Spotify Tests Podcast Ad-Skip Button, Threatening Creator Revenue Across Its No. 1 US Network
Updated
Updated · Podnews · Aug 4
Spotify Tests Podcast Ad-Skip Button, Threatening Creator Revenue Across Its No. 1 US Network
3 articles · Updated · Podnews · Aug 4
Summary
Spotify is testing a “Skip ahead” button that appears during podcast ads and sponsorship reads, letting listeners bypass monetization segments inside shows.
The tool also skips ads Spotify itself sold and even prompts users past creators’ pitches for paid subscriptions, raising concerns that the platform is undermining podcast revenue.
Ads are still delivered to users’ devices, but the new button actively encourages skipping on a service that accounts for the majority of podcast downloads in many countries.
Edison Research still ranks Spotify as the biggest podcast network in the US by reach, ahead of SiriusXM at No. 2 and iHeart at No. 3, magnifying the potential impact on creators.