Google Plans to Discontinue Podcast App, Shift Focus to YouTube Music
In a move aimed at consolidating its streaming audience, Google has announced plans to discontinue its Google Podcasts app by late 2024. The tech giant intends to shift its focus to YouTube Music, aligning itself with other major players in the audio-streaming industry.
Earlier this year, Google revealed its intention to introduce podcast support to YouTube Music in the United States, with plans to expand this feature globally by the end of the year. Additionally, the company plans to allow podcasters to upload their RSS feeds to YouTube, facilitating the integration of podcasts into the platform.
By merging music and podcasts into YouTube Music, Google aims to create a hub for podcast enthusiasts and provide a seamless listening experience. This strategy follows the footsteps of competitors like Spotify, Amazon, and Pandora, who have successfully integrated both music and podcasts within their flagship applications.
The process of transitioning podcast users from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music may present some challenges, as many users already consume podcasts on YouTube. Google recognizes the need to adapt to users’ preferences and plans to introduce migration tools and an option to add podcast RSS feeds to the YouTube Music library. This will allow users to continue accessing their favorite shows on the platform.
To ensure a smooth transition, Google will provide a migration tool for Google Podcasts users and support for exporting show subscriptions in an OPML file format. This file can then be imported into alternative podcast platforms if users choose not to migrate to YouTube Music.
Google acknowledges that this transition will take time and assures users that they will continue to have access to YouTube, YouTube Music, and Google Podcasts during the process. The company remains committed to transparent communication with users and podcasters, promising to share further updates in the coming months.
In summary, Google plans to discontinue its Google Podcasts app and shift its focus to YouTube Music as a hub for podcasts. By integrating music and podcasts, Google aims to provide its streaming audience with a comprehensive audio experience. The company will introduce migration tools and RSS feed integration to ensure a smooth transition for users.
