Spotify partners with Patreon to host Subscriber-Only podcasts

Spotify has unveiled a global partnership with Patreon, allowing creators to release subscriber-only podcasts on the streaming platform. This integration will enable Patreon subscribers to access exclusive podcast content on Spotify, in addition to regular episodes. To facilitate this, Patreon creators must sync their accounts with Spotify, after which their exclusive content will be available on a dedicated page within the Spotify show profile. Creators can also choose to promote their content with banners on their free episodes page to boost subscription numbers.

The Patreon integration is facilitated by Spotify's Open Access technology. This tool enables podcasts with subscription content from other platforms to be included on Spotify. Open Access also supports other platforms such as Supporting Cast and Supercast. Spotify has provided a similar service through Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor), offering paid podcast subscriptions for over two years.

Subscriber-only podcasts on Spotify are identifiable by a lock icon and a "paid" tag, indicating their exclusivity. Users are directed to the creator's Patreon page for subscription details when they tap the lock icon. Notably, Spotify does not take a percentage from subscriptions generated via Open Access. This arrangement allows creators to retain full control over their content, audience, and revenue, while expanding their reach through Spotify. The integration of Patreon with Spotify incurs no additional costs for creators and can be used for both free and paid episodes.