Over the span of a few days, both Apple and Facebook made announcements that will ultimately shake up the Podcast Industry.
Apple Podcast Subscriptions are coming.
Facebook is bringing Podcasts to their app.
To say this is HUGE for the industry is an understatement.
Apple announcing their subscription model for podcasts has made the ability to monetize your podcast that much easier.
Are they the first? No. Will they be the last? No, probably not.
But they are the needle mover in the industry, and this announcement is only the beginning of a whole new world for podcast content creators.
Facebook hasn’t shared many details about their plans to roll out the Podcast feature on their app, but regardless, we know that this is going to bring a whole new world of show discovery to millions of people.
So today, before we dive into the “how to’s” of these features, let’s talk about what the reality of Apple Podcast Subscriptions and Facebook Podcasts really means for the industry.
Apple Podcast Subscriptions Confirms a New Marketplace for Content
As I mentioned previously, Apple is not the first to come up with the concept of subscriptions for Podcast shows.
Companies like Patreon and Supercast have been in the membership and paid subscription business for the last several years. So the idea of paying for premium podcast content is not foreign.
Just not widely used as the norm.
Apple Podcast Subscriptions changes that.
CEO of podcasting network, Pushkin Industries, Jacob Weisberg said, “When Apple does [subscriptions], it’s like flicking a switch.”
The world of podcasting still largely lives in Apple Podcasts. With their confirmation that podcast content can and should be paid for, the rest of the world follows their lead.
Supporting Cast CEO, David Stern, blogged about what this announcement meant for users of their now competing service and the industry as a whole.
He said, “The number one challenge we have in getting podcasters to consider working with Supporting Cast is simply that people aren’t used to the idea of a paid podcast. Apple’s push into premium content will help the industry understand how much revenue they are leaving on the table by not giving their listeners something to pay for.”
I think it is safe to say that most podcasters would see this as a win for the industry. Content is being given monetary value.
The case could be made that Apple is way late to the game.
By a decade or so.
My buddy and fellow podcaster, Jordan Harbinger, and I talked about this recently over on my Youtube channel. Feel free to watch our conversation about this here.
Podcast Discovery Could Explode with Facebook
As Jordan and I talked about one of the benefits of Facebook’s vague announcement about bringing podcasts to their app.
This would open up the world of podcast discovery to millions of users.
One of the flaws of the podcast industry is the simple fact that learning and finding out about great shows is done primarily through word-of-mouth.
In a matter of months, Facebook will have the option of playing podcast episodes within the app.
And they have decided to help users “easily find new podcasts and episodes based on your interests, comment on them, and recommend them to your friends.”
There will be more information on Facebook’s podcast in-app experience in the coming months.
But for now, the podcasting industry can look forward to this new opportunity to reach out to current and new listeners alike!
With many podcasts already using Facebook groups to connect with listeners, this move by Facebook couldn’t have come at a better time.
Podcast Quality Can Be Taken to a Whole New Level
I believe these announcements will ultimately allow podcast quality to continue to grow and excel.
Large companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, and Spotify continue to validate the podcast industry. With revenue that is there for the taking, podcasts will rise to the occasion.
Through better guests, production, release schedules, etc.
The quality of podcast shows will only continue to get better as these apps and opportunities improve.
Conclusion
What do you think about these exciting announcements?
Are you curious to see how this will benefit podcasters? Or do you think that very little will change?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Here’s to leaving every relationship better than you found it! See you next week!
