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> The amount of ads they started to push to paying(!) users

I have never in the history of paying for Spotify had an ad play.

I get ads in podcasts. Not sponsored segments that the podcast creator inserted/narrated themselves (like used to happen), but ad served by Spotify itself, injected into the podcast. Easily 5 minutes in 30 min podcast[1], though this varies and I'm sure it is configurable by the podcast publishers.

1. This is not by feel, Spotify leaks it by displaying the original length and then updated one once it loads.

Other platforms do this too like pocketcasts. I assume it's the backend distribution network identifying your IP address and inserting 'relevant' ads. I don't believe it's being added by the podcast app (though for Spotify it may be, don't know)

I use Pocket Casts all the time and have never heard an ad inserted to a podcast.

Try using it abroad in a non English speaking country. You’ll notice the ads because they won’t be in English. This happens to me on Pocket Casts every time I travel.

Spotify (premium) also has preroll video ads.

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