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[All Platforms] No Ads in Podcasts for Spotify Premium users

I pay for my subscription. Every month for years now. The main reason I am a paid-for subscriber with Spotify is so I don't have to hear ads. As I have shifted my podcast listening from other providers to Spotify to bypass ads, both from the platform as well as integrated into the content.

 

I expect not to hear ads on Spotify. I understand there are ads woven into the actual content of the podcast itself, but for as big of a company and the amount of leverage Spotify has, I expect to not hear ads so long as I am paying for the service.

 

I reached out to Spotify and got this lazy, generic answer from Joy in Spotify Customer Support: “if you're hearing ads on podcasts using this Premium account. It's possible that the podcaster integrated that ads to their podcast content”. Thanks for breaking your back on that response.

 

I KNOW what the ads I’m hearing are. And I understand they can’t ask podcasters to export two versions, one with integrated ads and one without. What I expect from Spotify is to either implement metadata that tags the beginning and ending of ad segments and bypass them for us, Premium subscribers, or require podcasters to give metadata timecodes that Spotify can identify to bypass them AUTOMATICALLY.

 

Just to be clear, even if these identifiers are put into the content, I don’t want to have to pull my phone out to hit any sort of “skip ads” button. This is literally the ONLY reason users have Premium. So get rid of the ads. It’s actually very simple. And let’s not get started on how archaic it is to continually hit the “15sec forward” button to bypass the ads, first over shooting, then undershooting the duration of the integrated ad, only to have to make peace with hearing the last ten seconds of the ad. At that point it’s not servicing either party in the transaction.

 

It’s 2020. You are a huge company with a lot of leverage and a huge developer budget. I honestly can’t believe I’m even having to write this suggestion.

 

tl:dr - Spotify, I am a Premium member. You made a promise to me that if I became a Premium member, I wouldn’t hear ads. I’m hearing ads on podcasts. Integrated or not, I don’t care. You have the technology and power to fix it. So fix it. And make it automatic. It’s 2020.

Updated on 2023-04-15

Hey folks,

The Ideas section provides users with the opportunity to share their opinion on what features and app improvements can be developed, to make Spotify better. This idea however, in it's core fundamentals, requires to change how the Premium subscription works and what opportunities Spotify offers to Podcast creators.

 

As part of the Premium subscription, all music can be enjoyed ad-free. And while Spotify doesn’t play ads that interrupt the music listening experience of Premium subscribers, some podcasts may include advertising, host-read endorsements, or sponsorship independently of the streaming platforms featuring such podcasts.

 

Providing a way to circumvent those is not something that our Idea submission process can accomplish.


This doesn't mean that your feedback isn't heard and that this request couldn't be fulfilled by some other means in the future. On the contrary, this is being monitored and we invite everyone to share their opinion in a constructive manner. We will then ensure to pass it on to the relevant teams.

 

Please do note, that we do understand the overall sentiment and if the thread stops being useful as a source to track constructive feedback, we will need to close it for further replies.

 

All the best!

Comments
msdalfo

You guys bought Gimlet Media recently. Which, yay, I'm happy for them.

 

I'm relistening to Reply All from the beginning. I now hear ads on their podcasts (new, jarring Spotify ads, not within-the-podcast-host ads). I googled this issue, saw others making the same complaint, and made my way to this suggestion.

 

Lately I mostly use Spotify for podcasts, only occasionally music. I may be discontinuing my Premium subscription because of this. What's the point of paying for Premium if I still have to listen to ads?

Mitch12895

Agree with this 100%.  I understand that Spotify and the creators have to make money, but there should be a completely ad free option.  If you need to charge a bit more for this, fine.  I think you'd find it more popular than you think and would reduce Spotify's dependency on ad dollars.  As it stands, I'm looking for other podcast platforms.

RVG-X

The ads need to stop or I'll stop paying for a premium account immediately

Kim4493

I will NEVER use Draft Kings. I hate the ad and I hate you Spotify for putting it in the middle of an interesting conversation. I too am looking for an alternate way to listen to JRE. 

Justwool

Doesn’t even matter. They do it on their Spotify original podcasts.

 

no ability to leave reviews on a podcast.

 

it’s just a terrible podcast service. Avoid it.

 

leave a review in the app stores since they don’t seem to care at all.

Snakefrog

This is such an out of touch and braindead position to have. You clearly don't understand how podcasts work. you pay spotify to not put their own ads. You aren't paying the postcaster to not put ads. Those sponsorships are only reason that most podcasts exsist.

RVG-X

Did you even read the thread Snakefrog???? This is about Spotify stopping the podcast mid discussion and inserting ads to premium users

EvenNumbers

Fully endorsed - I wholeheartedly second your request. May management listen to this input.

 

What you have described is simply not keeping a promise on Spotify's end - and to me, a reason to leave at some point.

 

Best,

Evennumbers

Mario
Status changed to: Case Closed

Updated on 2021-02-08

Hello everyone,

 

This Idea has been brought to our attention as it recently passed the 500 votes threshold but we have to close it since it requests something that can't be influenced in the context of the Idea Exchange.

 

The Ideas section provides users with the opportunity to share their opinion on what features and app improvements can be developed, to make Spotify better. This idea however, in it's core fundamentals, requires to change how the Premium subscription works and what opportunities Spotify offers to Podcast creators. 

 

As part of the Premium subscription, all music can be enjoyed ad-free. And while Spotify doesn’t play ads that interrupt the music listening experience of Premium subscribers, some podcasts may include advertising, host-read endorsements, or sponsorship independently of the streaming platforms featuring such podcasts.

 

Providing a way to circumvent those is not something that our Idea submission process can accomplish.

 

This doesn't mean that your feedback isn't heard and that this request couldn't be fulfilled by some other means in the future. On the contrary, this is being monitored and we invite everyone to share their opinion in a constructive manner. We will then ensure to pass it on to the relevant teams.

 

Please do note, that we do understand the overall sentiment and if the thread stops being useful as a source to track constructive feedback, we will need to close it for further replies.

 

All the best!

fusion28

I have seen this posted over and over for the last 3 years plus. Now, it is getting out of line as it just isn't podcasters reading the ads embedded into the episode. It actually kicks you out of the episode and you're stuck listening to 2-4 ads. I have paid premium since it was first started and have been a member since you guys first started (yes I switched accounts in 2016). You guys have to fix this. We can't keep asking for this to be fixed without any results. There as to be a customer service and response loop. We are paying extra for no ads, so fix this. Make it a policy on your platform that the podcasters have to adhere to. This has thousands of up votes throughout the years, don't really know what else you need from us customers to change this.