Spotify has announced that it paid over $100 million to podcast creators worldwide in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first time the music streaming giant has publicly shared such figures.
In a statement on Monday, the Swedish company said the payout demonstrates its deep commitment to the creator economy and reinforces its position as a leading platform for audio and video content. “This figure reflects our deep commitment to the creator economy and underscores Spotify’s position as a leading platform for audio and video creators alike,” Spotify noted.
The company clarified that the payments cover both ad-based revenue and income generated through the Spotify Partner Program, which was launched earlier this year in select markets to provide creators with more monetisation options.
The disclosure comes ahead of Spotify’s scheduled first-quarter earnings release on Tuesday. The platform, which generated €15.7 billion ($17.9 billion) in revenue in 2024, also recorded its first annual net profit of €1.1 billion last year.
Spotify’s focus on non-music content dates back to 2015, and the company has since expanded its podcast investments significantly, including the acquisition of Gimlet Media in 2019.
Meanwhile, the company highlighted its growing contributions to creators globally, following a report last year that Nigerian and South African artists collectively earned $59 million in royalties from Spotify.
As the platform continues to diversify its offerings, industry analysts are keenly watching to see how its investments in the podcast sector will influence future revenue streams.
