Spotify has reduced the eligibility criteria for creators to monetize video podcasts on its platform. Under the new rules, podcasters need only three published episodes (down from 12), 2,000 consumption hours over the prior 30 days (versus 10,000) and at least 1,000 unique engaged listeners in the same period (versus 2,000). These changes expand access to the partner program that pays creators based on premium user watch time and a share of free-tier ad revenue.

The company will roll out new sponsorship tools in April through its Spotify for Creators app and the Megaphone hosting suite. Creators will be able to update, schedule and track the performance of host-read sponsorships within video ads. Reports will include completion rates, listener demographics and click-through metrics, enabling podcasters to optimize campaigns and demonstrate ROI to advertisers.

In a bid to streamline workflows, Spotify has released a new API that allows publishers on platforms such as Acast, Audioboom, Libsyn, Omny and Podigee to directly push video podcasts and monetize them on Spotify. This integration lets creators maintain existing production pipelines while tapping into Spotify’s ad and subscription revenue models without manual uploads.

Spotify is opening a dedicated podcast and video studio in West Hollywood to serve The Ringer network and select partner program creators. This complements existing studios in Los Angeles’ Arts District, New York, Stockholm and London. Since launching its video partner program last year, Spotify reports that video podcast consumption on its app has nearly doubled and that the average podcast listener now streams twice as many video shows per month as before the program’s introduction.