Spotify and YouTube don’t necessarily have the independent podcaster’s best interests in mind.
Recent reporting from James Cridland at Podnews highlights Spotify’s evolving advertising strategy, including the introduction of skippable ads alongside options for advertisers to purchase non-skippable placements. It’s another reminder that many of the biggest podcast platforms are increasingly focused on advertising, monetization, and serving the largest shows and podcast networks.
YouTube presents a similar challenge. Beyond changes to creator monetization, the platform also allows creators to pay to promote their videos—or podcasts—directly within YouTube. That creates a pay-to-play dynamic where views and subscriber numbers can be amplified through advertising in a way that doesn’t really exist across traditional podcast directories and apps.
But none of these things are what make a podcast great. They don’t create meaningful conversations, loyal audiences, or stronger communities—and they don’t necessarily make life any easier for the small, independent podcaster.
In today’s episode, I share more of my thoughts on where podcasting is headed, how these platforms are changing the game, and what it means for independent creators.
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https://podnews.net/article/spotify-unskippable-ads-and-auto-skips