Apple launches paid Podcasts Subscriptions and channels after delays

The news: Apple now allows you to pay for exclusive podcast content inside of the Podcasts app and follow channels from your favorite creators.

  • “Apple today announced Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, the global marketplace for premium podcast subscriptions, is now available. Starting today, listeners in more than 170 countries and regions can purchase subscriptions for individual shows and groups of shows through channels, making it easy to support their favorite creators, enjoy new content, and unlock additional benefits such as ad-free listening and early access, directly on Apple Podcasts.”
  • The feature was initially announced in April at the Spring Forward event

Our take: This is a great option for podcast creators looking for an additional revenue stream, subject of course to Apple’s 70/30 split.

‘Apple Podcasts+’ may debut at April 20 event

The rumor: Apple’s premium podcast subscription service is launching tomorrow, according to Peter Kafka (not yet tracked).

  • Kafka says that Apple will launch a paid subscription service for podcasts at their April 20 event
  • There have previously been rumblings of Apple stepping up their podcast plan, but no one has called a potential launch date until now

Our take: I have no idea who Kafka is, but considering he’s an executive editor at Recode and verified on Twitter, I assume there is some weight behind this. I just don’t know how much.