Google is saying goodbye to Google Podcasts as it shifts its focus to YouTube Music's podcast offerings. Starting in 2024, Google Podcasts will be discontinued as the company aims to make YouTube Music a comprehensive destination for podcast fans.
This transition aligns with the increasing popularity of podcast consumption on YouTube. Recent data from Edison reveals that 23% of weekly podcast users in the US prefer YouTube over Google Podcasts, which stands at only 4%, The Verge reports. Google's decision to sunset Google Podcasts is also motivated by the recent addition of podcast support in YouTube Music for US users, with a global rollout expected by year-end.
To facilitate the migration, Google plans to provide users with tools to transfer their subscriptions to YouTube Music and even offer the ability to add podcast RSS feeds to their YouTube Music library. Additionally, Google will enable users to download an OPML file of their show subscriptions from Google Podcasts, which can be uploaded to any app supporting such imports.
This move underscores Google's commitment to expanding YouTube Music as a major player in the streaming market, aligning it with services like Spotify, Amazon Music, and others that offer both music and podcasts in one platform.