Acast has partnered with membership platform Patreon to allow creators to produce patron-only podcasts, providing an alternative to advertising revenue.
The technology, built off Acast’s Acast Access technology, will allow podcast creators on Patreon to publish content via a private patron-only content RSS feed. It will work across major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Overcast and the Acast app, but isn’t available on Spotify.
The tie-up makes it easier for podcast creators to earn revenue beyond advertising, something major podcast platforms have been trying to tackle for years. Most recently, Spotify has reportedly been looking at a subscription service that offers original or exclusive podcast episodes for a monthly fee.
“Patreon and Acast have a shared mission of helping creators earn a sustainable income for their art,” says Brian Keller, director of creator success at Patreon.
“As podcasting continues to be one of the largest creator categories on Patreon, our work with Acast makes it easier than ever for podcasters to cultivate their communities by delivering exclusive content to their most passionate fans, wherever they like to listen."
Podcasters will also have greater access to data and insights about their listeners, covering things such as listener demographic, audience growth, performance insights and more.
“All creators should be able to reach the audience their content deserves, and to be fairly compensated for that,” says Leandro Saucedo, chief business and strategy officer at Acast.
“Alongside Patreon, we’re taking our biggest step to date in our mission to support the global creator community, helping podcasters get their content out to more people. Creators thrive in an ecosystem where they can freely create, connect with their audiences, and make a living from their work across any platform — and this collaboration is all about supporting and enabling that.”
The technology, which has been in beta with high-profile creators such as Sleep With Me, will be launched for all Patreon podcasters this month.
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