Spotify Now Offers 'Comments' Feature For Podcasts

Comments bring a new dimension to podcasts on the platform and make it engaging

Spotify podcasts have been around for a while but adding comments to the feature makes it engaging and mimic like a social network.

Spotify has started rolling out new comments feature for podcasts on its platform. The update, aimed at enhancing creators-audience engagement, will enable creators to interact with their listeners to grow their audience and build stronger relationships. Creators can respond to their audience and choose which comments to show on their episode pages. They will also get access to turn comments on or off for each episode or their entire show. The feature's rollout will be completed over a month.

Comments have been a long-requested feature from both podcasters and Spotify listeners. The company may also add special badges or features in the comments in the future.

The online music streaming platform has also updated its Spotify for Podcaster mobile app. Podcasters can use the updated mobile app and desktop version to manage the shows and interact with listeners.

Spotify will let creators access the updated app, irrespective of where they are hosted. Creators not hosted on the Spotify for Podcasters app will have to claim their show through the app first.

The new comment feature is an expansion of the Q&A and polls functionality launched by Spotify in 2021, the company said in a statement.

“Our new Comments feature expands on the Q&A and polls functionality we introduced in 2021 as a way to bring interactivity into the podcasting industry for the first time. And interactivity is a feature that already has listeners and creators buzzing,” Spotify said.

The update will also allow creators to track their stats, and manage their presence and growth on the platform in real-time. Spotify has also added a notification setting that lets creators know if their podcast has been ranked on a Spotify chart or if their show has hit a milestone.

This move puts Spotify in competition with the social media platform YouTube, where creators often communicate with fans in comment sections.