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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
GlynBarton

I'm a premium account holder and yet I'm hearing adverts whilst listening to The Telegraphs, Ukraine the latest, why?

GillO

Hearing adverts during a meditation soundtrack is shocking. I’m considering quoting Spotify Premium as I use it for bedtime meditation and I’m frequently jumping from a deep sleep with stupid commercials. Makes me mad! 

Somebodyelse

Back to Tidal i guess - no use paying for premium to stop ads when I get ads anyway.

tatisehn

no.

leesonlpn

I too am getting commercials with my podcasts.  The agent said it's to help the podcast creators with monetary assistence for their podcasts.  I have an issue with this.  It is deceitful.. The who premise of premium I thought was to be ad free.  They shouldn't offer it with strings attached.  Subscribers are Spotify's source of revenue as well, so why do we not get what we signed up for.  I am not impressed. with this shady practice.  I feel I am being duped and nothing I can do about it.  The ol' David and Goliath I guess.

1293256051

Ditto

 

hyperliteBo

Getting local commercials in podcast that never gave me ads in the last years. Use them often to fall asleep, this ruins a much needed habbit for me. Also a fully paying member for like 10 years, accepted all the (not always so great) updates but this is unacceptable.

Zman76

Just subscribed, first podcast has ads.  Will be cancelling.  I'm not paying 15 a month and still getting ads.

sallyreader13
I have a premium subscription but recently I had ads before or during podcasts. They don't seem to be part of the podcasts, because a new track with the ad starts and then afterwards the podcasts continously. They are also not in the same language as the podcasts (meaning they are in German even when I listen to English podcasts).
mgy8008

Stop playing commercials at the very end of the Joe Rogan Podcasts. It's **bleep**ing annoying. Thanks.