Apple Developing Podcast Subscription Service to Better Compete With Spotify

Apple is considering launching a new subscription service that would be focused on podcasts, according to unnamed sources that spoke to The Information. The service would charge people to listen to podcasts.

Apple Podcast Alternate
By creating a paid podcasting service, Apple could potentially lure podcast creators with the promise of more money, stealing them away from other platforms like Spotify, SiriusXM, and Amazon.

Apple has long had a popular Podcasts app and has maintained a podcast distribution service on its Mac and iOS platforms, but Apple has not to date attempted to make money from it.

Over the course of the last couple of years, the podcast market has grown and Apple's rivals like Spotify have been snapping up major podcasting names, leading to consolidation in the industry. As The Information points out, Spotify has spent $800 million buying podcasting companies like Gimlet Media and The Ringer, as well as acquiring the rights to popular podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience.

In the future, many podcasts may be exclusive to specific platforms and may also come with a subscription fee, and Apple could establish itself as one of the first companies to have a dedicated podcasting service.

Apple has been building out its podcast efforts in recent years. Rumors from Bloomberg have suggested Apple is working on original podcasts that will be exclusive to the podcasts app.

Apple plans to purchase original content and will also create audio spinoffs of existing movies and programs on Apple TV+. In the fall, Apple hired Jake Shapiro, a veteran radio executive, to head up a team working with podcast creators.

According to The Information, talks between Apple and production companies for a podcast service are taking place now, but it continues to be unclear if Apple will follow through and launch the service. If it does launch, it could be bundled with other services like Apple Music, ‌Apple TV‌+, Apple Arcade, and Apple News+ as part of the Apple One bundles that the company offers.

The possibility of a paid podcasting service was raised by Loup Ventures analysts earlier this month in a report that suggested Apple could be working on a range of new paid services including Podcasts+, Stocks+, and Mail+.

Update 10:24 a.m.: Bloomberg is corroborating the claim, citing its own sources claiming that Apple "has discussed the plan to create a subscription service with its partners."

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Top Rated Comments

djeeyore25 Avatar
56 months ago
Finally! I was getting tired of listening to free podcasts.
Score: 62 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CaTOAGU Avatar
56 months ago
FFS Does anyone who listens to podcasts want a bloody subscription service for them?
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ChrisMoBro Avatar
56 months ago
The subscription-based business model is getting out of hand.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
avatar77 Avatar
56 months ago
If only Apple had a paid subscription music service with which they could bundle podcasts to compete with Spotify and their bundled podcast/music service.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
56 months ago

FFS Does anyone who listens to podcasts want a bloody subscription service for them?

The subscription-based business model is getting out of hand.

Yet another subscription... don’t know whether Apple could get away with charging for Apple Music and Podcasts when Spotify does both for one price. Maybe Apple One bundle could compete with Spotify’s price.
I'm gonna create an app to keep track of all your subscriptions.

Plot twist... it has a subscription!

:p
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Runs For Fun Avatar
56 months ago
I really don't like this direction everyone is taking podcasts. This whole subscription and exclusivity goes against the way podcasts were intended to work. Podcasting is a pretty open ecosystem and I really feel it needs to stay that way.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)