Warning for Users: Migrate Subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2
Google is shutting down its Podcasts app in the United States, effective immediately. The company has begun notifying users that they must migrate their subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2 if they want to continue streaming their favorite shows. Those who fail to make the transition will still have additional time to move their subscriptions, but will no longer be able to stream directly from the Podcasts app after this date.
A Brief History of Google Podcasts
The Google Podcasts app has been installed over 500 million times on Android devices globally since its launch more than half a decade ago. The app offered a simple and streamlined interface for discovering, following, and listening to podcasts, as well as tools to add podcasts by RSS feed. Unfortunately for fans of the app, Google announced last September that it would begin winding down the Podcasts app in early 2024 as part of its broader plan to centralize its audio services under YouTube.
A Similar Story with Google Play Music
In 2020, YouTube Music offered a similar transition strategy to move music listeners away from Google Play Music ahead of its shutdown that same year. However, the Google Podcasts app continued to be maintained for years because YouTube Music wasn’t ready to support podcasts until more recently. By the end of 2023, YouTube Music was able to support podcasts globally, and by February, they had the ability to upload their RSS feeds as well.
Why Shift Podcasting to YouTube?
The move to shift podcasting over to YouTube could help Google become a bigger player in the space. Not only will combining its efforts and sharpening its focus make it easier for users to access podcasts, but interest in video podcasts – which are already popular on YouTube – is also on the rise. This week, Spotify forged a deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) to bring video podcasts to U.S. users of its streaming app after earlier announcing tests of video podcasts in 11 other markets around the world.
Timeline for Google Podcasts Shutdown
Bleeping Computer was the first to notice the shutdown date for Google Podcasts in the U.S., and a support page on Google’s site confirms that users in the U.S. will only be able to use the Podcasts app through the end of March 2024. For those who miss the in-app pop-ups, Google will offer users additional time to save their subscriptions by allowing them to use the app’s export feature through July 2024.
Global Shutdown Plans
Google did not immediately return a request for comment, but after publication did respond to say that while it was still "tracking towards" the April 2 timeline for the U.S., it has not shared a timeline for the rest of the world yet. From its earlier statements, though, the plan is to discontinue Google Podcasts globally in 2024.
Additional Time to Migrate
Google will offer users additional time to migrate their subscriptions by allowing them to use the app’s export feature through July 2024. This means that even after the shutdown date for the U.S., users will still have a few more months to save their subscriptions and transfer them to YouTube Music.
What This Means for Podcast Fans
The shutdown of Google Podcasts in the U.S. may come as a shock to fans of the app, but it’s not entirely unexpected given the company’s plans to centralize its audio services under YouTube. While users will need to migrate their subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2, they will still have additional time to transfer their subscriptions using the app’s export feature.
What’s Next for Podcasting on YouTube
The shift of podcasting over to YouTube could help Google become a bigger player in the space. With interest in video podcasts on the rise and Spotify already testing video podcasts in 11 markets, it will be interesting to see how this move affects the landscape of podcasting.
