Because we needed it: One more podcast platform.
On Wednesday, Google announced(opens in a new tab) that podcasts on YouTube are now available on YouTube Music. This basically just means that folks who watch podcasts on the main app can continue listening to them on YouTube Music — revolutionizing the gym-going experience for probably dozens of people.
“All listeners can enjoy podcasts on-demand, offline, in the background, while casting and seamlessly switch between audio-video versions on YouTube Music,” Google said in a blog post about the update, adding that you don’t necessarily need a Premium account to listen to your podcasts on the app. “This podcast listening experience is different from our music listening experience where you need a Premium or Music Premium subscription to enjoy some of these features.”
Google is rolling out podcasts on YouTube Music gradually in the U.S., so while you might not see the update yet, Google promises that you’ll get it eventually. Once you do see it, the Youtube Music Home tab will feature a new “Podcasts” tab for your feed. Google also plans to expand the feature for folks outside the U.S. This is sure to make YouTube Music a more hearty competitor for Spotify, which outpaces the video platform in subscribers and active monthly users.
Now, the script that ends all of our favorite podcasts will be a second longer: “Check us out on Spotify, Apple Music, iHeartRadio, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.”
