Spotify now allows users to capture and share segments from any podcast.

      **TL;DR** Spotify has introduced Podcast Clips, a feature allowing listeners to select, trim, and share specific highlights from podcast episodes using a scissors icon in the Now Playing interface. This tool is available globally for both free and Premium users on mobile devices.

      Spotify has rolled out a new feature named Podcast Clips that enables listeners to pick, edit, and share particular segments from podcast episodes. By clicking on a scissors icon in the Now Playing view, users can access a clipping tool to highlight audio segments, preview them, and share via social media, messaging apps, or direct links. This feature is gradually being made available worldwide to both free and Premium mobile users, with plans to support more shows over time. Users can save clips to their Spotify Library and include them in podcast playlists.

      When users press the share button, the new sharing interface provides four options: a link to the entire episode, a specific chapter, a timestamp, or a clip, with clips being the latest addition. The other options already existed, but the new unified sharing menu enhances their visibility.

      The 💜 of EU tech includes the latest news from the EU tech world, insights from our experienced founder Boris, and some questionable AI artwork. It's free and delivered weekly to your inbox. Sign up today! Spotify indicates that this feature is an extension of the success it has experienced with Chapters, a tool launched earlier this year for automatically dividing lengthy episodes into titled sections, facilitating navigation through two-hour interviews without needing to scrub the timeline. Since its introduction, Chapters have been saved and added to playlists over 2 million times each month.

      The release coincides with a changing landscape in how news is disseminated in the tech sector. Major executives are increasingly opting to engage with podcasters instead of traditional media, leading to longer, less formal conversations. When figures like OpenAI’s Sam Altman or Tesla’s Elon Musk make headlines in three-hour podcasts, most listeners can’t commit to the entire episode. Clips provide a method for listeners to highlight and share significant moments.

      This dynamic benefits Spotify’s business model as well. Each clip shared on platforms like Instagram, X, or WhatsApp acts as marketing for Spotify. If someone receives a 45-second excerpt from a podcast interview and wants to hear more, they are likely to return to Spotify. This feature turns listeners into promoters, which is more cost-effective than traditional advertising methods.

      Podcast discovery remains a significant challenge for the industry. Unlike music, which is easily sampled through algorithmic playlists and short previews, podcasts require a time investment that many listeners hesitate to make with unfamiliar shows. Short clips help to overcome this hurdle. Apple recognized this when it supported video podcasts earlier this year, while YouTube has long served as the primary podcast discovery platform due to its short clips and recommendations leading viewers to complete episodes.

      Spotify has been heavily investing in podcasting infrastructure throughout 2026. During its Investor Day on May 21, the company unveiled a range of AI-powered features, including real-time Q&A that allows listeners to pose questions while listening, Personal Podcasts created from natural language prompts, and Studio by Spotify Labs, a dedicated desktop app for crafting personalized audio briefings based on user emails, calendars, and browsing history.

      The company also announced Memberships, a new monetization option enabling podcast creators to offer paid subscriptions directly on Spotify. Creator Sponsorships, which give podcasters increased control over scheduling, replacing, and analyzing brand deals, are already active for video content in the Spotify Partner Program.

      Supporting data underscores this initiative. Spotify reported 761 million monthly active users in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 12% year-over-year increase, along with 293 million Premium subscribers. Quarterly revenue reached €4.53 billion, with an operating income of €715 million, and according to Roman Wasenmüller, Spotify’s VP and global head of podcasts, podcasts are now profitable on the platform for their second year.

      The introduction of the clip feature comes amidst rising debates over AI-generated content on the platform. Spotify recently issued a Verified badge for artists, explicitly excluding AI-generated profiles, and its agreement with Universal Music Group allows AI-generated covers and remixes under a revenue-sharing model, indicating the company is looking to embrace AI creativity rather than stifle it.

      Clips position Spotify at the convergence of two strategic trends: enhancing the social aspect of podcasts and improving discoverability. The company has been aggressively expanding into related content formats, including audiobooks, physical book sales, and AI-generated audio. CEO Daniel Ek has defined 2026 as a year of heightened ambition, aiming to reposition Spotify as a media platform rather than solely a music streaming service.

      The effectiveness of the clip feature in boosting podcast discovery will depend on listener engagement. Spotify has a history of launching social features, such as its now-defunct messaging system and collaborative playlists, which gained moderate popularity but never became central to the user experience. However, the simplicity of a scissors icon, a trimming tool, and