Apple Launches Apple Podcasts Subscription Service

Apple has long supported podcasts on its platform, but it seems that they are now looking to monetize it by launching Apple Podcasts Subscriptions. This is a new service offered by the company in which they are hoping that creators will create “premium” podcasts that can be put behind a paywall.

However, it should be noted that these subscriptions are not part of Apple’s One plan or Apple Music. Instead, this will be completely up to creators to decide how much they want to charge. According to Apple, pricing for each subscription is set by creators and billed monthly, meaning that the pricing could vary from podcast to podcast.

This means that if you were hoping for some kind of Netflix-like subscription where a single subscription unlocks everything, you might be disappointed. However, we suppose in a way this allows listeners to support the podcasts that they enjoy listening to in a more direct manner.

According to Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, “Today, Apple Podcasts is the best place for listeners to discover and enjoy millions of great shows, and we are proud to lead the next chapter of podcasting with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions. We’re excited to introduce this powerful new platform to creators around the world, and we can’t wait to hear what they make with it.”

The new subscription service will be launching in May, although we should note that this doesn’t necessarily change how you listen to podcasts. Depending on the creator, your favorite podcast could continue to remain free, but this gives creators the option to monetize it if they want.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple, Audio
Tags: Entertainment, Music, podcasts