Spotify has launched its new Memberships feature in Australia, giving podcast creators another way to generate recurring revenue from their audiences without relying entirely on advertising or sponsorships.
Australia is among 34 markets included in the initial rollout, which began on 20 October 2026.
The feature allows eligible podcast creators to offer paying members exclusive audio and video content, bonus episodes, early access, reduced advertising and other benefits. Creators can establish multiple membership tiers with different pricing and perks.
Importantly, Spotify says creators will retain 90% of the revenue generated through Memberships.
Turning podcast listeners into paying supporters
The concept is straightforward. Rather than directing listeners to an external subscription service, creators can promote their Memberships directly from their podcast’s Spotify page.
Both free and Premium Spotify users can discover available memberships, sign up and access exclusive content within the Spotify experience.
For creators, this removes some of the friction associated with converting casual listeners into paying supporters.
Spotify is also providing promotional tools, free trials and analytics to help podcasters understand how effectively they are converting listeners into members.
The platform is introducing additional community features, including membership badges and welcome clips, designed to strengthen the relationship between creators and their paying audiences.
Creators will also be able to export certain membership information, including contact details from members who consent to sharing them. This could prove particularly useful for podcasters looking to build relationships with their audiences beyond Spotify.
A relatively low barrier to entry
Unlike some creator monetisation programs that require substantial audiences, Spotify has established comparatively modest eligibility requirements for Memberships.
Australian podcasters must have:
- At least three published podcast episodes.
- At least 100 unique listeners or viewers on Spotify during the previous 30 days.
- At least 100 consumption hours on Spotify during the same period.
- A show hosted through Spotify for Creators or Megaphone.
These thresholds could make Memberships accessible to smaller, established podcast communities rather than restricting the feature to major productions.
Eligible creators can configure their memberships through Spotify for Creators or Megaphone.
Another competitor in the creator subscription market
Spotify’s move also places it in more direct competition with established creator subscription platforms such as Patreon.
For podcast creators, the appeal is having their paid content available on the same platform where their listeners already consume free episodes.
The 90% revenue share is another incentive, although creators will still need to consider their pricing, the value of exclusive content and the ongoing effort required to maintain a paying membership community.
Memberships also sit alongside Spotify’s existing advertising, sponsorship and Partner Program monetisation opportunities, rather than replacing them.
For Australian podcasters, the launch creates another option for building a sustainable business around their content.
Whether listeners are prepared to pay for additional episodes, early access or other benefits will ultimately depend on the strength of individual podcast communities.
However, by making paid memberships part of the everyday Spotify experience, the company is reducing the distance between enjoying a podcast and financially supporting its creator.
More information is available through Spotify for Creators.
