Spotify's Evolution in Podcasting and Audio Monetization

Spotify's Senior Director of Advertising Business Development and Partnerships, Emma Vaughn, is interviewed in this podcast episode. She discusses Spotify's recent developments, including the introduction of a new home feed that features video and autoplay for podcasts. Vaughn also mentions NPR joining the Spotify Audience Network (SPAN) and discusses the importance of ad frequency management. She emphasizes Spotify's focus on personalization and the use of machine learning and editorial expertise to improve the listening experience. Vaughn highlights the balance between paid subscribers and ad-supported listeners and emphasizes the importance of both. She also addresses challenges in podcast discovery, monetization, and ad creative in an audio-first platform. Additionally, she discusses Spotify's podcast strategy, including investments in both premium exclusive content and the long tail of podcasts. The episode concludes with a discussion on ad spend trends and innovation in ad surfaces in the audio streaming app.