YouTube last month announced it will discontinue Google Podcasts in 2024 and moving all podcasts to YouTube Music. Google says this is part of a broader effort to create a centralized podcast destination that is better for both listeners and podcasters.
The company says that Podcasts on YouTube Music will be globally available by the end of the year and will include access to downloads, background play, and the ability to switch between audio and video podcasts.
In 2024, YouTube will be increasing its investment in the podcast experience on YouTube Music, adding new features such as YouTube-only capabilities across community, discovery, and audio/visual switching.
YouTube says that it is making this change because listeners and podcasters are already moving to YouTube Music. According to Edison, about 23% of weekly podcast users in the US say YouTube is their most frequently used service, versus just 4% for Google Podcasts.
YouTube says that it will provide a simple migration tool for Google Podcasts users to move their subscriptions and data to YouTube Music. Users will also be able to download an OPML file of their show subscriptions, which they can upload to a different listening platform if they prefer.
For podcasters, YouTube says that it will provide creation and analytics tools, as well as RSS uploads. This will allow podcasters to create and publish their podcasts on YouTube Music, and to track their performance.
The transition to YouTube Music as a centralized podcast destination is a significant move for Google. It shows that the company is committed to investing in podcasts and to making YouTube Music the go-to platform for both listeners and podcasters.
What does this mean for listeners?
Listeners can expect a more integrated podcast experience on YouTube Music. This means having access to all of their favorite podcasts in one place, as well as new features such as YouTube-only capabilities across community, discovery, and audio/visual switching.
What does this mean for podcasters?
Podcasters can expect a wider audience and more tools to create and manage their podcasts on YouTube Music. The company is also committed to providing podcasters with analytics to track their performance.
The main competitors of YouTube Music are other music streaming services: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, SoundCloud, Qobuz; and podcast players: Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.