Spotify Launches Paid Podcast Memberships in 34 Markets, Letting Creators Keep 90% of Revenue

Spotify has begun rolling out paid podcast Memberships in 34 markets, including the United States, giving eligible creators a way to charge fans a monthly fee for exclusive content and perks while keeping 90% of the revenue, the company announced on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in a post on its newsroom.

The feature was first previewed at Spotify's Investor Day in May. According to Spotify's creator support page, the Podcast Subscriptions product became Memberships as of Oct. 20, and creators who previously used Podcast Subscriptions keep their eligibility.

What creators can offer

Spotify said creators decide what their Membership includes. Options listed by the company are exclusive audio or video, bonus episodes, fewer ads, early access and access to a show's archive, or any combination of those. Creators can package benefits across multiple tiers and price points, and the support page says a show can set up as many as three tiers.

Spotify said Free and Premium users in supported markets can find a show's Membership offers on its Spotify show page, join through a checkout process and listen to member content inside the app. TechCrunch reported that the company told it Memberships will be purchased on the web rather than through in-app purchases.

The company also described member badges for comments and welcome clips that creators can use to greet new members. TechCrunch reported that Spotify said those two features are coming soon.

Revenue share and eligibility

Creators keep 90% of Membership revenue, according to Spotify. The company said Memberships sit alongside advertising, sponsorships and the Spotify Partner Program as ways for podcasters to earn money on the platform, and that creators get targeted promotions, free trials, sign-up analytics and exportable member data, including contact information from fans who choose to share it.

To qualify, a show must be hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone and have at least three published episodes, at least 100 listeners or viewers and at least 100 consumption hours on Spotify in the previous 30 days, according to the company. The support page says creators set up payouts through a Stripe account.

Shows launching first

Spotify named The Adam Friedland Show, Making Sense with Sam Harris, The Shawn Ryan Show, The Sculpt Society and Two Hot Takes among the first shows offering Memberships. YMH Studios is bringing Memberships to 12 shows across its network, the company said.

The initial rollout covers Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

TechCrunch described the launch as part of Spotify's effort to make its platform more attractive to podcast creators as it pushes further into video podcasts and competes with YouTube.

Memberships in Spotify's third-quarter report

Spotify listed the Memberships launch among its third-quarter highlights in its earnings announcement on Thursday, Oct. 22. The company reported 306 million Premium subscribers, up 9% from a year earlier, and 788 million monthly active users, up 11%. Total revenue rose 16% to 5.0 billion euros, and operating income reached 672 million euros, according to the report.

In the same report, Spotify said it is bringing the Spotify Partner Program, which pays eligible creators, to more than 35 new markets this fall, including Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.

• 90%: Share of Membership revenue that creators keep, according to Spotify.
• 34: Markets in the initial rollout.
• 3 tiers: Maximum number of Membership tiers per show, per Spotify's support page.
• 12 shows: YMH Studios programs adding Memberships at launch.