Spotify podcast Streams, Plays and Flightcast Total Plays

Spotify podcast Streams and Plays are different metrics. Flightcast’s Total Plays is a third, combined metric. Compare like with like when reviewing an episode.

Spotify Streams

A Spotify podcast stream is counted after at least 60 seconds of playback. This is the Spotify Streams metric used in Flightcast’s combined reporting where the integration provides it.

Do not use the 30-second music-track definition or Spotify for Artists guidance to explain podcast streams.

Spotify Plays

Spotify changed its podcast Plays definition on June 11, 2026. A play now requires at least 30 seconds of listening or viewing. Plays and Streams can therefore differ even for the same show and dates.

For comparisons spanning the change, check the definition and historical coverage in Spotify for Creators. Do not assume all historical figures were recalculated under the newer definition.

Flightcast Total Plays

Flightcast Total Plays adds the recorded audio listens, Spotify streams and video views available in its reporting. It is not a copy of Spotify’s Plays metric.

A combined total can include different counting methods. It is not a count of unique people, and it should not be used by itself to calculate monetization eligibility or revenue.

When the numbers look different

Check:

1. The same episode and date range
2. The metric label: Plays, Streams or Total Plays
3. The time zone and whether the period is complete
4. Any migration or reporting-source change

Spotify activity can arrive through Flightcast’s current hosting integration after the older Spotify analytics source stops. Do not reconnect solely because the old series ends.

See Spotify’s announcement of its podcast Plays definition for the June 2026 change.