Podcasts? TV Talk Shows? Netflix Just Hopes They’re Hits.

Spotify’s Podcasting Gamble: Are These Shows Still Podcasts?

When Spotify first plunged into the world of podcasting, it promised a revolution—one that would transform the medium from a niche, DIY audio format into a global, monetized entertainment powerhouse. But with the release of its latest slate of original shows, including The Pete Davidson Show, a deeper, almost philosophical question has resurfaced: what exactly is a podcast anymore?

The term “podcast” was born from the marriage of “iPod” and “broadcast,” a clever nod to the early 2000s when tech-savvy hobbyists would download episodic audio files to listen on the go. The magic of the medium was its accessibility: anyone with a microphone, a computer, and an internet connection could create and distribute content directly to listeners, bypassing traditional gatekeepers like radio stations and TV networks.

Fast forward to 2024, and the landscape has shifted dramatically. Spotify, having invested over a billion dollars into podcasting, has curated a roster of shows that are less “DIY” and more “prime-time.” The Pete Davidson Show, for instance, is a slickly produced, celebrity-driven program featuring high-profile guests, professional editing, and exclusive distribution on Spotify’s platform. Other debut titles follow suit: high-budget productions with scripted narratives, cinematic sound design, and marketing campaigns that rival those of Netflix originals.

This evolution has reignited debates among creators, critics, and listeners. Is a podcast still a podcast if it’s never available via RSS feed? What if it’s only accessible through a single app, locked behind a paywall, or produced with the resources of a major studio? Some argue that the essence of podcasting lies in its open, decentralized nature—the fact that anyone can subscribe, download, and share episodes freely. By that definition, Spotify’s originals are something else entirely: streaming audio programs, perhaps, or even “Spotify Originals.”

Others counter that the medium has always been defined by its form rather than its distribution. A podcast, they say, is simply episodic, on-demand audio content—regardless of whether it’s consumed via a traditional RSS feed or a proprietary app. Under this view, the shows in Spotify’s debut crop are not only podcasts, but the future of the medium: more polished, more ambitious, and more mainstream than ever before.

The tension between these perspectives reflects a broader cultural shift. As podcasting has grown from a subculture into a billion-dollar industry, it has attracted not just independent creators, but also celebrities, major studios, and tech giants. The result is a spectrum of content that ranges from grassroots storytelling to big-budget entertainment—a spectrum that challenges our assumptions about what the medium can be.

This transformation isn’t without controversy. Some longtime fans lament the loss of podcasting’s indie spirit, arguing that exclusivity deals and platform lock-in undermine the open web that made the medium thrive. Others welcome the influx of resources and talent, pointing out that bigger budgets can lead to higher-quality productions and attract new audiences.

The debate also raises questions about ownership and control. In the early days, podcasters owned their content and could move it freely between platforms. Today, many of Spotify’s originals are exclusive to its ecosystem, meaning that if the company changes its policies or shuts down a show, fans may lose access forever. This is a far cry from the resilience of the original RSS-based model, where content lived on independently of any single platform.

Yet, for all the hand-wringing, there’s no denying the cultural impact of Spotify’s strategy. Shows like The Pete Davidson Show bring mainstream celebrities into the podcasting fold, exposing millions of new listeners to the format. They also push the boundaries of what audio storytelling can be, blending humor, interviews, and narrative in ways that feel fresh and innovative.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this evolution is how it mirrors the trajectory of other digital media. Just as YouTube began as a platform for amateur videos and evolved into a hub for professional content, podcasting is undergoing its own metamorphosis. The question isn’t so much whether Spotify’s originals are “real” podcasts, but rather how the medium will continue to adapt and grow in response to new technologies, business models, and audience expectations.

In the end, the answer to “what is a podcast?” may be less important than the fact that people are still drawn to the core appeal of the format: the intimacy of audio, the freedom to listen on your own schedule, and the thrill of discovering voices and stories that resonate with you. Whether those voices come from a basement studio or a Manhattan production suite, the essence of podcasting—connection through sound—remains intact.

As Spotify and other platforms continue to experiment with the form, one thing is certain: the definition of a podcast will keep evolving. And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly what the medium needs to stay relevant in an ever-changing digital world.

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