

The regular version will still be there for people to listen to for free, but for anyone that can't stand listening to ads, they now have an option to get rid of them.

SOURCES SPOTIFY PODCASTS SUBSCRIPTIONSSTEELE PLUS
In the case of NPR's Planet Money, for example, there will be a Planet Money Plus version of the show that gets rid of those sponsor sections for a monthly fee. Spotify has said it was going to test paid subscriptions for podcasters to allow them to offer exclusive content to subscribers, officially announcing that during its February Stream On event. While that's important for creators to make money, it can also break up the listening experience. Many podcasts have sections where they read various ads for companies sponsoring their content. Podcasters will also likely use the subscription model to offer sponsor-free versions of their shows. Spotify says that the 12 creators it's selected will use the subscription model to offer "subscriber-only bonus content in their existing podcast feeds." While some creators may eventually decide to block entire shows behind a subscription, the most common model will likely see existing shows remaining free while deleted scenes, extra commentary, or other miscellaneous content requires a subscription. Introducing the ability to lock podcasts behind a paywall might sound scary on paper, but this doesn't mean every single podcast on Spotify will instantly require a monthly fee to listen to. When tapping on that icon, users will see a pop-up message directing them to the Anchor page, where they can subscribe and gain access to it. Paid podcasts will appear throughout Spotify just like regular episodes do, but instead of showing a play button next to them, there will be a lock icon. With Podcast Subscriptions, you can charge your audience for your shows content - both on Spotify and on other listening platforms. Rather than subscribing directly through the Spotify app, users will be asked to subscribe via the Anchor website (likely in an attempt to skirt past app store fees from Apple and Google). Podcasters can easily choose certain shows/episodes to be locked behind a subscription, and as of right now, Spotify has three price tiers they can choose from: $2.99, $4.99, or $7.99/month. It's initially exclusive to users in the United States and is being tested with a select group of 12 creators, but Spotify will roll it out to more countries and additional podcasters in the coming months. Related: How Facebook Podcasts Work & What To ExpectĪs of April 27, Spotify has confirmed that it's launching a paid subscription platform for its podcast creators.
