Some podcast creators express concerns that Spotify's updated play count feature might overshadow smaller podcasts.
Rewritten Output
Podcasters Express Mixed Feelings Over Spotify's New 'Plays' Metric
Сlassic podcast vibes took a modern twist this week, as podcasters shared mixed reactions to Spotify's latest feature – publicly displaying how many plays each podcast episode gets.
Dropping the bomb on Tuesday, Spotify unveiled its "Plays" metric, which the streaming giant declares as an "extraordinary source of insight" for creators on their journey towards "optimizing their content for success." However, small-time podcasters raised their voices over fears that the new feature could send listeners running for the hills.
Adrienne Cruz, a podcast manager representing four small podcasts, described the situation as "the social media-fication of podcasts" going down. In the past, Cruz notes, podcasting was a fertile ground for small creative minds, with cult-classics like "Serial" catapulting the medium into the mainstream in recent years.
Fast-forward to now, and simple, personality-driven shows have taken the cake, popularizing hosts like Joe Rogan across platforms like Spotify, SiriusXM, YouTube, and Apple. With this new feature, Cruz and others worry the already crowded podcast scene might turn into a popularity contest.
Who wants to play? Not the "Psychology of your 20s" podcast, which boasts almost 200,000 Instagram followers. The show shared its displeasure on Spotify's post announcing the new feature, arguing that public metrics don't support the creator community and could inadvertently discourage experimentation.
Another podcaster echoed similar sentiments, questioning whether they could opt out of the Plays feature, pointing out that the listens-per-episode number would only reflect plays on Spotify and not across platforms, potentially misleading audiences and potential brand partners.
However, not everyone shared these concerns. Dr. Mikhail "Mike" Varshavski, a physician who dishes on health topics, hailed the new feature as AWESOME, stating it would help him "build a better understanding of what episodes are performing well." The controversial new feature is set to roll out starting this week, visible to both listeners and creators across the Spotify platform.
As the situation heats up, discussions on social media reveal a divide among the podcast community. Smaller niche podcasters worry the feature could make them feel like they're throwing frogs in a passing shark tank, whereas others celebrate the increased transparency and opportunity to learn more about what's resonating with listeners.
Sources:
- Spotify Unveils New Podcast Metric, but Creators Raise Concerns About Transparency
- Spotify Introduces 'Plays' Metric for Podcasters: Here's What You Need to Know
- Adrienne Cruz, a podcast manager, compared the introduction of Spotify's new "Plays" metric to the "social media-fication" of podcasts, as she believes it could turn the medium into a popularity contest.
- Dr. Mikhail "Mike" Varshavski, a popular podcaster, expressed optimism over the new feature, stating that it would help him understand which episodes are performing well.
- The "Psychology of your 20s" podcast, with over 200,000 Instagram followers, voiced concerns that public metrics might not support the creator community and could potentially discourage experimentation.
- Another podcaster questioned whether they could opt out of the Plays feature, noting that the listens-per-episode number would only reflect plays on Spotify and not across other platforms, potentially misleading audiences and potential brand partners.
