To start a podcast on Spotify, first decide whether to host it with Spotify for Creators or keep a different podcast host and submit its RSS feed. Then prepare an episode and show artwork, publish or submit the show, and check where it becomes available; appearing on Spotify does not automatically distribute it everywhere.
Spotify for Creators is the simplest route if this is a new show and you want to upload directly. If you already have a host, you can usually keep it: Spotify can list shows from other hosts, while Spotify-native monetisation features have their own eligibility rules.
Choose where to host before you record
“Starting on Spotify” can mean a few different things. You might create and host a new show with Spotify for Creators, submit a show hosted elsewhere to Spotify, or claim a listing that is already there so you can access creator tools. These are separate actions, so decide which one you need before uploading anything.
Hosting determines where your episode files and show information are managed. When you host with Spotify for Creators, Spotify says new shows are published to Spotify automatically. If you host elsewhere, that host generally provides the RSS feed used to submit the show to listening platforms. Spotify’s guide to adding a show to Spotify for Creators explains the new-show and existing-show choices.
| Your situation | Practical route | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| You are launching a first audio show and want fewer setup steps | Host with Spotify for Creators | Spotify is the initial destination; other platforms need separate distribution work. |
| You already publish through another podcast host | Keep that host and submit its RSS feed to Spotify | The host remains the place to upload new episodes and update show information. |
| Your show is already listed on Spotify but you want creator tools | Find and claim the existing show | Claiming a listing is not the same as moving its hosting. |
| You want Spotify-native monetisation features | Check the current feature rules, including hosting requirements | Access depends on the specific programme and eligibility, not simply having a listing. |
| You need a particular workflow for teams, video or multiple shows | Compare hosts against that workflow | A different host may fit better; check its current features and terms directly. |
Spotify for Creators supports new audio and video shows and can also manage shows hosted elsewhere. That does not mean every existing host offers the same publishing controls, or that every video workflow will suit your needs. If you are choosing an outside host, check whether it gives you a usable RSS feed, how it handles file storage and migration, and what its current terms say about plans and limits. Do not choose on the basis of a feature label alone: make sure the workflow fits how you intend to record and publish.
A useful distinction is hosting versus distribution. Hosting is where you upload and manage episodes; distribution is the process of making them available in podcast apps. If Spotify is your only intended listening destination, direct hosting may reduce steps. If you want several platforms, an RSS-based host can give you one place to manage episodes while you submit the feed to each platform.
Prepare the show and first episode
Before opening the upload screen, settle the basics: a show name, a clear description, cover art, and at least one finished episode. You will also need a Spotify account and access to its verification email if Spotify asks you to verify the account. Keep names and descriptions accurate; they help a listener decide what the show covers before pressing play.
Spotify’s help page on recording and editing an episode points creators to external recording and editing tools. You can start simply: record on a phone, tablet or computer in a quiet room, then listen back and remove long pauses, obvious mistakes and distracting noise. For a remote conversation, use a recording workflow that saves separate tracks if you expect to edit each speaker independently. Keep the original recording and project file so you can make a correction without starting again.
Export audio as MP3, M4A or WAV, the formats listed on Spotify’s audio publishing guidance. Spotify also lists video formats such as MOV, MPG and MP4 in its recording and editing guidance, but audio and video upload steps are not interchangeable. Check the current official instructions for the format you plan to publish rather than converting a file at random if an upload fails.
Prepare a short episode description that says what the listener will hear, rather than repeating the show name. Add season or episode numbers if they help organise the series; they are useful metadata, not a substitute for a clear title. If you plan a regular release, decide on a realistic cadence before announcing one. A trailer or a second episode ready for later can help you establish the format, but that is editorial advice, not a Spotify requirement.
Make rights checks part of preparation. Spotify says you must not upload audio that belongs to someone else in breach of its Terms of Service. Check that you have permission for music, clips, guest voices, artwork and any other material you use. A track being easy to find online does not mean you have the right to include it in a podcast. If you are also building a YouTube music channel, the practical distinction between owned and copyrighted music is covered in this guide to growing a lofi stream without copyrighted music; the same habit of checking the source and permission matters when preparing podcast audio.
Upload and publish on Spotify
For a brand-new show, go to Spotify for Creators and sign in. Select your avatar and choose Add a new show, then choose Create a new show. If the menu is not visible in the mobile app, open its menu first. Use Find an existing show instead if you are claiming or submitting a show that already exists elsewhere.
Once the show is created, upload an episode from the web with New episode → Select a file. In the mobile app, use Podcast → + → Select a file. Add the episode title and description, complete the content checks, and fill in season or episode numbers if you use them. Select or confirm the artwork and publication date, then review the details before publishing. Spotify may prompt you to verify the account; use an email address you can access and complete that step before assuming the episode is ready.
For a first upload, check the result as a listener as well as in the creator dashboard. Play the beginning and a section near the end, confirm that the title and artwork belong to the right show, and inspect the episode description for typos. Keep a copy of the exported file and its final metadata. If a correction is needed later, that record makes it easier to identify what changed.
Publishing a new show hosted by Spotify for Creators makes it available on Spotify according to Spotify’s current process. It does not mean the same upload has been submitted to Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or every other listening app. If you are trying to move a video series to Spotify, treat that as a video-publishing workflow rather than assuming a YouTube upload itself becomes a podcast episode. YouTube creators who need to prepare recorded material for a separate channel can also refer to this guide to recording online classes for YouTube, while keeping the podcast’s own file, rights and platform requirements in view.
Distribute with an RSS feed
An RSS feed is a structured address supplied by a podcast host. It carries show details and episode information, including links to the audio and artwork, so podcast platforms can read updates from the host. When you keep an outside host, the feed is the hand-off point between that host and Spotify. Spotify explains how to find and enable an RSS feed.
If your podcast is hosted elsewhere and is not yet on Spotify, choose the existing-show or submission route in Spotify for Creators and follow the prompt to provide its feed. If the show is already listed, claim the listing rather than submitting a duplicate. Spotify may require account verification as part of the process. Keep the feed address private where your host’s settings allow it: an RSS feed can expose contact information or show details, and platforms use it to ingest the show.
To reach other services, submit the RSS feed to each service that accepts podcast feeds and follow that service’s own verification steps. Spotify’s distribution guidance describes distribution to other platforms. Do not assume one submission covers all services, or that a feed update appears everywhere at once. Each platform can have its own review and refresh process.
If you switch hosts later, plan the move rather than simply cancelling the old account. Your new host should provide a way to redirect the old feed to the new one, and you should follow both hosts’ instructions so existing listings can continue to retrieve episodes. Keep access to the old host until you have checked the feed and listings after the move. The point is continuity: listeners may follow a platform listing that relies on the old feed address even after you have uploaded the same file somewhere new.
Check artwork, verification and availability
Artwork is part of the show’s identity in podcast apps, so use a clear, original image that remains readable when displayed small. Check Spotify’s current artwork requirements before export; specifications can change, and a file accepted by one host may not meet another platform’s rules. Avoid text so small that it disappears in a thumbnail, and make sure any image or logo is yours to use.
If Spotify asks you to verify an email address or account, complete that before treating the submission as finished. For a show hosted elsewhere, claiming the Spotify listing and submitting the RSS feed are different routes. A successful claim gives you access to creator tools for that show; it does not transfer the audio files to Spotify or make the outside host unnecessary.
Availability can vary by platform and territory, and a submitted show may not appear immediately. Check the platform’s official status and help pages if a listing is missing rather than repeatedly creating new submissions. Confirm that the correct show title and feed were used, then allow time for the service to process the information. Do not promise a launch date across several platforms unless you have allowed for their separate review and update cycles.
If you are producing both podcast episodes and a continuous YouTube stream, treat them as separate publishing jobs. A continuous playlist broadcast has its own content and rights considerations; for example, this guide to splitting revenue with a music rights holder on a monetised YouTube livestream discusses a YouTube-specific arrangement, not a podcast distribution rule. A podcast’s host and RSS feed do not create a YouTube livestream, and a live-stream tool should not be mistaken for a podcast host.
Understand monetisation eligibility and limits
A podcast listing on Spotify does not automatically earn money. Spotify offers different monetisation features, and access depends on the feature, the creator’s location and the show’s eligibility under current rules. Do not plan a budget around an assumed payment or treat a published episode as evidence that a programme is available to you.
Spotify’s Partner Program and other Spotify-native features have specific requirements, which can change. Spotify says hosting with Spotify for Creators is required for several of its native monetisation features; that is a hosting condition, not a guarantee of acceptance or earnings. Read Spotify’s current monetisation guidance and check the programme details shown in your account before choosing a host solely for a possible future revenue stream.
There is a trade-off. Direct hosting can keep Spotify publishing and eligible Spotify-native features within one workflow, but you should still assess whether that workflow suits your distribution plans. An independent host can preserve an established process and make the feed central to distribution, but it may not meet the hosting condition for a particular Spotify-native feature. If a feature is important, verify the current official eligibility and location rules first; do not rely on old articles or on a threshold quoted without a date and source.
Other ways of earning from a podcast, such as sponsorships or listener-supported arrangements, have their own terms and practical work. You need to arrange them with the relevant partners and explain any paid promotion appropriately. Spotify’s availability as a listening platform does not itself secure a sponsor, a subscriber, or a particular return. Treat potential revenue as uncertain until you have confirmed that a specific programme or arrangement is open to your show.
Troubleshoot missing or delayed episodes
Start by identifying which part of the chain is failing: the file upload, the Spotify listing, or a different listening platform. In the creator dashboard, confirm that the episode is published rather than still a draft or scheduled for a later date. Check that the file finished uploading and that the selected show is the one you intended. If the show is hosted elsewhere, check the episode in the host’s dashboard first; Spotify reads the show information through the submitted feed.
For an episode missing from Spotify, verify that the correct RSS feed was submitted and that the host has enabled it. Check for a feed error or a missing episode enclosure, which is the link to the audio file. Make sure the episode is not marked private or unpublished in the host, and confirm that its publication date is not in the future. If you changed hosts, check that the redirect and feed address are still active.
For an episode that appears on Spotify but not another platform, troubleshoot that platform’s submission separately. Confirm that the feed was submitted there, that its verification step was completed, and that it is reading the current feed rather than an old one. A service can take time to refresh after a feed update, so avoid making duplicate listings while a normal update is pending. If the platform reports a specific validation error, resolve that at the source host and then follow the platform’s recheck instructions.
When an upload fails, check the file format and whether the file can play on your own device. Re-export a clean copy in a supported audio format if needed, rather than changing several settings at once. Keep the original, note the error message, and try the upload again after confirming the account and show selection. If the problem persists, contact Spotify or the host with the show URL, the affected episode and the exact error; never send a password or a private account code.
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FAQ
Do I need to host my podcast with Spotify to be on Spotify?
No. You can keep a different podcast host and submit its RSS feed to Spotify, or claim a show that is already listed. Spotify hosting is relevant if you want certain Spotify-native monetisation features, so check the current rules for the feature you intend to use.
Is Spotify for Creators enough to distribute to Apple Podcasts and other apps?
It publishes a show hosted there to Spotify, but other services require separate distribution steps. Use the RSS feed and follow each platform’s own submission and verification process. Allow for each service to process the show on its own schedule.
Can I earn money as soon as I publish an episode?
No. A published episode does not automatically qualify for monetisation. Spotify’s programmes have current eligibility rules and may require Spotify hosting; check the official details shown for your location and show before relying on them.
What should I do if my episode is missing?
First check whether it is published in the host’s dashboard and whether the correct show and RSS feed are connected. Then check for a feed or file error and the destination platform’s submission status. If the listing is still absent, use that platform’s support instructions rather than creating a duplicate show.