Spotify revises its public podcast play count policy after creator backlash. Here’s what’s changing and why it matters to podcasters.
Matilda
Spotify Podcast Play Counts Update Sparks Debate Spotify Podcast Play Counts: What’s Changing and Why Creators Are Concerned Are podcast play counts public on Spotify? That’s the question creators and fans have been asking ever since Spotify announced its controversial plan to display public play counts on all podcasts. The streaming giant said the move aimed to help fans discover new shows. But for many podcasters, especially those running niche or independent shows, this change threatened the very essence of podcasting — a space that has historically prioritized content over clout. Image Credits:hocus-focus / Getty Images After swift and vocal backlash from creators, Spotify has adjusted course. As of now, only podcasts with at least 50,000 plays will show public play counts, and even then, these numbers will appear in rounded milestones — think 100,000 or 1 million , rather than exact figures. This compromise attempts to balance transparency with fairness, while also encouraging advertiser confidence and improved podcas…
