Embracing the Golden Age of Podcasts with YouTube Music

• Google
• YouTube Music

In the golden age of podcasts, YouTube Music steps up to enhance the podcast experience for creators and listeners. Podcasts have been embraced by creators and artists worldwide, and YouTube Music is tapping into their potential to boost audience growth across both audio and video formats.

YouTube Music Takes on Podcasts

Earlier this year, YouTube Music launched the ability for users to watch and listen to podcasts without requiring a paid membership. The platform offers access to downloads, background play in various locations, like the car or on smart speakers, and the ability to switch between audio and video podcasts. The plans are to make Podcasts on YouTube Music globally available before the end of this year.

Investing in the Future of Podcasts

Looking ahead to 2024, YouTube Music plans to increase its investment in the podcast experience, with the aim of making it a superior destination for both fans and podcasters. With unique YouTube-only capabilities across community, discovery, and audio/visual switching, the platform is set to enhance the podcast listening experience.

As part of this process, Google Podcasts will be phased out in 2024. YouTube Music will assist Google Podcasts users in transitioning to their platform, aligning with current user behavior. According to Edison, around 23% of weekly podcast users in the US claim YouTube as their most frequently used service, as opposed to a mere 4% for Google Podcasts.

Smooth Transition Promised for Users and Podcasters

YouTube Music is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for users and podcasters alike. Users will have access to a simple migration tool and the ability to add podcast RSS feeds to their YouTube Music library. This includes shows not currently hosted by YouTube. For those who prefer a different platform, the tools will also include an option to download an OPML file of their show subscriptions, which they can upload to a supportive app.

Podcast creators will be provided with robust creation and analytics tools and RSS uploads. This will make their podcasts available to YouTube Music listeners in various contexts – whether they're listening in the background, in the car, offline, and more.

Building a Unified Podcast Experience

As the transition takes place, YouTube Music will gather feedback to make the migration process as simple and easy as possible. Once the migration tools are ready, they will be released with clear guidelines on their usage.

Although this transition will take time, these efforts will enable YouTube Music to create a superior product and a centralized destination that rewards creators and artists while providing fans with an unrivaled podcast experience. For now, fans will continue to have access to YouTube, YouTube Music, and Google Podcasts. YouTube Music is committed to being transparent in communicating future changes with its users and podcasters and will share more about this process in the coming months.