Submitting Your Podcast to Spotify: Complete Guide

TL;DR: Submit to Spotify through Spotify for Podcasters by pasting your RSS feed URL and verifying ownership. Spotify typically approves podcasts within hours to a few days. You'll need a valid RSS feed with at least one episode, 1400×1400 minimum artwork, and complete show metadata. Spotify is free and offers additional features like video podcasts and interactive elements.

Why Spotify Matters for Podcasters
Requirements Before Submitting
Step-by-Step Submission Process
After Approval: Spotify Features
Spotify for Podcasters Dashboard
Optimizing for Spotify
FAQ

Why Spotify Matters for Podcasters

Spotify has become a major force in podcast distribution.

Here's the thing: Spotify's investment in podcasting has made it essential for reaching listeners who prefer all their audio in one app. With music and podcasts combined, Spotify listeners often discover podcasts differently than on podcast-only platforms—making it a unique growth opportunity.

Spotify's Podcast Position

Second-largest podcast platform globally
Rapidly growing podcast listener base
Significant investment in exclusive content
Strong algorithmic discovery features
Pre-installed on many devices

Benefits of Listing on Spotify

Audience reach:

Access to hundreds of millions of Spotify users
Many users prefer Spotify over podcast-specific apps
Cross-promotion with music listeners
Strong in younger demographics

Platform features:

Video podcast support
Q&A and polls (interactive features)
Real-time listening data
Music integration in episodes

Analytics:

Detailed performance metrics
Listener demographics
Episode-level data
Aggregate vs. follower analytics

Requirements Before Submitting

Ensure you meet Spotify's requirements.

Account Requirements

Spotify account:

Free or Premium Spotify account works
Use personal or band/creator account
Email must be accessible for verification

Spotify for Podcasters access:

Log in at podcasters.spotify.com
Linked to your Spotify account
No additional cost

RSS Feed Requirements

Your feed must:

Be valid RSS 2.0 format
Be publicly accessible (not behind login)
Contain at least one published episode
Have a working audio file
Not be password protected

Supported audio formats:

MP3 (recommended)
M4A/AAC
WAV (will be converted)

Artwork Requirements

Specifications:

Requirement	Value
Minimum	1400×1400 pixels
Maximum	3000×3000 pixels
Format	JPEG or PNG
Shape	Square
Color space	RGB

Note: Spotify accepts smaller artwork than Apple (1400 vs. 1400 minimum), but using 3000×3000 ensures compatibility across all platforms.

Content Requirements

Spotify allows most content but restricts:

Illegal content
Dangerous misinformation
Harassment or hate speech
Explicit content that isn't marked

Must include:

Clear show title
Show description
Episode with complete metadata
Accurate explicit rating

Step-by-Step Submission Process

Spotify's submission is straightforward.

Step 1: Access Spotify for Podcasters

Go to podcasters.spotify.com
Click "Get Started"
Log in with your Spotify account (or create one)

Step 2: Choose Submission Method

Spotify offers two paths:

Submit existing RSS feed: Choose this if you're already hosting elsewhere (Buzzsprout, Transistor, etc.). Your episodes stay on your current host.

Create new podcast on Spotify: Use Spotify as your hosting platform. Note: This limits portability to other platforms.

Recommended: Submit your existing RSS feed for maximum flexibility.

Step 3: Enter Your RSS Feed URL

Select "I have a podcast and want to add it"
Paste your RSS feed URL in the field
Click "Next"

Spotify will fetch your feed and display your show information.

Step 4: Verify Your Information

Spotify displays:

Show name and artwork
Show description
Episode list
Category information

Review carefully. If anything is incorrect, update it in your hosting platform first, then refresh.

Step 5: Verify Ownership

Spotify may verify you own the podcast:

Email verification:

Spotify sends code to email in your RSS feed
Enter the code to confirm

Existing Spotify claim:

If someone already claimed your feed, you'll see a message
You may need to contact Spotify support

Step 6: Add Spotify-Specific Information

You can add information beyond your RSS feed:

Spotify-specific description
Creator/host information
Language settings
Category preferences

Step 7: Submit

Review all information
Click "Submit"
Wait for processing

Step 8: Wait for Approval

Timeline:

Many podcasts appear within hours
Some take 1-3 business days
Complex cases may take longer

You'll receive email confirmation when live.

After Approval: Spotify Features

Spotify offers features beyond basic distribution.

Video Podcasts

Spotify supports video episodes alongside audio.

How to add video:

Upload through Spotify for Podcasters dashboard
Link YouTube videos (some features)
Stream live with video

Video benefits:

Higher engagement
Different discovery opportunities
Content repurposing

Q&A and Polls

Interactive features exclusive to Spotify.

Q&A:

Let listeners send questions
View and respond in dashboard
Feature listener questions in episodes

Polls:

Create simple polls for listeners
Gather feedback
Increase engagement

Music Integration

Limited ability to include licensed music in episodes.

How it works:

Add music through Spotify tools
30-second clips from Spotify catalog
Discuss and feature songs

Limitations:

Only works within Spotify
Doesn't export to RSS
Limited to certain regions

Paid Subscriptions

Spotify's subscription feature for creators.

Features:

Offer exclusive episodes
Charge monthly subscription
Spotify handles payments

Considerations:

Spotify takes a percentage
Only available on Spotify
Separate from other subscription platforms

Spotify for Podcasters Dashboard

Navigate your creator tools.

Analytics Overview

Available metrics:

Starts (how many began episode)
Streams (streams over 60 seconds)
Listeners (unique listeners)
Followers (subscribed users)
Average consumption

Demographics:

Age ranges
Gender
Geographic location
Listening platform

Episode Management

What you can do:

View episode performance
Add Q&A or polls
Link music tracks
Update episode information

What you can't do:

Delete episodes (must do in RSS host)
Change audio files (must do in RSS host)
Significantly change metadata

Show Settings

Manageable in Spotify:

Spotify-specific description
Category preferences
Language
Monetization settings

Managed through RSS:

Title and main description
Artwork
Episode content

Optimizing for Spotify

Maximize your presence on the platform.

Title and Description

Spotify displays your RSS title and description by default, but you can customize.

Spotify-specific description:

Can differ from RSS
Use for Spotify-relevant keywords
Include Spotify-specific calls to action

Artwork for Spotify

Tips:

Text must be readable at small sizes
High contrast helps on dark mode
Avoid very detailed images

Episode Optimization

Episode titles:

Clear and searchable
Include topic keywords
Avoid clickbait

Episode descriptions:

Summary of content
Guest names if applicable
Timestamps for navigation

Encouraging Followers

Followers on Spotify get notified of new episodes.

How to gain followers:

Ask listeners to follow (not just listen)
Provide Spotify link specifically
Explain benefit (notifications)

Playlist Features

Getting featured in Spotify's curated playlists drives discovery.

How playlists work:

Spotify editors curate podcast playlists
No submission process exists
Focus on quality content and consistency

FAQ

How long does Spotify approval take?

Most podcasts appear on Spotify within a few hours to 3 business days. Spotify's process is generally faster than Apple Podcasts. If you haven't heard back in 5+ business days and can't find your show, contact Spotify support. There's no way to expedite the process.

Can I submit directly to Spotify without an RSS feed?

Yes, you can create and host your podcast directly on Spotify for Podcasters. However, this means your podcast only exists on Spotify—it won't distribute to Apple Podcasts, Google, or other platforms. Using an external RSS feed gives you control and broad distribution. Direct hosting is only recommended if Spotify is your sole intended platform.

Why isn't my podcast showing up on Spotify?

If approved but not appearing: give it up to 24 hours for propagation. If still missing, verify you're searching the exact show name. Check Spotify for Podcasters dashboard for your show status. If rejected, you'll receive an email with reasons. Common issues include feed errors, missing episodes, or content guideline violations.

Do I need separate accounts for Spotify and Apple Podcasts?

Yes, sort of. You need an Apple ID for Apple Podcasts Connect and a Spotify account for Spotify for Podcasters. These are separate systems with separate dashboards. Your actual podcast (RSS feed) is the same for both—you're just registering it in each system. Many podcasters manage 5-10 different directory accounts, all pointing to the same RSS feed.

Ready to Reach Spotify's Massive Audience?

Submitting to Spotify opens your podcast to hundreds of millions of potential listeners. With features like video, Q&A, and robust analytics, Spotify offers unique opportunities to engage your audience.

As your Spotify audience grows and your episode catalog expands, make every episode discoverable. Try PodRewind free and search your entire archive—find any moment across all your episodes in seconds.

Find any moment