Google Closes Projects but Adds New Ones, Google Podcasts to Shut Down

Google has announced its decision to shut down the Google Podcasts application in 2024. The primary goal of this decision is to redirect podcast listeners from the Google Podcasts app to YouTube Music.

In August, Google announced that YouTube Music would offer podcast support in the United States, expanding this support worldwide by the end of the year. Google plans to add a feature that allows podcast hosts to upload their own RSS feeds to YouTube. This move will enable podcast hosts to reach a broader audience on YouTube.

These steps have been seen as Google’s efforts to enhance the podcast experience and attract podcast listeners to YouTube Music.

Moreover, Google has stated that it plans to invest more in improving the podcast experience on the YouTube Music platform. They aim to attract podcast enthusiasts with features such as discovery, community interaction, and the ability to switch between audio and video podcasts. This move is perceived as an effort to make YouTube Music’s podcast content more appealing and user-friendly. Competing companies like Spotify have taken similar steps by offering video podcast support to creators worldwide and adding community-focused features such as Q&A sessions and polls.

Google notes that approximately 23% of weekly podcast users in the United States prefer YouTube as their most frequently used platform, while Google Podcasts has only a 4% usage rate.

To facilitate the transition of users to YouTube Music, Google plans to offer Google Podcasts users a special migration tool and the ability to add podcast RSS feeds to their YouTube Music libraries. Additionally, access to podcasts not hosted by YouTube will be possible. This feature is expected to be activated in the near future. Users will also be able to download an OPML file of their subscriptions in Google Podcasts, allowing them to use it in another application if they choose not to switch to YouTube Music.

Google is aware that this transition will take time and has committed to transparency throughout the process. Their goals include creating a product that offers users a better podcast experience and rewarding creators. For now, users will continue to have access to YouTube, YouTube Music, and Google Podcasts.