In a big shift within the podcasting panorama, YouTube has emerged because the main platform for podcast consumption in the USA, surpassing long-time market chief Apple Podcasts and streaming large Spotify, which is now in second place, in response to current research. In the meantime, former chief Apple Podcast loses market share, falling to 3rd place. And that marks a turning level in how Individuals entry and devour podcast content material.
Apple Podcasts loses market share as YouTube and Spotify overtake it
YouTube now dominates the podcast market with 31% of weekly podcast listeners citing it as their major platform, in response to the most recent Podcast Obtain report performed by Cumulus Media and Sign Hill Insights. Spotify follows in second place at 21%, whereas Apple Podcasts, which coined the time period “podcast” and led the best way for years, has slipped to 3rd with solely 12% of market share.
This shift represents a dramatic change from just some years in the past. In 2021, YouTube ranked third in podcast consumption. By 2022, it had caught as much as Spotify, and now, throughout a number of research in 2023 and 2024, YouTube has solidified its place on the high.
And this comes regardless of Apple’s efforts up to now couple of years to enhance the podcasting expertise for creators and customers alike. In 2022 it opened up entry to new listener metrics for creators and added new options for each creators and listeners. The following yr it added Apple Podcast Join with new analytics for creators and introduced podcasts to Tesla EVs. And in 2024 it launched auto-generated transcripts and launched Apple Podcasts on the net so of us don’t should obtain the app.
How YouTube rose quick with a youthful viewers
Picture: Cumulus Media/Sign Hill Insights
A number of elements contributed to YouTube’s rise as a podcast vacation spot. Because the world’s main video platform and “entertainment search engine,” YouTube presents benefits for podcast discovery and consumption. Customers respect the flexibility to look at video variations of podcasts, interact with feedback and neighborhood options and profit from YouTube’s suggestion algorithms. Many YouTube customers favor desktop and pill use, whereas Apple Podcast use iPhone greater than different platforms.
Apparently, the examine discovered that YouTube’s podcast viewers skews male and youthful in comparison with Apple Podcasts’ consumer base. The platform is especially common amongst new podcast listeners and heavy customers alike.
Nevertheless, the shift in direction of YouTube doesn’t essentially imply an entire abandonment of audio-only experiences. The report signifies that watching and listening to podcasts are equally favored general, with preferences various by style and listener expertise degree.
Spotify costs forward as nicely
Spotify’s sturdy second-place place highlights its continued significance within the podcast ecosystem, even because it faces stiff competitors from YouTube. The Swedish streaming large has invested closely in podcast content material and options in recent times, serving to it keep a big market share.
Apple Podcasts, as soon as the undisputed chief within the house, now faces the problem of adapting to altering client preferences. As Apple Podcasts loses market share and slips from market dominance to 3rd place represents a significant shakeup within the trade it helped create.
Because the podcasting panorama continues to evolve, content material creators and advertisers might want to adapt their methods to achieve audiences throughout these numerous platforms. With video turning into an more and more vital part of podcast consumption, the trade could also be on the cusp of a brand new period in content material creation and distribution.
This shift additionally raises questions concerning the future definition of podcasting itself, as the road between audio and video content material turns into more and more blurred. As platforms and client behaviors proceed to alter, the podcast trade may see additional improvements and disruptions.
Watch a video displaying the research’ key findings:
