Spotify is becoming more than a place to listen to music and podcasts. The platform is investing heavily in video, giving long-form video creators another place to distribute their existing content, reach new audiences, and generate additional revenue.

And you don’t necessarily need to start creating a traditional podcast from scratch. Spotify itself encourages existing video creators to bring content from platforms like YouTube to Spotify.

So, what types of YouTube creators and videos are suitable for Spotify? And how do you know if you’re eligible? 

What Are the Requirements for Spotify Video?

At MakersTV, we review channels individually to determine whether their existing YouTube content is suitable for Spotify video distribution.

Generally, we look for:

• An established content library: Around 100 existing videos gives us enough content to build and maintain a consistent Spotify presence.
• Long-form content: Videos can range from short episodes to several hours, depending on the format.
• Content that works without constant visuals: The strongest fit is content audiences can also understand or enjoy while listening.
• Little to no background music: Spoken-word-led content is generally the best fit for repurposing to Spotify.
• Horizontal video: Existing 16:9 YouTube videos are well suited to Spotify’s video format. Spotify itself recommends a 16:9 aspect ratio for video podcasts.
• No children’s content: Kids-focused content is currently not part of the content we distribute to Spotify.

There is no subscriber minimum required by MakersTV, making the content itself and the consistency of your library particularly important.

What Types of YouTube Content Work Best on Spotify?

A simple way to think about Spotify eligibility is:

Would your video still make sense if someone occasionally looked away from the screen?

Spotify audiences can choose to watch a video, listen in the background, or switch between the two. 

This makes many long-form YouTube niches suitable, including:

ASMR, sleep & relaxation, travel, animals, automotive, food & drinks, lifestyle, history, science, true crime, aviation, DIY, comedy, health & fitness, finance, gaming, technology, sports, beauty & fashion, entertainment, story time, home & garden, and education.

ASMR, sleep, and other listening-friendly formats can be particularly natural fits because the content can continue to provide value without requiring constant attention to the screen. See, for example, this ASMR channel that we onboarded from YouTube to Spotify.

Can You Repurpose Existing YouTube Videos for Spotify?

Yes. In many cases, creators don’t need to produce separate videos specifically for Spotify.

Spotify confirms that creators publishing video elsewhere, including YouTube, can bring the same video content to Spotify.

For YouTube creators, this means your existing content library can become the foundation of your Spotify presence rather than starting again from zero.

With MakersTV, eligible creators can repurpose existing YouTube videos for Spotify, while we handle the distribution and channel management.

Why Are Video Creators Expanding to Spotify?

One of the biggest reasons is diversification.

Instead of relying exclusively on YouTube, creators can give existing long-form content another place to be discovered and consumed.

Spotify’s video audience is also growing. The platform says 350 million people streamed a video podcast on Spotify in the past year, while more than 430,000 shows now upload video. 

Spotify also offers flexibility in how audiences consume that content: viewers can watch the full video or simply listen in the background.

For creators, that creates an opportunity to:

• Reach audiences beyond YouTube
• Repurpose an existing video library
• Add an additional revenue stream
• Let audiences choose between watching and listening
• Expand without creating an entirely new content format

How Does Spotify Video Monetization Work?

The Spotify Partner Program offers eligible creators two main revenue opportunities: ad revenue and Premium video revenue.

Ad revenue is generated when Spotify-monetized ads play within eligible content. Premium video revenue allows eligible creators to earn based on consumption when Spotify Premium members in supported markets watch their video content.

Creators who choose to monetize independently through Spotify for Creators currently need to meet Spotify’s Partner Program eligibility criteria, including:

1,000 Spotify audience members in the last 30 days, 2,000 consumption hours in the last 30 days, and at least 3 published episodes. The show must also meet Spotify’s hosting, location, and monetization requirements.

Creators can also work with a distribution partner such as MakersTV, depending on their eligibility and content, and receive direct monetization advantages. 

Ready to See If Your YouTube Channel Is Eligible?

If you already have a consistent library of long-form YouTube content, you may be able to expand that content to Spotify without creating anything new.

Apply for Spotify video distribution with MakersTV and we’ll review your channel to see if your existing content is a good fit.