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Spotify is the top choice worldwide for listening to podcasts due to it’s ease-of-use, expansive library of content and unparalleled global presence. According to Business of Apps, Spotify has 220 million subscribers in 2023, a 17% increase in year-on-year growth since 2015. With so many people everywhere using the app daily to listen to podcasts, creators everywhere understand how paramount it is to get your podcast uploaded to Spotify.
Side-note, if you’re working on a podcast and are gathering feedback with producers, editors, and other team members, check us out! With Notetracks, you can gather feedback and collaborate on your podcasts all in one place, making it easier than ever to get your podcast ready for release. Notetracks’ commenting and marker features, editing tools, and intuitive interface make working on audio alongside others a breeze. With one dedicated space and no need to switch between apps, Notetracks can have an impact on podcast quality, production, overall revisions, and release to distributors, like Spotify.
Moving back to uploading to Spotify, it’s so important to take advantage of its distribution effectiveness. By fostering a dynamic podcasting community and continually enhancing its features, Spotify has redefined how audiences engage with podcasts, solidifying its position as the foremost choice for podcast listening on a global scale.
If you’re ready to reach a wider audience, enhance your podcast’s credibility, and grow unlike ever before, then keep reading this guide on how you can upload your podcast to Spotify.
To begin uploading your podcast to Spotify, you’ll need to sign up for a Spotify for Podcasters account here. Once you’ve clicked the link, you’ll be greeted by two options: are you starting a brand new podcast that’s never been released, or are you uploading a podcast that’s already previously been distributed?
Select the option that applies to you. If you already have a podcast, Spotify will ask you what platform you host it on. For both options, you’ll be greeted with the log-in page for Spotify. Once you’ve logged in, accept the terms of service.
The following steps will be broken up into whether your podcast is brand new or if it’s on another hosting platform.
After you’ve accepted the terms and conditions, you’ll be greeted by the screen below with a number of steps to follow, including creating your first episode, setting up your podcast, deciding on monetization options, and tracking your analytics post-release.
Press the ‘Let’s do it’ button and upload your podcast, whether it’s audio-only or a video podcast. Ensure that your podcast is in a supported format of .mp3, .mp4, .wav, .mov, or .mpg.
Next, you’ll add your podcast details, including the name of your podcast, the episode description, publish date, and whether or not your podcast contains explicit content.
To add your cover photo, season number, episode number, and what type of episode you’re uploading (full, trailer, or bonus), you’ll need to expand the additional details option at the bottom of the page.
Next, you have the option of adding polls or Q&As to your podcast episode. This allows your audience to interact with your content as they’re listening, thus garnering you more engagement. Adding interactions is optional and not required to upload to Spotify for Podcasters.
You’ll now be able to review the podcast details you inserted and preview your episode prior to publishing. Once you press publish, your new podcast is ready to be listened to across Spotify!
If your podcast is currently being hosted by another platform, you’ll need to enter the link to your podcast’s RSS feed. You can access which hosting platform Spotify for Podcasters supports here. Further, ensure that the content of the podcast you’re submitting meets Spotify’s guidelines, which you can find here.
Once you’ve filled in the link, Spotify will send you a code to the email address associated with your podcast. Copy the 8-digit code from that email and paste it into the submit form.
Next, add podcast info like the category, language, and country. Review the details to make sure they’re all correct, and submit. Your podcast is now available to listen to on Spotify.
There are a variety of tools and resources you’ll have access to after your podcast is uploaded to Spotify for Podcasters, including monetization options, analytics, fan engagement, and more.
Spotify for Podcasters has tons of options for monetizing your podcast, making it easier than ever to start earning. One of the simplest, hands-off ways to do this is by setting up Listener Support. Listener Support allows you to add a button to your profile, where your listeners can pledge a monthly amount to support your podcast, even if they don’t have a Spotify account.
You can also monetize utilizing Spotify’s Ambassador Ad program. Spotify will pay podcast creators to talk about Spotify for Podcasters on their show – essentially spreading the word through you. There are a few requirements, such as having at least 100 listeners and being located in the US – but overall, the program is easy to apply for.
For avid listeners and fans of a creator, podcasters are able to leverage their audience’s engagement with monthly Podcast Subscriptions. With Podcast Subscriptions, you can charge your audience for your show's content, both on Spotify and on other listening platforms. This is often done for ad-free versions of podcasts, where you’re still able to make a bit of profit of your show, even without any ad inserts. You can individually select which episodes you would like to charge for and begin earning from your subscribers.
With these options and the various other monetization tools Spotify has, you will need to set up your Spotify Payouts account and connect it with Stripe, Spotify’s third-party payment processor.
Spotify for Podcasters allows podcasters to view episode and account analytics within the app. Looking at analytics after an episode is published is crucial for podcasters because it provides valuable insights into how your content is performing, who your audience is, and how you can improve your podcast in the future.
You have a few different analytics to sort with, including overall plays data and data for all or individual episodes. You can also see audience data, such as geographical location, apps and devices used, gender, and age.
Spotify for Podcasters updates their analytics once, daily. This means the analytics you see today would be the data recorded from yesterday, for example.
Find out more about how Spotify for Podcasters measures and uses analytics here.
As mentioned previously, Spotify for Podcasters has a variety of fan engagement and interactive tools you can incorporate into your podcast episode. Giving your listeners a platform to participate in your podcast fosters a sense of ownership and inclusion; when they know their questions or opinions might be featured, they're more likely to keep tuning in and stay engaged.
Q&A allows you to pose a question to your fans and add it to your episode. Your listeners reply with their answers directly in the Spotify mobile app to have their voices heard. Their responses are private by default, but you can publish your favourite ones for the rest of your audience to see via the Spotify for Podcasters mobile app.
Polls let your audience share their opinion on a question or prompt by selecting a pre-written answer. You can set the dates your poll can appear and disappear from your episode, write up to seven options to choose from, and allow participants to select multiple poll options if selected. Polls are an easy way to receive anonymous feedback from your audience without them having to go out of their way to ask a question or leave a comment.
Voice messages can be sent directly to creators from listeners to share feedback and ask questions. With notes able to be up to a minute long, creators have the choice to insert the note into their next episode. As someone who listens to podcasts myself, I can say personally that if my favourite creator included my voice in their episode, I’d be over the moon.
While Spotify for Podcasters is an incredibly powerful and robust platform in itself, it may not have all the options, features, or tools you’re looking for. Maybe you’re just not clicking with the interface, or want more professional options – regardless of the reason, we have a few alternatives you can compare to.
With extensive distribution to every podcast host you can think of, along with an included website for your show, embedded player, and episode scheduling, Ausha is an incredibly comprehensive podcasting platform. Moreover, Ausha has the ability to allow up to 8 people to work on an account at once, compared to Spotify for Podcasters’ 5. With more team members, producers, and guests added to your episode, your podcast can flourish in creative collaboration. Additionally, Ausha smart-links to link to every directory, audio to video with transcripts and colour schemes.
Ausha does have monthly subscriptions ranging from $13 to $69 with an annual plan, but their middle-tier option, Boost, does provide exceptional value for the best price. $35/month may be out of some podcaster’s price range – however, they do offer a 14-day free trial so prospective customers can try before they buy.
Check out Ausha today.
Known as the go-to platform for a large majority of podcasters, Buzzsprout has been a reliable, extensive podcast host for years. The sheer amount of features Buzzsprout has puts it above and beyond the vast amount of podcasting platforms available – carrying tools like dynamic insertion, an added website for your show, and unlimited team members, to name a few. Additionally, with listeners more often bouncing from section to section in an episode, Buzzsprout’s ability to easily add chapters is an incredibly attractive feature to take advantage of.
While Buzzsprout does have a 6-hour limit on the episodes you can upload, and a 250GB bandwidth compared to Spotify for Podcasters’ unlimited allowance, the platform’s solid tools, countless features, and relatively affordable monthly price makes it a great alternative for podcasters who may be looking for a deeper platform. With sign-up, users receive a 90-day free trial and a $20 Amazon gift card. Talk about a nice welcome bonus!
Buzzsprout is available in free and paid versions.
RedCircle is an excellent alternative to Spotify for Podcasters if you’re someone who has multiple podcast series. With unlimited episodes, bandwidth, and hours allotted per month, creators have free reign to host several podcasts on RedCircle without the worry of running out of space. RedCircle also has excellent analytics – whereas most hosts have simplified data, RedCircle shows you exactly where your listeners are coming from, platform-wise. You can also add URL prefixes and pixel tracking for integrations into 3rd party analytics for even more tailored podcast data.
RedCircle has a comprehensive growth plan for only $15/month. Including a cross-promotions marketplace, unlimited dynamic insertion, instant payouts, ad-free podcast webpages, and a video generator for episodes, the plan is incredibly robust and proven to help launch your show above and beyond.
Find out more about RedCircle today.
Uploading your podcast to Spotify isn't just an option – it's a strategic move that can amplify your podcast's impact in the podcasting realm. The platform's user-friendly interface, global audience, and innovative features make it a welcome hub for quick, easy podcast distribution. Embracing Spotify as a podcasting platform empowers you to tap into a community of passionate listeners actively seeking new content, and with interactive features like polls and Q&As, you’ll be able to connect with them more than ever before.
Uploading your podcast to Spotify isn’t hard, and with our easy-to-follow guide, you now have a clear view of how to get your podcast out there for listeners across the world.
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Need a space to work on your podcasts? With Notetracks, you can collaborate, edit, and annotate your podcast all in one place, making it easier than ever to get your podcast to the highest caliber. A comprehensive web-app audio workspace, Notetracks’ commenting and marker features, editing tools, and intuitive interface make working on audio alongside others a breeze. With one dedicated space and no need to switch between apps, Notetracks can have an impact on podcast quality, planning, overall pacing, and release to distributors, like Spotify. Find out more and try Notetracks for free today.
Do you use Spotify for Podcasters to distribute your show? Or do you prefer a different platform, maybe even one of the alternatives we mentioned? Sound off in the comments!
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