It’s been almost a year since Spotify officially announced that it would be adding podcasts to its streaming-media platform. Spotify began its entrance into podcasting by working with a small group of content providers. The company never said if (or when) it might start taking open submissions for its podcast directory. Since then, Spotify’s podcast platform has been in beta mode, with all shows being hand curated by Spotify staff. This left most podcasters with no way to even be considered for entry into Spotify.
But now, things have changed for podcasters who’d like to get listed on Spotify. Podcasting services company Blubrry announced today that anyone can apply for consideration to be listed in the Spotify podcast directory:
We are encouraging all podcasters to apply to be listed, not just our paid customers. On a first-come, first-served basis we will submit shows to Spotify for consideration. The process is not complicated. If you do not have a Blubrry.com account already, you can create an account and claim your show on Blubrry. Claiming your show is as simple as clicking the “more info” button on your listing on the Blubrry directory. Podcasters who already have an established Blubrry account need only to log in to the Blubrry website and fill out the Get On Spotify application. From there, Blubrry will do some basic scrutinizing of submissions by checking things like audio quality and RSS feed functionality. If Blubrry finds everything to be in order, it’ll pass the approved shows on to Spotify for final consideration. Due to Spotify requirements, it’s highly recommended that shows trying to get into Spotify be free of copyrighted/licensed music.
Blubrry is emphasizing that it’s Spotify, not Blubrry, that will make the final decision as to which shows will get final approval for the Spotify podcast directory. This video has more information on the process and requirements for submitting to your show to Spotify thru Blubrry:
Disclosure: I work part-time with the Blubrry support team and Podcaster News Executive Editor Todd Cochrane is the CEO of Rawvoice, parent company of Blubrry.