Spotify is expanding its Partner Program for podcasts to 35 new markets this fall, its largest geographic rollout of the creator monetization service. Announced September 17, the expansion opens revenue sharing to eligible podcasters in Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Chile, the Dominican Republic and others, with the new markets going live on October 20.

The program pays from two sources: Premium video watch time and advertising revenue share from free-tier listeners. Eligible podcasters earn from both video and audio, can distribute their shows on other platforms, and keep all revenue from their own sponsorships. Spotify says video podcast consumption has grown 140 percent since the feature launched in 2022, and total monthly payouts to shows are up about a third since January.

The expansion follows a sharp lowering of the entry bar earlier this year. Where video podcasters once needed 12 episodes, 10,000 consumption hours and 2,000 streamers, they now qualify with three published episodes, 2,000 consumption hours and 1,000 engaged audience members over 30 days. Spotify says the change drove a 45 percent average rise in consumption among enrolled shows, and January’s threshold cut was explicitly aimed at bringing smaller shows into the money.

The competitive backdrop is heating up. YouTube is doubling its own Partner Program entry thresholds for new partners in February 2027, while Apple Podcasts subscriptions will soon support video. The platforms are converging on the same prize: the video podcast audience, and the creators who can hold it.

For podcasters in the newly added markets, the takeaway is to prepare before October 20. Get three episodes published, make sure at least some are video, and check that your consumption hours and engaged audience clear the thresholds. If you are on the fence about video, this is the nudge: Spotify is paying for Premium video watch time specifically, and the shows already in the program are seeing the difference in their payouts.