Spotify Allows Video Podcast Monetization Without Hosting Switch | New API Explained
Spotify is making a decisive move to accelerate its video podcast ambitions — and this time, it’s tearing down one of the biggest barriers creators have long complained about: being forced to host exclusively on Spotify to monetize video.
In a significant shift announced today, Spotify revealed that it will soon roll out a new distribution API that allows podcasters to publish and monetize full-length video episodes on Spotify while continuing to host their shows elsewhere. The move is widely seen as a strategic effort to scale Spotify’s video catalog rapidly, while positioning the company as a more creator-friendly platform in an increasingly competitive podcasting ecosystem.
The API will integrate directly with selected podcast hosting partners, enabling seamless video publishing and monetization — without creators needing to re-upload content, migrate hosting services, or surrender control over their existing ad and sponsorship arrangements.
Spotify’s announcement signals a broader philosophical shift away from rigid platform lock-ins and toward interoperability, a long-standing demand from publishers and independent creators alike.
For years, podcasters interested in Spotify’s monetization tools faced an uncomfortable trade-off:
Host directly on Spotify
Or sacrifice access to premium video monetization features
That friction may soon be history.
With the new API, Spotify is positioning itself as a distribution and monetization layer, not a gatekeeper — a move that could reshape how video podcasts scale globally.
Hosting Partners on Board: Who’s Participating?
At launch, Spotify has confirmed integrations with five major podcast hosting companies, representing a substantial share of the professional podcasting market:
Acast
Audioboom
Libsyn
Omny Studio (by Triton Digital)
Podigee
Collectively, these platforms support over 250,000 podcasts worldwide. While Spotify has not disclosed how many of those shows currently produce video episodes, the sheer scale of these networks suggests a large pipeline of potential video content.
Industry analysts say this move could dramatically increase the volume of video podcasts available on Spotify within months, strengthening its position against rivals like YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.
Creator Control Remains Intact
A key theme running through Spotify’s announcement — and the reactions from its partners — is creator autonomy.
Libsyn CEO Brendan Monaghan emphasized that creators will gain reach and revenue opportunities without changing how they work.
“This partnership gives creators more flexibility, more distribution, and more ways to grow — without disrupting their existing workflows,” Monaghan said.
Similarly, Acast CEO Greg Glenday framed the integration as a milestone moment for open podcasting.
“Creators should be able to scale and earn on every platform without compromising ownership or control,” Glenday noted. “This update brings that philosophy to video.”
Importantly, creators will continue to:
Host episodes on their preferred platforms
Manage sponsorships independently
Retain ownership of their RSS feeds and content presentation
Spotify’s role becomes additive rather than restrictive.
How Monetization Will Work Under the New API
Spotify says the upcoming API will unlock multiple revenue streams for eligible creators whose hosting providers integrate with the system.
Revenue Options for Video Podcasters on Spotify
Creators will be able to earn through:
Premium video revenue for Spotify Partner Program participants
Ad-free video viewing for Spotify Premium subscribers
Advertising revenue from listeners on Spotify’s free tier
Dynamic ad monetization on and off the Spotify platform
Notably, Spotify Premium users will be able to watch uninterrupted video episodes, while free users may see ads — creating a tiered experience similar to Spotify’s music offering.
Crucially, creators do not have to give up existing sponsorship deals to participate.
Audioboom Calls the Move a “Revenue Multiplier”
Audioboom CEO Stuart Last described the integration as a natural extension of the company’s video-first strategy.
“This allows us to help creators grow their audiences and unlock new revenue streams simultaneously,” Last said.
Audioboom, which operates one of the world’s largest video podcast networks, has been increasingly vocal about the need for platform-agnostic monetization tools — a gap Spotify is now actively trying to fill.
Spotify Expands Its Partner Program Eligibility
Alongside the API announcement, Spotify revealed a major update to its Spotify Partner Program, aimed at making monetization accessible to a wider range of podcasters — including smaller and emerging shows.
New, Lower Entry Thresholds
Spotify has significantly reduced the requirements for joining the program:
Requirement
Previous
New
Engaged audience (30 days)
2,000
1,000
Hours consumed (30 days)
10,000
2,000
Minimum published episodes
12
3
The lowered thresholds suggest Spotify is aggressively courting mid-tier and rising creators, rather than focusing exclusively on top-charting podcasts.
What the Spotify Partner Program Offers Creators
Launched in November 2024, the Spotify Partner Program allows podcasters to earn revenue through a hybrid model:
Subscription-based video streams (ad-free for Premium users)
Revenue sharing from dynamic ads, both on Spotify and external platforms
Performance-based payouts, tied to engagement rather than downloads alone
Spotify reports that creators enrolled in the program are seeing meaningful income growth, driven by higher engagement and improved ad performance.
Engagement Data Signals Long-Term Retention Benefits
Spotify also shared new listener engagement data that underscores why it’s doubling down on video.
According to the company:
Loyal listeners stream nearly 20 times more episodes than casual listeners
Engaged fans are 2.5 times more likely to stay with a show after six months
These metrics help explain Spotify’s urgency to expand its video catalog — video podcasts tend to deepen audience loyalty and increase lifetime value.
New Sponsorship Editing Tools Arrive This Spring
Spotify isn’t stopping at distribution and eligibility changes. The company also announced a new suite of creator sponsorship tools, designed to solve one of video podcasting’s biggest pain points: outdated ads locked into old episodes.
What’s Coming in April
Beginning in April, creators enrolled in the Partner Program will be able to:
Remove or replace host-read sponsorships in video episodes
Insert new ad slots into existing content
Schedule sponsorship changes in advance
Refresh older episodes without re-editing entire videos
Access new delivery and performance metrics for sponsors
These tools are designed to give podcasters long-term monetization flexibility, especially for evergreen content.
The Bigger Picture: Spotify vs. the Video Podcast Giants
Spotify’s latest move places it squarely in the middle of an escalating audio-video platform battle.
YouTube dominates video discovery and ad monetization
Apple Podcasts continues to focus on premium subscriptions
Amazon is integrating podcasts into its Prime ecosystem
Spotify’s answer appears to be openness plus monetization, betting that removing friction will attract creators at scale.
By allowing podcasters to stay on their preferred hosts while tapping into Spotify’s massive user base, the company is signaling that growth now matters more than exclusivity.
What This Means for Podcasters and Publishers
For creators, the implications are clear:
Key Takeaways for Podcasters
No need to switch hosting providers to monetize video on Spotify
Easier entry into the Spotify Partner Program
More control over sponsorships and ad placement
Improved long-term revenue potential from evergreen episodes
Access to Spotify’s global audience without platform lock-in
For publishers managing large networks, the update offers scalability without operational disruption — a rare combination in today’s fragmented media landscape.
Final Thoughts: A Strategic Reset for Spotify
Spotify’s decision to open its video monetization ecosystem to external hosts marks a strategic reset in how the company views creators.
Rather than forcing podcasters inside a walled garden, Spotify is betting that flexibility, scale, and creator trust will ultimately win the video podcast war.
If adoption is strong — and early partner reactions suggest it will be — this move could redefine how video podcasts are distributed and monetized across platforms in 2026 and beyond.
