Spotify's Podcast Play Count Controversy: What Happened and What It Means for Creators

Looking for why Spotify is showing podcast play counts or how to hide Spotify podcast metrics? Spotify recently made headlines by announcing a new feature that publicly displays how many times each podcast episode has been played. The move, intended to help users discover trending shows, was met with intense criticism—especially from smaller creators. In response, Spotify has now rolled back part of this update, introducing a new threshold-based system to display listens.

For podcast creators wondering how Spotify podcast plays work, or if they can opt out, here’s what’s changed. Initially, Spotify intended to show the exact number of plays for every episode. The platform claimed this would build transparency and help listeners identify popular content. However, podcasters—particularly those still growing their audience—argued that low play counts could harm discoverability instead of helping it. Many expressed concerns that showing a few dozen plays might discourage potential subscribers and advertisers.

To address this backlash, Spotify announced a partial reversal of the policy. Going forward, the platform will only display public play counts after an episode has received at least 50,000 plays. Instead of showing the exact number, Spotify will badge episodes with general milestones—like “50K plays,” “100K plays,” or “1M+ plays.” This change is meant to protect newer and niche creators from public embarrassment while still showcasing high-performing content.

Understanding Spotify’s Podcast Metrics: Why It Matters

Unlike YouTube views or Instagram likes, podcast analytics have always been somewhat opaque. Downloads, listens, and streams vary by platform and don’t always reflect genuine audience engagement. Spotify’s effort to bring more visibility to podcast performance was perhaps well-intentioned, but creators say it lacked nuance. For example, podcast listens on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other RSS-based apps aren’t included in Spotify’s public metric, offering an incomplete picture of a show’s popularity.

This lack of clarity sparked debate within the creator economy. Many felt Spotify’s move prioritized audience curiosity and advertiser appeal over creator confidence and control.  

Spotify’s New Milestone-Based Metric: A Compromise for Discovery and Privacy

Spotify’s updated system now aims to strike a balance between transparency and creator protection. By setting milestones instead of showing exact numbers, the platform acknowledges the growing pains of smaller shows while still giving popular ones the spotlight they deserve. Podcasters can still access full analytics—including exact play counts—in their private dashboards.

This new approach supports both casual listeners and podcast advertisers. Listeners get social proof for big-name shows, while smaller creators get time to grow without the pressure of public scrutiny. For marketers and advertisers in the podcast ad tech space, these milestone metrics could still help identify potential partners without alienating emerging voices.

Is Spotify Still a Good Platform for Podcasters in 2025?

Spotify remains one of the largest podcast platforms, and this policy adjustment shows it’s willing to listen to community feedback. While YouTube recently launched its own podcast chart (with names like Joe Rogan topping the list), Spotify still holds a significant chunk of listener traffic and monetization potential.

Still, this incident serves as a cautionary tale for platforms making unilateral changes in a creator-driven ecosystem. It highlights how public metrics can impact brand credibility, content strategy, and digital creator revenue. For podcasters navigating platform algorithms and audience growth in 2025, transparency must be balanced with empathy and control.

What Creators Should Do Next

If you’re a podcast creator on Spotify, now is the time to audit your content and understand your private analytics. Focus on long-term listener retention, episode engagement, and cross-platform distribution. Make sure you’re listed on multiple platforms—not just Spotify—to avoid being judged solely by one platform’s metrics.

More importantly, remember that visibility is a long game. Metrics may attract or deter listeners, but your content, consistency, and community will always be what drives your show’s success. Spotify’s update might have been a misstep initially, but the partial rollback is a step toward a more creator-friendly approach.