‘Joe Rogan Experience,’ ‘Crime Junkie’ Among Winners of Spotify’s New Streaming Award

In this photo illustration, "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast is viewed on Spotify's mobile app in New York City on Jan. 31, 2022. Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Spotify has unveiled its inaugural Creator Milestone Award to honor podcasts that achieve major streaming milestones.

The award, to be handed out quarterly, includes gold, silver, and bronze categories for podcasts that attain 500 million streams, 250 million streams, and 100 million streams, respectively, the company said on its website.

“The Joe Rogan Experience,” hosted by comedian Joe Rogan, and the true-crime podcast “Crime Junkie,” hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, were named among the top-performing podcasts in the gold category this quarter.

“Dateline NBC” and “Stuff You Should Know” garnered awards in the silver category, attaining 250 million Spotify streams, while the podcasts “Rotten Mango” and “VIEWS with David Dobrik & Jason Nash” took home the honors in the bronze category.

“This global initiative sets a new standard for podcast achievement and honors the ongoing and ever-changing journey of being a creator today,” Spotify said in a statement shared with The Epoch Times via email.

Spotify said the new program also marks the first time that the company has publicly unveiled streaming numbers for its podcasters.

In addition to receiving a commemorative plaque, winners will be highlighted in a “curated spotlight hub” on Spotify.

“These awards go above and beyond the numbers—they’re about recognizing the hustle, creativity and dedication that make each creator’s story unique,” Jordan Newman, Spotify’s head of content partnerships, told Variety.

“For the first time, we’re publicly spotlighting these achievements, recognizing creators for their impact and sharing their success with the world.

“This program is an important step in celebrating the amazing work podcasters do, and we’re thrilled to continue supporting them as they shape the future of this medium.”

Flowers and Prawat told the publication that they were honored their podcast was recognized.

“Being part of Spotify’s first rollout of Creator Milestone Awards is such an honor and an exciting moment for us!” the hosts said.

“Reaching millions of listeners and sharing stories—especially those that still need answers—has always been at the heart of what we do. So keep an eye on the episodes coming out in the near future … you might see something shiny in the background!”

A phone displaying the Joe Rogan podcast and a screen displaying Spotify's logo, in Toulouse, France, on Jan. 31, 2022. Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images

Since launching in 2008, Spotify has become one of the world’s most popular streaming services. The platform, which boasts more than 640 million users, including more than 250 million subscribers, now hosts more than 6 million podcast episodes, according to Spotify’s website.

“As the podcast space continues to grow, we’re seeing the format evolve and video podcasts grow in popularity—in the past year, there’s been an 88 percent surge in users’ consuming video podcasts,” Spotify said in a December 2024 statement.

“With more than 300,000 video podcasts on Spotify, we’re giving fans a new way to enjoy their favorite shows, allowing them to feel like they are in the room with the host.”

“The Joe Rogan Experience,” which debuted in 2009 on YouTube, was Spotify’s most-listened-to podcast for the fourth consecutive year in 2024.

Some of Rogan’s most influential guests include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, award-winning actor Mel Gibson, and President Donald Trump.

In May 2020, Rogan struck a multiyear licensing deal with Spotify, making his podcast available exclusively on the platform.

However, in February 2024, the streaming service announced it had signed a new multiyear partnership agreement with Rogan that allowed the show to be streamed on other audio platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

“The Joe Rogan Experience” currently holds the No. 2 spot on Spotify’s “Top Podcasts“ chart in the United States, behind ”The Mel Robbins Podcast,” hosted by the New York Times bestselling author.

“Crime Junkie,” which debuted in 2017, presently ranks at No. 15.