In September, Google announced it could shut down its standalone podcasts app, Google Podcasts, someday subsequent yr. Now that the top of 2023 is nearing, the corporate is right now launching a migration device that may permit U.S. customers to shift their current podcast subscriptions over to YouTube Music, which shall be Google’s new dwelling for podcasts.
Customers can have loads of time to export their subscriptions because the official discontinuation of Google Podcasts gained’t happen till April 2024. Whereas the present device solely helps U.S. customers, Google says it would turn out to be out there to different markets quickly.
The corporate moreover shared the timeline for the Google Podcasts app’s shutdown. It notes that U.S customers will be capable to take heed to their podcasts within the app by way of March 2024. And though the app is being discontinued in April, customers will nonetheless be capable to migrate or export subscriptions by way of July 2024.
The brand new migration device will seem within the app within the weeks forward, by way of a banner on the high of the display screen. Step-by-step directions may even be documented on Google’s support site. For many who don’t wish to transfer to YouTube Music, an choice to export subscriptions to an OPML file may even be offered. This file might be uploaded into every other third-party podcast app that additionally helps uploads.
Google has been working to make YouTube extra of a vacation spot for podcasts for a while, launching a dedicated podcasts homepage last year, and saying plans this February to bring podcasts to YouTube Music — the corporate’s Spotify and Apple Music rival.
The change will consolidate Google’s efforts within the audio streaming market by permitting it to mix the listenership that’s right now unfold throughout a number of apps. The corporate had already shuttered Google Play Music years ago, but it surely took longer to handle podcasts.
To make use of the migration device, customers will click on on “Export Subscriptions” on the high of the display screen, then beneath “Export to YouTube Music,” they’ll faucet “Export.” In the event that they don’t have the YouTube Music app put in, they’ll be prompted to put in it at the moment. After studying the disclosure, customers will faucet “Continue” to finish the migration course of.
Picture Credit: YouTube
YouTube notes that many in style podcasts are already out there on YouTube, like New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce and Murder, Mystery & Makeup with Bailey Sarian.
However now, listeners may even be capable to add exhibits on to their YouTube Music library by way of the podcast’s RSS feed. YouTube itself is aiming to help RSS uploads for podcasters, the corporate had beforehand stated.
To help podcasts on YouTube Music, the corporate earlier added podcast “shelves” within the app to make them simply accessible, in addition to options like including RSS feeds, automated downloads, and a listening expertise the place you possibly can soar again in the place you left off. Later, it would add a “mark as listened” choice, as properly.
