Watch out, Spotify — Apple considering premium podcast service

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Watch out, Spotify — Apple considering premium podcast service

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Although podcasts are widely available on Android and PC, the medium has a special link to Apple. Even the give-and-take 'podcast,' commencement coined in 2004, exists because of the overwhelmingly popularity of the top selling mp3 player of the fourth dimension, Apple's iPod.

At present it appears that Apple is considering taking its relationship with podcasting to the side by side level, every bit both Bloomberg and The Information have independently reported that the company is considering a premium service that charges people to listen to original podcasts.

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The details aren't exactly articulate, and while a straight subscription service is ane choice, The Information written report states that it'southward possible that the company could charge for individual podcasts, giving "creators a chance to make more money," which could in turn entice them to provide exclusivity. Other possibilities include bonus content or a scenario where paying members could become episodes earlier non-paying fans.

Whatever form it takes, information technology'south far from a washed deal. As Bloomberg originally wrote: "it's unclear when — or whether — Apple tree volition launch the new service," adding that "Apple mulls over many ideas for media services and doesn't always go along with them." Since publication, the report has been updated to advise a 2021 launch, so perhaps it's more than definite than originally thought.

But while Apple has successfully launched other subscription services like News Plus, Arcade and Boob tube Plus, podcasting is a very dissimilar arena, where paid-for offerings are increasingly rare.

While information technology's truthful that Spotify'southward exclusive podcasts — such as The Joe Rogan Feel — require Spotify membership, that model too covers all the music y'all can listen to. Amazon owned Audible also has original podcasts for paying subscribers customers, simply that'south more than of an added bonus for people who savor getting a new audiobook each month. For that reason, information technology might make sense for Apple tree to include whatsoever shows information technology likes in its Apple I pass, where all its subscriptions are bundled together.

Withal, the news will alarm Spotify, where shares fell past more than 7% on the news emerging, according to Bloomberg. The Swedish music streaming visitor has spent millions of dollars on podcasts in recent years, not just in making Rogan an exclusive merely also purchasing networks Gimlet Media (Respond All, Crimetown) and The Ringer (The Nib Simmons Podcast, Binge Mode) and Parcast (Crime Countdown, Unsolved Murders). Information technology too purchased Anchor FM — a podcast creation and distribution platform — dorsum in 2019.

If Bloomberg is correct, we should discover out this twelvemonth if Spotify has annihilation to worry about.

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are institute all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more probable, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/watch-out-spotify-apple-considering-premium-podcast-service

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