The way you find your next binge-listen just got a massive facelift. Honestly, if you’ve opened your app lately and felt like the "Top Charts" section looks a little... different... you aren't alone. Spotify quietly rolled out a series of updates to its podcast charts in September 2025 that basically rewrite how we measure what’s actually "popular" in the world of digital audio.
It isn't just a fresh coat of paint. For years, podcast charts were these weird, opaque mysteries. Why was a show with millions of fans sitting at #10 while a random new true crime series held the top spot? We finally have some answers, and they have everything to do with a shift from "raw downloads" to "meaningful engagement."
The End of the "Top Episodes" Era
One of the most jarring changes in the Spotify announces new podcast charts September 2025 update is the disappearing act of the "Top Podcast Episodes" chart.
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If you're a data nerd or a political junkie, you probably used that list to see which specific interview was "winning" the day. Now? It’s gone from the main interface in several major markets. Instead, Spotify is leaning heavily into two primary categories: Top Podcasts and Trending Podcasts. The logic is simple, even if it’s a bit frustrating for some. Spotify wants to highlight brands and loyalty rather than one-off viral moments. They’ve realized that a single "trending" episode doesn't necessarily mean a show is good; it just means the guest had a big Twitter following that day. By prioritizing the show-level chart, the platform is rewarding creators who keep people coming back week after week.
How the Algorithm Actually Ranks Shows Now
Kinda wild, but "downloads" are no longer the king of the mountain. In this late 2025 landscape, Spotify’s ranking formula has been refined to look at a very specific set of signals. If you’re a creator, or just curious why The Joe Rogan Experience still sits on the throne while others fluctuate, here is the breakdown:
- Unique Listener Count: This is the big one. It doesn't matter if one super-fan listens to an episode ten times. Spotify only cares how many individual accounts hit play.
- Follower Velocity: It’s not just about how many followers you have, but how fast you’re getting new ones. This is why you’ll see "Trending" charts filled with shows that might have smaller total audiences but are currently "blowing up."
- Completion Rates: This is where the "New Charts" get smart. If people click your show but bail after three minutes, the algorithm notices. High completion rates—people sticking through to the end—are now a massive booster for chart position.
The Video Revolution is Officially Integrated
You can’t talk about the September updates without talking about video. By the end of 2025, video podcasts aren't a "bonus" feature anymore; they are the standard. Spotify’s new charts now integrate data from their Spotify Partner Program, which includes payouts for Premium video engagement.
When you look at the Top Podcasts list now, you’re seeing a unified score that counts both audio-only listeners and those watching the video feed. This is a huge win for shows like The Diary Of A CEO or Call Her Daddy, which have massive visual productions. It also levels the playing field against YouTube, making Spotify a "one-stop shop" for creator rankings.
Interestingly, the data from September 2025 shows that nearly 42% of weekly listeners now prefer watching their podcasts. That is a massive jump from just a few years ago. If a show doesn't have a video component in 2026, it’s basically fighting with one hand tied behind its back when it comes to the charts.
Why "The Daily" and "Joe Rogan" Won't Budge
Despite the new tech, the top of the charts looks suspiciously familiar. The Daily from The New York Times actually widened its lead in September 2025, hitting an audio reach of over 12 million.
Why? Because the new charts reward "habitual listening."
A daily news show has the ultimate advantage in an algorithm that prizes "unique daily listeners." Meanwhile, Joe Rogan remains at #1 because his follower base (which reached over 15 million by early 2025) provides a "floor" that no other creator can touch. Even if he has a "slow" week, his baseline of loyal followers keeps his chart velocity higher than anyone else's peak.
The Lossless Audio Connection
An underrated part of the September 2025 rollout was the arrival of Lossless Listening for Premium subscribers. You might wonder what high-fidelity audio has to do with charts.
Basically, Spotify is using Lossless as a way to keep "audiophiles" and high-value users on the platform longer. Longer "Time Spent Listening" (TSL) metrics directly influence how the algorithm perceives a show's quality. If listeners are staying tuned because the audio quality is finally crisp (up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC), that show gets a "loyalty" boost in the rankings.
What This Means for You
If you’re just a listener, these changes mean your "Discover" feed is going to get a lot better. The charts are becoming less about who can "game" the system with bot downloads and more about what people are actually finishing.
For creators and marketers, here is the "new reality" of the 2025 charts:
- Focus on the "Follow": Don't just ask for a listen. The "Follow" button is the strongest signal for the new chart algorithm.
- Video isn't Optional: If you aren't uploading video to Spotify, your "reach" metric will always be lower than the competition.
- Hook them early: Since completion rates now dictate chart movement, those first five minutes of your episode are make-or-break.
- Forget the "Viral Episode": Building a consistent, long-term brand is the only way to stay on the Top Podcasts list under the new layout.
The September 2025 update proved that Spotify is done playing second fiddle to traditional radio metrics. They want a chart that reflects "cultural relevance," and for better or worse, that means a mix of data, video, and deep user loyalty. Check your app—you might find your new favorite show isn't just a "top" podcast, but one that’s actually trending for the right reasons.
To stay ahead of these shifts, you should audit your own podcast's "Completion Rate" in Spotify for Podcasters. If you see a massive drop-off in the first 60 seconds, your chart ranking will suffer regardless of your total download count. Focus on tight editing and high-quality "Lossless" ready audio to keep your retention metrics high enough to trigger the new trending algorithm.