Spotify responds to backlash over public podcast play counts

Spotify recently introduced public play counts for podcasts as an attempt to attract new listeners, but podcasters quickly criticized the feature, arguing that it would disadvantage smaller shows while benefiting already popular content. In response, Spotify adjusted its approach, rolling out play counts only for shows with at least 50,000 plays and updating milestones like 100,000 or a million plays instead of providing exact numbers. The company acknowledged the criticism in its blog post, emphasizing the need to balance insights for creators and accessibility for fans.