Google Podcasts, which was launched in 2018, is all set to breathe its last in 2024. In an official announcement, Google confirmed that it will discontinue Google Podcasts sometime in 2024. As a part of this process, YouTube Music Podcasts will receive many updates, including complete global availability, before the end of 2023. Currently, YouTube Music Podcasts are available in the US, Canada, and Latin America.
Until 2024, Google Podcasts will continue to work normally. In the blog post, Google agreed that the spoken audio format, i.e., Podcast, will only grow in the future. However, content creators are also using YouTube to publish video versions of their podcasts, so it made sense for Google to include podcasts in their music-focused YouTube Music app.
Google will increase its investment in YouTube Music podcasts going forward
Moreover, Google will make the migration process from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music less painful. A simple migration tool will help existing Google Podcasts users transfer their subscriptions. In addition, YouTube Music will also offer the ability to add podcasts via RSS feeds.
This also includes shows that YouTube does not currently host. Google will also be providing a non-YTM export option in the form of an OPML file, which will be playable by other podcast players. However, the migration tool will be released based on its users' feedback over the months on how they would like the transition to work.
In the blog post, Google also stated that they will increase their investment in podcasts in the future to make YouTube Music a podcast destination for fans and creators.
