Hosting a podcast on a major podcast platform is crucial for growing your audience base.
Spotify is one of the world’s most popular audio streaming platforms, with millions of listeners worldwide, and it can help you set yourself up for success as a podcaster.
If you plan to launch a new podcast or have started recording and posting episodes already, getting your podcast on Spotify will grow your audience exponentially.
Uploading a podcast on audio streaming platforms such as Spotify is very different from uploading videos on platforms like YouTube. There are several requirements you need to meet and steps you must take before you can begin.
In this article, we delve into the intricacies of how to host podcasts on Spotify to guide you through the crucial ins and outs of the process. Let’s jump into it.
Why Use Spotify to Host a Podcast?
If you want to know why you must choose Spotify for podcasting, here are the top reasons to do so:
Wide Popularity
Spotify started as a music streaming app in 2006. But in 2019, it made powerful updates to its platform to appeal to podcasters and their millions of listeners.
In the same year that it opened its doors to podcasts, it took the podcasting market by storm. According to a 2019 report by Edison Research, 43% of monthly podcast listeners listened to podcast episodes on Spotify.
Today, Spotify has more than 389 million listeners across 187 markets globally. It is the second most popular podcast platform in the world and is growing rapidly. Its podcast audience has almost doubled since 2019.
Accessibility
Spotify allows users to stream or download podcast shows on Android and iOS devices, desktop computers, gaming consoles, smart speakers, TVs, cars, and a range of other devices.
The platform is very accessible and convenient to use—one of the biggest reasons for its success.
Insights and Analytics
Spotify generates an accurate snapshot of your podcast listener base. If you are struggling to reach your target audience, you can use these metrics to develop a strategic marketing plan to attract more listeners.
You can also leverage these analytics to bring in advertisers to earn money via sponsorships.
- Demographic Data: Spotify collects demographic information and tracks listeners’ music streaming and podcast listening habits to help you keep an eye on your audience as it grows. On the platform, you will see your listeners’ age, gender, and other crucial information to help you engage with your listeners.
- Audience Feedback: Spotify measures listener feedback through streams and stars. Beyond this rating system, you can also access data on the number of people who listened to your podcast episodes. Spotify breaks the data down into how many listeners you retained for more than a minute, helping you understand who stuck around for the whole thing.
- Analytics: Spotify updates analytics data daily. It is very easy to see how your listeners respond to your new episodes and other uploads. You can build on this information and craft more content that you know will make your listeners happy. The platform also allows you to download your audience data directly as a CSV file. This enables efficient internal tracking and data sharing.
Audience Growth Tools
Spotify helps listeners find new content on the platform. So no matter how many listeners you have, your podcast, too, can benefit and grow.
Listing your podcast on Spotify gives you access to various benefits such as daily playlists, podcast directories, new episode announcements, and other helpful audience-growing features such as referral lists and listening charts.
Bonus Tools
Spotify also offers bonus features and tools to help podcasters succeed. It regularly provides helpful tips and software recommendations to help improve workflows.
If you are new to the platform and are in doubt about how to record, edit, or host your podcast, this useful content will help you get started on the right foot.
So as you can see, if you want to take your podcast to the next level and become even more popular and successful as a podcaster, Spotify is what you need.
But while we are on the topic of hosting on Spotify, let us tell you that the platform does not actually host podcasts. So you cannot upload your podcast show directly on it.
To submit your podcast to Spotify, you need to host it with one of the app’s aggregator partners. The aggregator will then help you distribute your podcast to Spotify and other audio streaming platforms.
The aggregator will essentially work as a basecamp for your podcast. It will provide you with all the tools you need to record, edit, save, and submit your podcast to Spotify.
Once you create a podcast, you can upload your first episode and publish it on the hosting platform. The platform will then automatically upload your future episodes on Spotify and other streaming software.
There are many aggregator partners to choose from. Your choice will depend on your specific needs and comfort level.
Spotify Podcast Requirements
Before you begin hosting your podcast with Spotify, you need to ensure that it meets Spotify’s requirements.
Double-check your podcast’s settings using the checklist below:
- Your audio should be in ISO/IEC 11172-3 MPEG-1 Part 3 (MP3) format, and bitrates must be between 96 and 320 kbps.
- The cover art should have a 1:1 ratio. It should be in JPEG, PNG, or TIFF formats at the highest possible resolution.
- The podcast’s RSS feed must have a cover art image, title, and relevant details for at least one podcast episode.
- To prevent ‘…’ truncation within the app, episode titles and other consumer-facing fields must not exceed 20 characters.
- Special characters in podcast titles and descriptions should be coded in HTML.
- An episode’s length cannot exceed 200 MB. (200MB is around 83 minutes at 320 kbps or more than 200 minutes at 128 kbps.)
Creating a Spotify Account
If your podcast settings conform to Spotify’s requirements, visit the Spotify For Podcasters page. Click on the Get Started button to log into your Spotify account.
If you do not have an account, you need to create one before proceeding with the podcast submission process.
To create a Spotify account, submit your email address and date of birth and create a profile name and password.
Note that you automatically agree to Spotify’s terms and conditions when you sign up. You will find the link to the Terms and Conditions of Use at the bottom of the sign-up page. Read through the fine print and click on the green Sign Up button.
Once you’ve finished signing up, log in to your account and take the following steps to upload your podcast.
How to Upload a Podcast on Spotify
Follow the steps below to upload your podcast on Spotify:
Step 1: Add Your Podcast’s RSS Feed Link
To submit your podcast to Spotify, you need your RSS feed link. Go to your podcast hosting service and copy it. Add the link to Spotify and click on the “Next” button.
If you add an incorrect link, you will receive an error message prompting you to enter the correct one.
Step 2: Verify That You Are the Podcast’s Owner
Next, Spotify will confirm if you own the podcast you wish to submit. The platform will send an eight-digit code to the email address linked with your RSS feed. This email address is likely the one you used to sign up for the hosting service.
Check the verification email in your inbox and enter the code on Spotify within an hour. If you miss the time window, you can send another code to your email.
Once you verify that you are the owner of the podcast, click Next.
Step 3: Enter Your Podcast Details
Enter a few details about your podcast, such as the country in which it is based, primary language, primary category, and the name of your podcast hosting service.
Once you choose the podcast’s primary category, you can select three sub-categories. You can also choose two more primary categories and their own sub-categories.
If your podcast covers an extensive range of topics, you can add extra category fields to cover all your bases. This will allow your podcast to appear in as many relevant categories as possible and help Spotify users discover your podcast.
After you complete all the fields, click Next.
Step 4: Review and Submit Your Podcast
Finally, review all the details you submitted. Go over the information carefully, as once you hit Submit, you cannot edit it.
Once you submit your podcast, Spotify’s team will take a few hours to review the information before putting up your listing. Your podcast will show up on the platform soon after.
Related Articles:
➡️ How to Hide a Podcast on Spotify Homepage
➡️ Submitting Your Podbean Podcast to Spotify
Conclusion
Now you know how to host podcasts on Spotify. All you need is a hosting service, your RSS feed, and a Spotify account.
If you found this article helpful, check out more such guides and blog posts on our website and learn more about podcasting. Also, don’t forget to share this guide with your friends, family, and other podcast enthusiasts and spread the love!
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