Revolutionizing Podcasts: Discover the Future of Google Podcasts Beyond 2024!

The Google Podcasts app will no longer be available starting early 2024. It will be replaced by YouTube Music, which started offering podcasts to U.S. users earlier this year. To make the transition easier, Google will provide a migration tool that enables users to transfer their Google Podcasts account to YouTube Music. Additionally, users will have the option to download an OPML file containing their Google Podcast subscriptions, which they can then upload to any podcast app that supports OPML importing.

While some may be disappointed by this change, as Google Podcasts has a user-friendly interface and helpful features, it is relatively unpopular. According to a survey conducted by Edison and cited by Google, only 4% of podcast listeners are using the Google Podcasts platform. In comparison, Spotify, which was launched in 2018, has quickly become the second most popular podcast app. Given these statistics, it is evident that Google's decision to discontinue Google Podcasts is based on logical reasoning.

In an interesting turn of events, YouTube Music has emerged as a promising platform for podcasting. One of its standout features allows users to seamlessly switch between audio and video versions of podcasts. This advantage is thanks to YouTube's extensive collection of video podcasts, a library that competitors like Spotify are still struggling to develop from scratch. While some may not be enthusiastic about video podcasts, recent surveys indicate that this view is in the minority. Video is now being touted as the next frontier in podcasting. Citing the Edison survey once again, Google highlights that 23% of weekly podcast listeners already turn to YouTube. The announcement that Google Podcasts will be shutting down in 2023 is truly astonishing. It appears that Google failed to recognize the immense potential of YouTube, which has long been recognized as the go-to platform for video podcasts. Now, Google is making a necessary course correction.

YouTube Music's podcast feature will be available worldwide by the end of this year. While the YouTube Music platform is free for all users, there is an optional paid subscription for $11 a month. However, I recommend opting for YouTube Premium instead, which costs $14 per month and includes a YouTube Music membership in addition to ad-free YouTube.