Spotify Cuts 15 Podcast Jobs

Layoffs hit The Ringer and Spotify Studios teams as company denies broader changes

Mar. 24, 2026 at 11:00am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Spotify has laid off around 15 employees, or 3% of its podcast division, including staff from The Ringer and Spotify Studios. The cuts come amid industry chatter about potential closures of revenue programs and brands at the audio streaming giant, though Spotify has denied any upcoming major changes to its podcast tools and offerings.

Why it matters

The podcast industry has seen significant growth and investment in recent years, with Spotify emerging as a major player through acquisitions like The Ringer. These layoffs suggest Spotify may be reevaluating its podcast strategy and priorities as it navigates an uncertain economic climate.

The details

The layoffs reportedly affected employees across Spotify's podcast teams, including the special projects lead and a writer from The Ringer. One Ringer podcast, "New York New York with John Jastremski", is also being cancelled. Spotify has denied any broader changes to its podcast tools and revenue programs, despite industry chatter about potential closures.

  • Spotify announced the layoffs on March 24, 2026.

The players

Spotify

The major audio streaming platform that has made significant investments in podcasting in recent years, including the acquisition of The Ringer.

The Ringer

A digital media company focused on sports, pop culture, and technology that was acquired by Spotify in 2020.

Andrew Gruttadaro

The special projects lead at The Ringer who was affected by the Spotify layoffs.

Miles Surrey

A writer at The Ringer who was affected by the Spotify layoffs.

John Jastremski

The host of the Ringer podcast "New York New York" that is being cancelled.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Spotify has not provided details on whether there will be any further changes or restructuring within its podcast division following these layoffs.

The takeaway

The podcast industry remains in flux, with major platforms like Spotify reevaluating their investments and strategies as economic conditions shift. These layoffs at Spotify suggest the company may be looking to streamline its podcast operations, though the full extent of any changes remains unclear.