Spotify considered the elimination of 'white noise' podcasts as a cost-saving measure.

Image credit : Spotify Newsroom The creators of the White noise podcast on Spotify are earning substantial profits, which reportedly displeased the audio streaming service. An internal document discovered by Bloomberg revealed that podcasts featuring white noise, such as sounds like waves, vacuuming, and fans whirring, were being consumed for a total of 3 million hours each day on the platform. This unintentional outcome stemmed from Spotify's algorithm promoting such content to listeners as part of its strategy to dominate the podcast app market. Previously, Bloomberg had noted that creators of white noise podcasts were generating around $18,000 monthly. Many creators on Spotify, beyond just those offering white noise, utilize the platform's free hosting software, Anchor, to produce their shows. Since Spotify's acquisition of Anchor in 2019, it not only facilitates podcast creation and distribution but also monetizes the content. [caption id="attachment_170884" align="aligncenter" width="1440"] Image credit : Spotify Newsroom[/caption] Although white noise podcasts proved popular among listeners, they apparently don't yield as much revenue for Spotify compared to other content genres. The company reportedly contemplated removing these podcasts and preventing future uploads in this category. Additionally, there was a consideration to adjust the algorithm to recommend "similar programming" that would be more cost-effective for Spotify. Implementing these changes could potentially boost the company's annual gross profit by $38 million. While the specific definition of "similar programming" wasn't detailed in the internal document, it might refer to other content designed to aid sleep, reduce anxiety, or offer relaxation—typical applications of white noise. Also read : Spotify and Patreon Partner to Give Podcast Creators a Bigger Stage A thread on the Spotify subreddit a couple of months ago revealed multiple users lamenting the disappearance of white noise podcasts they regularly listened to. Bloomberg also spoke with a content creator who experienced their content vanishing for a few weeks before being restored. Although Spotify didn't confirm whether white noise podcasts were temporarily removed, the company told Bloomberg that the proposed changes did not materialize and that white noise podcasts continue to be available on the platform.