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Streaming-Powered Tools FAQs
Streaming-Powered Tools FAQs
Becca DiCenso avatar
Written by Becca DiCenso
Updated over 3 months ago

Q. What are “streaming-powered tools”?

Our new streaming-powered tools are a set of new capabilities in Megaphone that publishers can enable to tap into the power of Spotify’s rich streaming environment and enhance their content, growth, and insights on Spotify. We currently offer 4 tools that are streaming-enabled:

  • Content Performance Analytics: Access to metrics that show how your content is performing, such as # of viewers, video completion rate, and average consumption time.

  • Ad Performance Analytics: Access to metrics powered by Streaming Ad Insertion (SAI) that show how ad campaigns are performing on Spotify. Metrics include ad completion rate, reach, and frequency.

  • Clickable Promos: Ability to attach a new clickable display unit to audio promo campaigns.

Q. What markets are the streaming-powered tools available in?

We are testing these capabilities with a select number of Megaphone publishers based in various global markets. When the streaming-powered tools are launched in general availability, they will be available globally.

Q.How do I activate streaming-powered tools for podcasts in my organization?

We are currently testing streaming-powered tools with a select group of publishers. If you have already been approved to test these tools, you should have received a notification from Megaphone or a Megaphone account representative. If you are approved to join our test program and would like to learn more about how to activate these tools for your account, please review the “Activate Streaming-Powered Tools” help center article.

If you have not been notified about your participation in our testing program but are interested in partnering with Megaphone to test these tools, please reach out to your Megaphone account representative to assess this opportunity.

Q. How do I disable streaming-based tool access for a given podcast?

Please reach out to your Megaphone representative to disable all streaming-based tools. Please note that once the tools have been disabled, video content will no longer be accessible on the platform and only the audio-only version of the episode will be available. In addition, your streaming-based stats will also no longer be available.

Q. How does “Video Podcasts on Spotify” work?

Spotify users will be able to click on a video episode and see the uploaded video content on Spotify. If the content is later backgrounded, the content will continue to play but will transition to audio-only.

Q. How can I use Megaphone to tap into “Video Podcasts on Spotify”?

Megaphone publishers who enable streaming-powered tools for their account will be able to upload, distribute, and monetize their video content on Spotify. Once you enable streaming tools for your podcast, your organization’s users will be able to immediately upload video content through the standard content upload flow.

Q. What are the specs I need to use to upload video content on Spotify?

Container

Video

Audio

  • .MP4 file

  • Must have one video track and one audio track

  • Audio and video tracks must have the same duration

  • Suggested bitrates:

    • 25 mbps for HD

    • 35 mbps for 4K

  • H.264 High Profile

  • 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio (recommended)

  • Maximum bitrates:

    • 1080p source: 25 mbps

    • 4k source: 35 mbps

  • Use the source’s native frame rate

  • AAC-LC

  • Bitrate: 192 kbps or higher (recommended)

  • Stereo (recommended)

  • Surround/multi-channel audio is not supported

Q. If I upload a video episode on Spotify, will that episode also be distributed to other podcast players?

Yes, but only the audio version. The audio version of the video episode uploaded will be distributed across other podcast players. For any video episode content that is uploaded and distributed to Spotify, we will extract the audio component and distribute to all other hosting platforms. This step is fully automated by Megaphone and you will not need to complete any other steps to distribute the episode to other listening platforms.

Q. Can I add ad locations to video content?

Yes. You can add ad locations to video content in the exact same way that you would insert ad locations with audio-only content. Once the content is done processing, you will be taken to a page to insert ad locations within an audio wave version of the content. Please note that we do not currently support the ability to see the video content as you insert your ad locations.

Q. Can I monetize my Spotify video content with my direct sales? With SPAN?

Yes. Similar to your audio-only content, you will be able to monetize your Spotify video content with both your own direct sales efforts and/or the Spotify Audience Network. Please note that you will not be able to specifically target video content in your campaigns unless you explicitly select the episodes or podcasts that you have identified as video episodes/podcasts.

Q. Are ads in video content skippable?

Yes. Similar to ads in audio-only podcast content, the ads can be skipped by seeking (using the :15 forward button), or by scrubbing (moving the playhead on the progress bar at the bottom of the screen). Ads will not have a “skip” button at this time.

Q. What types of devices will my video content be available on?

Both video and audio content will be available on mobile, desktop, tablet, web, and connected devices. However, once streaming-enabled, ads in both audio and video content will only currently be inserted in mobile, desktop, tablet, and web devices. We are planning to introduce ads into connected devices in the future.

Q. What content performance metrics are now available on Megaphone?

The following performance reporting metrics will be available in the Megaphone UI. Please note that these metrics only measure on-Spotify performance.

Total Streams (#)

Total # of times an episode of your podcast was played for at least 60 seconds on Spotify

Confirmed Reach (#)

Total # of people who listened to or watched an episode of your podcast for at least 60 seconds on Spotify

Download Reach (#)

Total # of households, or IP addresses, that downloaded an episode of your podcast

Total Consumption Time (#)

Total #of hours spent listening to or watching your content on Spotify

Average Consumption Time (#)

Average # of minutes spent listening to or watching your content on Spotify

Total Watch Time (#)

Total # of hours your video was visible on a viewer’s screen

Average Watch Time (#)

Average # of minutes your video was visible on a viewer’s screen

Total Listen Time (#)

Total # of hours spent listening to:

  • An audio-only episode

  • Or a video episode that isn’t visible on the viewer’s screen

Average Listen Time (#)

Average # of minutes spent listening to:

  • An audio-only episode

  • Or a video episode that isn’t visible on the viewer’s screen

Watch Time Percentage (%)

Total % consumption time that your video was visible on a viewer’s screen

Listen Time Percentage (%)

% of your total consumption time spent listening to an audio or video episode

Completion Rate (by quartile) (%)

Average % of your audience that completed an episode of your podcast on Spotify across a date range

Audience Retention (by episode)

Audience retention for a specific episode across a period of time

Q. Where can I find these metrics on Megaphone?

Your new content performance metrics can be found both at the show- level and episode-level.

To access your podcast-level metrics:

  1. From the ‘Podcast Library’ page, select the show you want to see streaming analytics for

  2. From your show’s page, select the “Analytics” tab (located next to the ‘Clips’ tag)

  3. Your new streaming-powered metrics will appear for that show

To access your episode-level metrics:

  1. From the ‘Podcast Library’ page, select the show you want to see streaming analytics for

  2. From your show’s page, below the show description, select the “Episodes” tab

  3. Select the episode you would like to see streaming analytics for

  4. From the episode page, select the “Analytics” tab (between ‘Manage Ad Locations’ and ‘Share Your Episode’)

  5. Your new streaming-powered metrics for the selected episode will appear

You’ll also see “streams” added to key views within the Reports tab. The ‘Delivery’ tab under the ‘Reports’ section will now include your Total Streams (hero metric at top of page), Podcast Performance by Streams (new module) and Episode Performance by Streams (new module).

Q. What happens to my Spotify platform data on Megaphone when I switch on these tools?

When you turn on our streaming-powered tools, all of your on-Spotify data will now be measured on a streaming-basis instead of a download-basis. This will mean that we will no longer be using RSS-based downloads as a basis for your on-Spotify data and analytics.

Q. Will this data still be available on Spotify for Podcasters?

Yes. All content performance reporting that you receive through Spotify for Podcasters will remain available even if you turn on our streaming-powered tools in Megaphone.

Q. Can I export the new content performance metrics?

Yes. You can export all content performance metrics by CSV.

Q. What ad campaign metrics are now available on Megaphone?

The following performance reporting metrics will be available in the Megaphone UI. Please note that these metrics only measure on-Spotify performance.

Streaming Ad Impressions (#)

Total # of confirmed impressions served across a campaign for media streamed on Spotify

Confirmed Reach (#)

Total # of unique individuals who were exposed to the campaign by ads streamed on Spotify

Average Frequency (#)

Total # of times your ad was heard on Spotify by an individual

Ad Completion Rate (%)

% of ads that are listened through to completion on Spotify without any skips

Audience Insights

The # of unique individuals who were exposed to the campaign by gender, age, device, and subscription type.

Q. Where can I find these metrics on Megaphone?

Your new ad performance analytics can be found by:

  1. From your Campaign Library, search for the name of the campaign you would like to see analytics for

  2. Select that campaign to open up the ‘Campaign Details’ page

  3. Below the ‘Campaign Details’ section, select the “Analytics” tab (next to the ‘Contacts’ tab)

  4. Your new SAI-enabled streaming metrics for your campaign will appear

Additionally, within Reports, your ‘Impressions’ tab total delivery now includes both streaming and downloaded impressions.

Q. Can I export the new ad campaign metrics?

Yes. You can export all ad campaign metrics/reporting by CSV.

Q. How are clickable promos different from standard promos?

Megaphone publishers who have streaming-powered tools activated will now be able to attach a clickable display unit to their promos that are delivered on Spotify. This will show a visual ad unit while the promo ad plays, so that users can directly click through to the promoted podcast content.

Q. What does the clickable display unit look like?

When a user reaches an ad break while consuming a podcast on Spotify and receives your promo, they'll receive a companion image plus a footer with a clickable call to action that directs them to your promoted podcast page on Spotify. These remain on screen as long as the user continues to listen to your promo audio.

Q. What kind of reporting will be available to assess how my clickable promos are performing?

The following performance reporting metrics will be available in the Megaphone UI:

Streamed Impressions (#)

# of times a promo (with or without a clickable ad display unit) was played on Spotify within a streaming-enabled podcast

Clickable Promo Impressions (#)

# of times a promo with a clickable ad display unit was played on Spotify on a streaming-enabled podcast

Promo Clicks (#)

# of times the clickable ad display unit was clicked for a clickable promo

Click-through Rate (%)

% of promo listeners that clicked through the promo. This metric is formulated in the following way: promo clicks divided by number of clickable promo impressions

Converted Listeners (#)

# of unique Spotify users that listened to the promoted podcast on Spotify for at least 60s within 14 days of hearing the promotion

New Converted Listeners (#)

# of unique Spotify users that listened to the promoted podcast on Spotify for a minimum 60s within 14 days of hearing the promotion and also hadn’t listened to the podcast in the last 30 days

Minutes Streamed by Converted Listeners (#)

Total # of minutes spent streaming promoted podcast by converted listeners

Minutes Streamed by New Converted Listeners (#)

Total # of minutes spent streaming promoted podcast by new converted listeners

Q. Can I use clickable promos to promote shows outside of my network?

No. You will only be able to attach a clickable display unit to promos that promote shows within your network. At this time, clickable promos will only be delivered within other streaming-enabled podcasts in your network.

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