Cost to Advertise on Spotify Premium: What You Need to Know

I’ll show real numbers from Spotify Ad Studio so you can set a smart budget.

I spent days testing ads and building small campaigns. I’ll tell you what $250 buys and why audio buys often cost less per impression than video.

You’ll get clear examples of formats and where prices climb.

Expect CPMs in the U.S. around $15–$25. That means roughly 10,000–16,000 impressions for a $250 minimum. Audio impressions often land near $0.015–$0.025 each. Video full views run closer to $0.02–$0.03.

Formats range from Audio Everywhere with a clickable unit to Sponsored Sessions and full homepage takeovers. I’ll note when niche geos or tiny audiences raise the price, and I’ll map goals to formats so you pick the right one for your brand.

Key Takeaways

• $250 is the usual self-serve starting budget in Ad Studio.
• Typical U.S. CPMs run about $15–$25, yielding ~10k–16k impressions at the minimum.
• Audio impressions cost roughly $0.015–$0.025; video views sit near $0.02–$0.03.
• Formats vary from audio units to sponsored sessions, podcasts, and homepage buys.
• Expect higher rates for tight geos or niche audiences; match format to your goals.

How much does it cost to advertise on Spotify Premium

I ran small budgets through Ad Studio so you see clear numbers.

Minimum and typical rates. The self-serve minimum is $250. In the U.S., expect a CPM near $15–$25 for audio buys. That gives roughly 10,000–16,000 impressions for $250.

What $250 actually buys

$250 buys audio reach at scale. At $20 CPM you get ~12,500 impressions. Video on a CPCV basis usually runs about $0.02–$0.03 per completed view.

When prices rise

Costs climb when you stack tight targeting. City-level geo, narrow age bands, or iOS-only filters push CPM up.

Peak shopping windows like holidays and back-to-school lift demand. Younger, mobile-heavy audiences and popular playlists also raise rates.

Quick reference

• Tip: Broad targeting lowers CPM. Hyper-niche splits spend and can double effective CPM.
• Tip: Model frequency and reach before you launch a campaign.

Pricing models explained: CPM, CPCV, and format-based rates

I checked live buys so you see what each model actually charges.

CPM means you pay per thousand impressions. A $20 CPM is just $0.02 per impression in plain terms. That model suits audio where steady reach matters.

Audio ads on CPM

Audio usually runs on CPM. Expect $15–$25 CPM, or about $0.015–$0.025 per impression.

You pay as impressions deliver in active sessions. Narrow targeting or peak dates raise the rate.

Video on CPCV

Video buys often use CPCV. You only pay when a viewer completes the ad. Typical rates sit around $0.02–$0.03 per full view.

Sponsored Sessions and Video Takeover charge on completion. That protects your budget from half views.

High-impact buys

Premium options cost much more. Sponsored Playlists often start above $20,000. A Homepage Takeover owns the desktop front for 24 hours.

• Use CPM for broad reach and steady frequency.
• Use CPCV when completion matters for brand videos.
• Always check reporting for impressions vs full views vs fixed fees.

Want a bigger picture before you start? Read is advertising worth it for practical guidance aimed at small brands and advertisers.

Spotify ad formats and what you pay for each

I’ll map format, placement, and pricing so you pick the right fit for your message.

Audio Everywhere

Where it shows: Runs between songs across devices with a clickable companion image.

What you pay: CPM for impressions. This is the go-to for broad reach and steady frequency.

Sponsored Sessions

Where it shows: A 15–30 second video in exchange for 30 minutes of ad-free listening.

What you pay: CPCV since you pay on completed video views. It includes a clickable unit.

Video Takeover

Where it shows: Plays when the app is visible during active sessions.

What you pay: Often billed on completed views. Keep videos under 30 seconds and include audio to pass checks.

Display options

Overlay & Leaderboard: Show when a user returns to app or on desktop for 30 seconds of full-screen SOV. These drive clicks and are charged as display buys.

Homepage Takeover: Owns the desktop Home for 24 hours. This is high-impact and priced as a one-off buy.

Podcasts and Sponsored Playlists

Podcast ads: Pre, mid, or post-roll, plus host reads. Host reads boost recall and can stretch a small budget.

Sponsored Playlists: Premium bundles of audio, video, and display. Pricing often starts at five figures because placement is exclusive.

• Tip: Match format to your message. A tight audio script wins attention in the first 5 seconds.
• Tip: Avoid black bars on video and include audio for approval.

Budget planning: examples by goal, format, and timeline

Start by matching your dollars to a clear goal: reach, lift, or direct visits. That makes choices simple when you build a campaign.

$250–$1,000 test: awareness-first audio with broad targeting

Run Audio Everywhere with broad target settings. At a typical $15–$25 CPM, a $250 buy delivers ~10k–16k impressions. Aim for frequency of 2–3 over two weeks.

Tip: Use a crisp 30-second script and a short promo code or vanity URL to track results.

$2,500–$10,000: mixed audio and video for lift and traffic

Split spend about 60/40 audio to video. Buy video on CPCV near $0.02–$0.03 per completed view. Add dayparting for commute and evening listening. Layer simple geo and age but avoid heavy device filters.

$20,000+: sponsored playlists or homepage takeovers

Consider Sponsored Playlists or a Homepage Takeover for big launches. Playlists often start above $20k. The homepage splash runs 24 hours on desktop and drives attention fast.

• Set budget controls and bid caps in Ad Studio.
• Add UTMs and a focused landing page for tracking traffic and conversions.
• Run at least two campaigns as a small test to compare performance.

Targeting and reach: how audience choices impact cost

Your audience choices shape both reach and price — and that trade-off is simple to manage. I’ll walk through the key filters and what they do to CPM and delivery.

Playlist, genre, and mood targeting: cost vs. intent

Playlist targeting narrows reach and raises CPM. You reach listeners with higher intent. That often gives better engagement but fewer impressions.

Genre targeting is broader and cheaper. Use genre for early tests and message fit. Mood or theme lists sit between the two in both cost and intent.

Geo and device filters: tightening the funnel raises CPM

City-level geo or device-only filters (like iOS) cut delivery speed and raise CPM. You pay more per impression for precise groups of users.

Tip: Avoid stacking many tight filters on your first run. One change per test tells you what moved performance.

Dayparting and frequency: control spend without waste

Dayparting pushes spend into commute, lunch, or evening when people listen more. That saves waste and raises completion rates for short creative in the first 5–10 seconds.

Cap frequency at 2–4 per week. Too many repeats cause listener fatigue and worse results.

• Start wide, learn fast: cast a broader net, then narrow where performance proves value.
• Watch delivery daily: loosen filters if impressions stall.
• Video note: video ads only serve when the app is visible, so expect fewer but higher-quality touches.

Performance, tracking, and optimization

Track performance from day one so your campaign learns fast and spends smart. Start with a few clear metrics and a simple setup. That keeps results real and easy to act on.

What to measure

Measure reach and frequency first. Know how many people you hit and how often.

For audio, watch completion rate and companion click CTR. That shows creative clarity.

For video, focus on completion rate and CPCV. Those tell you if viewers watch to the end.

Tie-back to web traffic

Add UTMs on every destination link. Confirm sessions and events in Google Analytics.

Define key events before launch—view content, add to cart, purchase. That gives a clean conversion picture.

Server-side tracking with Stape and Spotify Conversions API

Client-side gaps happen. Ad blockers and ITP hide signals. Server-side tagging recovers many of them.

Stape lets you run a server GTM and add a Spotify Conversions API tag. This improves data accuracy, speeds your site, and tightens privacy control.

• Rotate creatives every 2–3 weeks.
• Pause low CTR lines and shift spend to higher completion ads.
• Compare campaign windows for branded search lift and direct traffic.

Setting up your campaign in Spotify Ad Studio

Getting a campaign live is straightforward. I’ll walk you through the exact steps I use so your first run is clean and measurable.

Choose objectives and import audio or request voiceover

Pick an objective and name your campaign so reporting stays tidy. Choose reach, traffic, or awareness based on your goal.

Upload audio or paste a script and request the free 30‑second voiceover. Ad Studio will accept audio that runs 15–30 seconds. Say your brand name in the first 3 seconds for clarity.

Set budget, schedule, and bidding controls

Set your campaign budget and dates. The minimum is $250. Add a bid cap if you want to limit CPM or CPCV.

Tip: Save one test cell with no dayparting so you have a clear delivery baseline.

Creative specs: audio length, video rules, and companion assets

Audio runs 15–30 seconds and pairs with a clickable companion image. Video must include audio, avoid black bars, use 9:16 or 16:9, and stay under 30 seconds.

Load your companion image, headline, and destination URL with UTMs. Preview on mobile and desktop. Check cropping and legibility before you publish.

“Name the campaign clearly, test one variable, and check delivery daily for the first week.”

1. Publish and monitor daily for the first week.
2. Adjust bids or filters if delivery stalls.
3. Rotate creative after 2–3 weeks and scale winners.

Is Spotify worth it for your brand and audience

For many small brands, audio ads win attention during daily routines where people actually listen. I’ve used campaigns that reach commuters, cooks, and gym-goers. Those moments give high attention and good recall.

Best use cases: brand lift over direct response

Use this platform when your goal is awareness and recall. Audio fits storytelling. Short scripts and a clear sonic cue work best.

If you need instant sales, temper expectations. Last-click channels like search and some social platforms often drive faster conversions.

How it compares with radio, YouTube, and Facebook on cost

I’ll be blunt. Compared with radio, you get tighter targeting and better measurement. You also control creative and frequency more precisely.

Against YouTube, this platform wins in pure audio attention and context. YouTube still beats it for clickable video actions and direct response.

Compared with Facebook, streaming is cleaner for storytelling. Facebook often delivers quicker clicks and lower CPA for short offers.

• If you need brand lift: pick streaming for attention.
• If you need instant ROAS: use search or social retargeting after audio.
• Mix: seed awareness with audio, then retarget on search and social.

Bring your team or a partner and align creative across channels. Simple audio formats with a clear offer move recall and site visits. That combination makes campaigns work for brands and budgets.

Conclusion

A focused trial gives clear signals — reach, completion, and clicks — without wasting budget.

Start with a $250–$1,000 audio test in spotify studio. Keep targeting broad and hold CPM near $15–$25 so your dollars stretch.

Add a small video line (CPCV ~$0.02–$0.03) to test Sponsored Sessions or a Video Takeover. Track reach, frequency, completion rate, CTR, and site actions.

If results look good, scale to $2,500–$10,000 and mix audio and video ads. For big launches, consider a Sponsored Playlist or a Homepage Takeover (24‑hour desktop buy).

Use Ad Studio voiceover and companion images. Layer server-side tracking and the Spotify Conversions API for cleaner web attribution.

Ready for a practical read before you set up? See is advertising worth it for next steps and planning help.