Spotify and Patreon have collaborated to introduce an integration that allows users to listen to Patreon audio that is only available to subscribers directly from their Spotify account. This feature is especially handy for Patreon podcasters, who frequently offer unique bonus content to entice followers to join their premium membership programs.
Podcast enthusiasts currently listen to paywalled content via the Patreon app or, more commonly, RSS, an automatically updated feed of content. To the frustration of podcast fans, Spotify is the only major podcasting program that does not enable users to manually add RSS feeds to their collection (RSS is a relatively simple piece of technology that isn’t tethered to one specific platform, which may be why Spotify is averse to it – it’s not proprietary). So, while this functionality is really helpful for Patreon subscribers who use Spotify, it’s a rather simple feature that most other podcatchers already have.
This functionality is powered by Spotify Open Access, which is Spotify’s alternative to permitting manual RSS uploads.
“Spotify does not support private RSS so we built Open Access as a solution to more securely distribute gated content on our platform,” a spokesperson told Swagenews.
Last year, at a Spotify investor event, the business referred to RSS feeds as “outdated tech,” thus their inability to embrace RSS is not surprising.
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Spotify Open Access will also allow paywalled content from other monetization platforms such as Memberful, Supercast, Supporting Cast, and others, but Patreon is by far Spotify’s most important partner. Listeners will see paywalled content with a padlock icon, encouraging them to subscribe if they haven’t already.
Spotify could have had this feature a long time ago if it had only embraced RSS. Regardless, it will undoubtedly benefit creators if Spotify makes it even easy for fans to find their Patreon accounts.
