Spotify unveiled a new studio dedicated solely for podcasts in Hollywood this week, deepening its footprint in Los Angeles as the streaming giant doubles down on podcasts.
The company said its latest move also comes as the Golden Globes has recognized podcasts for the first time.
In December 2021, Spotify launched its Los Angeles creative hub, spanning 155,000 square feet and features studios to record music, podcasts and videos, and host events. Spotify’s studio has already hosted artists including Japanese Breakfast, Avril Lavigne, and FNNEAS, among many others.
Now, the company has opened Spotify Sycamore Studios featuring “flexible” recording rooms, multi-camera video setups, and on-site production support.
The facility will host shows from The Ringer — the sports and pop culture network Spotify acquired in 2020 for $250 million — including The Rewatchables, The Ringer-Verse, and The Hottest Take. Access is by invitation only for video creators in Spotify’s Partner Program.
Spotify now operates podcast studios in New York, Stockholm, and London in addition to its two Los Angeles locations. The company chose Hollywood for its new studio, describing Los Angeles as “a global center for storytelling.”
The studio launch coincides with expanded access to Spotify’s Partner Program and new tools allowing creators to manage sponsorships and distribute video content.
To mark the Partner Program’s first anniversary, Spotify announced that more creators can now join the program by lowering its eligibility thresholds to: 1,000 engaged audience members on Spotify from 2,000 listeners, 2,000 hours consumed from 10,000 hours, and to three published all-time episodes from the previous 12.
Spotify also introduced its new Spotify Distribution API, allowing creators and publishers to publish and monetize videos on Spotify directly from participating hosting platforms without having to change how they work or re-upload content.
Spotify plans to launch this feature with Acast, Audioboom, Libsyn, Omny, and Podigee.
Bill Simmons, Founder of The Ringer and Head of Talk Strategy, Spotify, said: “Ambitious shows need spaces that support big ideas.”
“These studios give teams room to experiment and keep pushing what’s possible. It’s our latest investment in creators, and having this additional home base in LA is vital for the next chapter of our storytelling.”
“These studios give teams room to experiment and keep pushing what’s possible. It’s our latest investment in creators, and having this additional home base in LA is vital for the next chapter of our storytelling.”
Bill Simmons, Spotify
The launch of Spotify’s new studio in LA comes six months after rival Apple Music announced that it was opening a 15,000–square–foot studio space in LA as it made its own move into physical content creation.
The Apple Music studio houses two radio studios equipped with Spatial Audio technology and adaptable setups for live interviews, casual chats, or impromptu performances, said Apple.
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