How Do I Get My Podcast on Spotify?
Getting your podcast onto Spotify is simpler than most people expect. You don't submit audio files directly to Spotify — you use a podcast hosting platform to generate an RSS feed, then point Spotify at that feed. Once it's connected, every new episode you upload will automatically appear on Spotify.
Here's the whole process, start to finish.
Step 1: Record and edit your first episode
Before any platform will accept your show, you need at least one episode ready to go. It doesn't need to be perfect, but it does need to be a proper audio file — an MP3 or WAV — that's been edited and is ready for listeners to hear.
This is where most beginners underestimate the work involved. Recording a conversation is easy. Recording a conversation that sounds professional, flows well, and doesn't make listeners switch off in the first two minutes takes more thought.
If you're not sure where to start with recording, this is exactly what our pre-production consultation at Podcast Studio Glasgow covers: format, structure, equipment, and how to set up your show so it's worth distributing in the first place.
Step 2: Choose a podcast hosting platform
Spotify doesn't store your audio files. A podcast hosting platform does. Think of your host as your podcast's home — everything else, Spotify included, connects to it.
Your host generates an RSS feed: a constantly updated link that tells platforms like Spotify what episodes you have, what they're called, and where to find the audio. Every time you upload a new episode to your host, it updates automatically across every platform connected to that feed.
Popular hosting platforms for beginners include:
Spotify for Creators (formerly Anchor) — free, owned by Spotify, straightforward to use
Buzzsprout — beginner-friendly with good analytics, from around £12/month
Podbean — solid all-rounder, free tier available
RSS.com — clean interface, auto-distributes to all major platforms
If you want to keep things as simple as possible to start, Spotify for Creators is free and distributed directly. If you want more control and better analytics as you grow, a paid host like Buzzsprout is worth the small monthly cost.
Step 3: Set up your show details
Before you publish your first episode, you'll need to add the following in your hosting platform:
Show title — clear, searchable, reflects what your podcast is actually about
Show description — write this for search as well as for humans; include the words people would type to find a show like yours
Cover art — square format, minimum 1400 x 1400 pixels, maximum 3000 x 3000 pixels, JPG or PNG. This is the first thing a potential listener sees — don't use a blurry logo or a phone screenshot
Category — choose the most accurate one; this affects where Spotify recommends your show
Language and country
Explicit/clean tag — if your show contains adult language, mark it accurately, or Spotify may remove episodes
Get these right before you submit. Changing your show title after launch can cause confusion and affect your search rankings.
Step 4: Upload your first episode
Upload your edited audio file to your hosting platform, add an episode title and description, and publish it. Your host will generate your RSS feed URL once at least one episode is live — most platforms won't create a valid feed on an empty show.
A quick note on music: if you use any music in your podcast, it must be royalty-free or properly licensed. Spotify is strict about this. Using a commercial track — even briefly as intro music — can get your episode removed or your show suspended.
Step 5: Submit your RSS feed to Spotify
Once your first episode is live and your RSS feed URL is ready:
Go to podcasters.spotify.com and click Get Started
Log in with your Spotify account
Select "I already have a podcast"
Paste your RSS feed URL into the box
Spotify will send a verification code to the email address registered in your feed — enter it to confirm you own the show
Add your show category, language, and country
Click Submit
Most shows go live within a few hours. Some take up to five days. Spotify doesn't email you when you're live, so check back manually. RSS.com
Step 6: Claim your show in Spotify for Creators
Once your show is live, claim it in the Spotify for Creators dashboard. This gives you access to listener analytics — how many people are playing your episodes, how far through they're listening, where your audience is based, and how they're finding you. This data is genuinely useful for understanding what's working and what isn't.
Don't stop at Spotify
Spotify accounts for around 27% of weekly podcast listeners in the US — significant, but not the whole picture. Variety
The same RSS feed you submitted to Spotify can be submitted to Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube Podcasts, and every other major directory. Each one is a separate submission but uses the same feed URL. Once connected, they all update automatically when you publish new episodes.
Reach the widest possible audience by submitting to all of them on day one.
Before you worry about distribution, get the foundation right
Getting onto Spotify takes about 20 minutes once your episode is ready. The harder question is whether your show is worth distributing in the first place — whether the audio quality, format, and content are good enough to hold a listener's attention beyond the first episode.
At Podcast Studio Glasgow, our pre-production consultation is designed for people at exactly this stage. Before you record a single episode, we'll work through your concept, your format, your target listener, and how to structure your show so it grows rather than stalls. It's the conversation most new podcasters wish they'd had before they launched.
Get in touch at podcaststudioglasgow.com to find out more.
Podcast Studio Glasgow | 279 Abercromby Street, Glasgow | podcaststudioglasgow.com
