YouTube may still be leading the podcasting world, but Spotify is making impressive strides to catch up. Their latest move introduces a feature that reveals how many times an audio or video podcast episode has been played.
Dubbed “plays,” this new podcast metric lets users see which episodes are trending. For the first time, both creators and listeners can access this kind of valuable insight.
The play count is prominently displayed throughout the app, appearing alongside podcast episodes on the home page, episode page, and show page. It’s also available on Spotify for Creators and Megaphone platforms.
By introducing this feature, Spotify hopes to inspire users to discover new podcasts, especially when they notice episodes that are popular among other listeners. For creators, these insights are invaluable, offering a clearer picture of what resonates with audiences and how they stack up against competitors.
This announcement aligns with Spotify’s recent first-quarter earnings report, which revealed an impressive gain of 5 million premium subscribers, bringing the total to 268 million. This marks their largest first-quarter growth since 2020 and their second-highest total ever.
