On Sept. 26, Spotify announced that it is expanding its existing open-access API.
Through Synced Feeds, Spotify merges free and subscriber-only content all into one page, hides duplicate episodes, and provides creators with the option of customizing how their podcast episodes appear on the feed.
As Mashable describes, creators might have previously had two separate podcast feeds: one for free content, and one for subscriber-only content.
But now, under Synced Feeds, a subscriber-only episode will appear on the same feed as non-subscribers, giving these creators direct advertising and providing users with the option of subscribing to listen to it in full.
What is Spotify API, and how is it related to Spotify Synced Feeds?
In layman’s terms, the Spotify API helps listeners connect their podcast subscriptions from external platforms to Spotify. This means that listeners of a Patreon or Substack podcast, for instance, are able to listen to this content from the Spotify app.
Platforms integrated with Spotify Open Access include Memberful, Patreon, Substack, Supercast, Supporting Cast, and others.
In an email to Passionfruit, Spotify reported that since its Open Access launch with Spotify last year, nearly half of podcasters earning money are using it.
Furthermore, on average, Spotify claimed 15% of these creators’ Spotify listeners who visited their Patreon signed up for a paid membership.
