Spotify has kicked off 2026 with major updates to its Partner Program, unlocking new monetization tools for creators worldwide. Designed to support podcasters and video storytellers, these changes allow more creators to earn revenue without switching hosting platforms.
Expanded Access to the Spotify Partner Program
Creators can now apply to the program with just 1,000 listeners, 2,000 listening hours, and three published episodes in the past 30 days. This opens doors for smaller but growing shows to access Premium video revenue and ad income.
Smarter Sponsorship Tools
Starting in April, creators will gain flexible sponsorship editing features — including the ability to remove, replace or schedule sponsor messages within video episodes. New metrics will also help podcasters prove ROI to sponsors.
Video Monetization from Any Platform
Spotify is introducing a Distribution API that lets creators publish and monetize video directly from platforms like Acast, Libsyn, Omny and more — no reuploading required. This gives creators full access to Spotify’s video audience and ad tools without needing to migrate hosting.
These changes signal Spotify’s push to dominate the podcasting space by offering unmatched flexibility, particularly for video-first creators. Whether in New York, Los Angeles, Austin or beyond, podcasters now have more paths to earn from both video and audio content.
More about monetization:
Staff Report
Staff Report
