Apple Podcasts’ New “Timed Links” + Auto Chapters Just Dropped: How to Turn Every Episode Into a Revenue Funnel Before the Holidays

Why creators should care: these are monetization features in disguise

• Frictionless upsell to your paid feed. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions pay creators 70% of subscriber price in year one and 85% after a subscriber’s first paid year—minus applicable taxes. Timed links let you pitch the upgrade exactly when listeners feel the value (e.g., “extended cut starts here”). ^[4]
• Affiliate upside on top. Apple’s Services Performance Partner Program pays a one-time bounty for Apple Podcasts memberships you drive (30‑day cookie). Historically the rate for Podcasts was 50% of the first month; current program pages describe a one-time payment with a 30‑day window—confirm your rate in Partnerize. ^[5]
• Contextual commerce. Linking to Apple Music songs, Apple TV films, Books, or even another show can generate additional affiliate bounties or a lift in network cross-promo—now timed precisely to listener intent. ^[6]

Playbooks to implement this week

1) Turn chapters into checkout moments

• Add a chapter titled “Subscriber-only Extended Segment” at the timestamp where your paid segment begins. Drop a timed link to your Apple Podcasts Subscription upgrade. Apple renders it on-player and in-transcript. ^[10]
• Pricing nudge: If you plan a holiday price change, keep Apple’s consent thresholds in mind so existing subs don’t get blocked by an approval prompt—test smaller increments. ^[11]

2) Make your show notes “shoppable” (inside Apple’s ecosystem)

• Interviewing an artist? Link their album on Apple Music at the mention; reviewing a film? Link the title on Apple TV; citing a book? Link Apple Books. Each can attribute to your affiliate account. ^[12]
• How to implement: Add timestamps and URLs in the episode description or via the <podcast:chapters> tag through your host so links display at the right moment. ^[13]

3) Cross-promo your own network with auto-created links

• If you run multiple shows, mention them naturally; Apple may auto-create links to those podcasts for English shows in iOS 26.2. Keep it, or toggle off per episode if you prefer manual control. ^[14]

4) Pair with Spotify video to capture incremental Premium payouts

• Publish highlight clips or select full episodes as video on Spotify to tap Premium video revenue while Apple handles paid audio subs. Diversify formats by episode type (e.g., tutorials as video; narratives as audio). ^[15]

Example revenue math (conservative, US pricing)

Scenario A — Paid upgrade funnel: Your show is $4.99/mo on Apple Podcasts. A timed link placed at the 18-minute mark converts 250 listeners this month.
Creator share in year 1 ≈ 70% × $4.99 × 250 = $873/month (before taxes). After month 12 for those retained, that jumps to ≈ 85% share. ^[20]

Scenario B — Affiliate stack: You’re approved as a Performance Partner. You drive 150 new Apple Podcasts memberships via your timed link in-show and newsletter (30‑day window). Program pays a one-time bounty (rate defined in your Partnerize account; historically ~50% of first month). At $4.99, historical bounty would be ~$2.50 × 150 = $375 one-time, on top of your creator share. Verify your current rate. ^[21]

Scenario C — Mixed media links: In a film-critic pod, you link three Apple TV titles mentioned. Even a small conversion rate through the 30‑day cookie can add incremental bounties without extra ad reads. ^[22]

FAQ: quick answers

• Can I disable auto chapters and auto-created links? Yes—globally or per episode in Apple Podcasts Connect. ^[25]
• Do timed links work on back catalog episodes? Yes—add timestamps and links to existing episodes and Apple will render them. ^[26]
• What about cross-posting to drive video revenue? Spotify reports hundreds of creators surpassing $10K monthly and some six-figure earners post-launch; consider a dual‑format strategy. ^[27]

Bottom line

Apple didn’t just ship a UI tweak—today’s timed links and auto chapters turn your episodes into dynamic landing pages. Combine Apple’s predictable subscription rev share (70% → 85%), affiliate bounties where eligible, and a selective push into Spotify video, and you can raise blended ARPM ahead of the holiday listening spike—without adding new ad reads. Start with two high‑intent CTAs, place them at moments of peak curiosity, and let the player do the selling. ^[31]