you, it's best to contact official support explaining the situation and requesting that they remove the version you no longer want.
In the case of services with free plans like iVoox, there are some limitations to keep in mind: for example, only the latest episodes are shown in the RSS feed , while older ones are excluded. This means that on Spotify, only a portion of your archive will appear, unless you upgrade to a paid plan without these restrictions.
Finally, another common misconception is that having a non-profit podcast allows you to use commercial songs without any issues. It doesn't matter if the project is small or large, monetized or not : copyright law applies equally to everyone, and Spotify enforces these rules quite strictly.
How to leverage Spotify's statistics and metrics
Once your podcast is up and running on Spotify, the key to growing it lies in understanding the statistics . The Spotify for Podcasters dashboard offers a fairly comprehensive view of the show's performance and that of each individual episode.
On the main dashboard, you'll see data such as the total number of plays, unique listeners, and followers . This gives you a quick overview of your audience size and how it evolves over time, especially when comparing periods before and after making changes to your content or promotion.
If you delve a little deeper, you'll find metrics like starts and complete plays . The former indicates how many times an episode is started, while the latter reflects how many times it's listened to almost the end. A significant difference between the two can indicate that the episode isn't engaging or is too long.
Another important metric is average listening duration , which shows you how long, on average, listeners stay connected to the episode. If you notice that many are leaving after just a few minutes, you might need to review the introduction or the content structure to make it more concise.
The demographic data is also invaluable: you'll be able to see information such as age range, gender, and geographic location of your listeners. This information allows you to adapt topics, cultural references, publication times, and even language to better suit the type of audience that's actually listening.
Reviewing these statistics regularly and making decisions based on them is one of the most effective shortcuts to improving your podcast's performance on Spotify . It's not just about publishing for the sake of publishing, but about continuously learning from the audience's actual response.
Ultimately, Spotify's podcast feature combines the ability to discover new shows, easily follow your favorites, listen offline, and, if you're interested in content creation, create, distribute, and analyze your own podcast without getting bogged down in the technical details. Making the most of these tools allows you to enjoy podcasts more as a listener and, as a creator, build a solid and professional presence on one of the world's largest audio platforms.
