Google has instructed users to transfer their podcast subscriptions to YouTube Music to ensure they can continue enjoying their favorite shows, as it prepares to discontinue Google Podcasts in the US.
Users who fail to migrate their subscriptions by the specified deadline will still have an extended window to do so, but they will lose the ability to stream directly from the Podcasts app.
With over 500 million downloads on the Google Play Store over the past five years, Google Podcasts has provided users with a user-friendly interface for discovering, following, and streaming podcasts effortlessly. It has also allowed users to add podcasts via RSS feed using third-party apps.
This discontinuation fulfills Google's previous promise to phase out Podcasts in early 2024 and shift its focus entirely to offering audio services through YouTube.
Google took a similar approach in 2020 when it phased out Google Play Music, urging users to transition to other services. Despite Google's encouragement to migrate from Google Play Music, Google Podcasts remained popular due to YouTube Music's initial lack of support for podcasts, which it eventually gained last year.
This move by Google could also be attributed to the growing popularity of video podcasts, and users' transition to YouTube Music will solidify Google's position in the audio landscape.
Although reports of the shutdown surfaced earlier, the official announcement was made on a Google support page, confirming that Podcasts users in the US can continue using the app until March 2024.
