Run Spotify ads
Spotify ads let you reach listeners during their music and podcast sessions with audio ads accompanied by a visual companion image. Spotify ad breaks appear when free-tier listeners are between tracks — making it a high-attention, screen-adjacent format that works well for brand awareness and recall.
How Spotify ads work
Spotify ads in our app are audio ads. Each ad consists of three elements:
- Audio file — your spoken ad, max 30 seconds
- Companion image — a 1:1 square image that displays on screen while the audio plays
- Logo — your brand logo, displayed alongside the companion image
All three elements are required. The companion image and logo appear in the Spotify app while listeners hear your audio — giving you both an auditory and visual touchpoint.
Audio file requirements
- Max duration: 30 seconds
- Max file size: 5 MB
- Accepted formats: .mp3, .ogg, .wav
Audio quality matters. Spotify listeners are in an audio-first context — background music, clarity of voice, and a clear call-to-action in the final seconds make a significant difference in recall and response. A well-produced 15–30 second script outperforms a rushed or low-quality recording.
Don't have a professional audio recording? Write a clear script (aim for 75 words max for 30 seconds) and use our Platform's AI voice tool. Keep the CTA simple and repeat the brand name at least twice — once near the start and once at the end.
Companion image requirements
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square)
- Should clearly show your brand, offer, or product — this is the visual component your audience sees while listening
- Keep text minimal — the audio carries the message; the image provides visual context and branding
Targeting options
Spotify targeting is based on listener context and demographics rather than interests or behaviour:
Ad Categories
Select the content category your ad is relevant to — for example, Consumer Goods, Entertainment, Finance, Health & Fitness, or Technology. This helps Spotify place your ad alongside contextually relevant music and content.
Podcast Topics
Target listeners of specific podcast topic categories — for example, Business, True Crime, Health, or Sports. This ensures your ad runs in podcast ad breaks within those content areas, reaching a more engaged, topic-relevant audience.
Gender
Filter by gender to reach men, women, or all listeners.
Age Group
Target by age range to align with your product's audience demographic.
Location
Spotify location targeting operates at the country level. Select the countries where you want your ads to run. City-level or regional targeting is not available within app's Spotify integration.
Before you begin
- Your Spotify account must be connected. See Connect Spotify.
- Prepare your audio file (.mp3, .ogg, or .wav), companion image (1:1), and logo before starting the campaign builder.
- Spotify requires a payment method on your connected Spotify Ad Studio account.
Common issues
My audio file was rejected
Check that your file is under 30 seconds and 5 MB, and that it's in .mp3, .ogg, or .wav format. MP4 and other video formats are not accepted. If the file passes format checks, the content may need review — Spotify's policies prohibit certain categories (e.g., alcohol targeting to under-25s, political content, etc.).
Low delivery / impressions
Spotify's free-tier listener pool is smaller than Meta or Google's reach. If your targeting is narrow (e.g., a specific country + specific age range + specific podcast topic), the available audience may be limited. Try broadening one targeting dimension — for example, expanding the location to multiple countries or widening the age group.
Related articles
- Connect Spotify
- Generate branded images and videos
- Creative best practices