Spotify is expanding its Verified by Spotify badge program to podcasts.
The move, announced on Tuesday (May 19), extends to podcast shows the same verification system that Spotify launched for music artist profiles on April 30.
It comes amid growing industry concern over the flood of AI-generated podcast content on streaming platforms – with data from Podcast Index suggesting that AI-generated shows now account for more than a third of new podcast feeds.
The badge – a light green checkmark accompanied by the words “Verified by Spotify” – will appear on podcast show pages and in search results.
It identifies a show as the official presence of a creator, publisher, or brand, according to Spotify.
Spotify said in a blog post that the badge “signals that the show has been reviewed against Spotify’s standards for authenticity and trust, helping listeners understand who they’re hearing while giving creators a clear, credible way to establish their identity on our platform.”
“The concept of authenticity in podcasting is complex and quickly evolving, and we’ll continue to develop our approach over time.”
Spotify
Spotify said verification eligibility will focus on shows the platform can “confidently authenticate” based on a combination of sustained listener activity, good standing with its platform policies, and verified audience authenticity – including safeguards against bot-driven listenership.
“The concept of authenticity in podcasting is complex and quickly evolving, and we’ll continue to develop our approach over time,” Spotify said.
Select shows will begin displaying the badge immediately, with a wider rollout expected over the coming months across Spotify’s library of more than 7 million podcast titles.
Alongside the verification badges, Spotify also used the announcement to reaffirm its stance on AI-generated impersonation in podcasting.
“Our policies have always prohibited unauthorized impersonation,” Spotify said.
“Today, we’re reaffirming this policy in the context of AI: Spotify will remove podcast shows and content that impersonate another creator or host’s likeness without permission, whether that’s using AI voice cloning or any other method.”
“Today, we’re reaffirming this policy in the context of AI: Spotify will remove podcast shows and content that impersonate another creator or host’s likeness without permission, whether that’s using AI voice cloning or any other method.”
Spotify
Spotify described the updates as “the first in a series of steps we’re taking to support a more trustworthy podcast ecosystem for creators, partners, and listeners.”
“As creation becomes more accessible, the need for clarity and trust becomes even more important,” Spotify added.
The podcast verification push is the latest in a series of measures Spotify has rolled out in 2026 aimed at reinforcing creator identity and combating AI-generated content across its platform.
In March, Spotify launched its Artist Profile Protection feature in beta, which lets music artists review and approve releases before they appear on their profiles.
In April, Spotify began showing AI Credits in Song Credits, allowing listeners to see where artificial intelligence was used in making a track – though the feature depends on voluntary artist disclosure.
Then, on April 30, Spotify introduced the Verified by Spotify badge for music artist profiles, stating that “profiles that appear to primarily represent AI-generated or AI-persona artists are not eligible for verification.”
At launch, Spotify said that more than 99% of the artists its listeners actively search for would be verified – representing hundreds of thousands of artists, the majority of them independent.
Those measures followed the platform’s September 2025 announcement that it had removed more than 75 million “spammy tracks” over the prior 12 months, as part of a suite of policies targeting AI-enabled fraud.
Spotify’s extension of the verification system to podcasts reflects a growing threat from AI-generated audio content beyond music.
According to Podcast Index, AI-generated podcasts accounted for approximately 35.4% of new podcast feeds as of early May 2026 – with one nine-day measurement window reaching 39%.
Much of that influx has been driven by companies using generative AI to produce podcast content at scale, according to a report from Bloomberg, with one firm alone responsible for approximately 10,000 shows.
The verification move also comes as Spotify continues to expand its podcast ecosystem.
In January, the company opened its Sycamore Studios facility in Hollywood and lowered the eligibility thresholds for its Partner Program, which offers monetization options for audio and video podcast creators.
In October 2025, Spotify struck a deal with Netflix to stream video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer – a partnership that launched in the US in early 2026.
On its Q3 2025 earnings call, Spotify said more than 390 million users had watched a video podcast on the platform – a 54% YoY increase – with close to 500,000 video podcast shows available on the service.
Spotify reported 293 million Premium subscribers and 761 million total users as of Q1 2026.Music Business Worldwide
