[FAQ]

My mate and I have been running our podcast for about a year, and we’ve started looking into the monetization options right within Spotify. I see two main features: Podcast Subscriptions and Listener Support, but I’m not entirely clear on the practical difference between them.

Is the idea that ‘Subscriptions’ are for offering exclusive, members-only audio content, while ‘Listener Support’ is more of a flexible, recurring donation or tip? We’re not looking to put our main show behind a paywall, but we’d like to give listeners a way to chip in if they’re enjoying the episodes.

I’m also curious about the payment processing side. What percentage does Spotify take, and are there any hurdles to getting the funds paid out? Any advice from Kiwi podcasters who’ve gone down this path would be a massive help.

[Jeff Bullas]

It’s a good idea to get these two monetization paths clear before you commit.

Quick Answer: Podcast Subscriptions are used to sell exclusive audio content to your listeners for a recurring fee. Listener Support is a ‘tip jar’ feature that allows your audience to voluntarily support your existing free audio content.

Let’s look at how your audio content strategy dictates which one you should use.

The primary difference is what the listener receives. First, with Podcast Subscriptions, you are creating a paywall around specific audio files; this could be for bonus episodes, ad-free versions, or early access, and you set a monthly price for access to this exclusive audio. Second, Listener Support is a voluntary donation model that is not tied to any specific content; it is simply a button on your profile that allows your audience to contribute financially to support the audio you already provide for free. Platform and payment processing fees apply to both, but they are structured differently, so you must review the current terms. Essentially, choose Subscriptions if you plan to create extra audio content for a price, or choose Listener Support if you want to keep all your audio free and simply ask for voluntary contributions.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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