Google Podcasts to shut down in US, making YouTube Music the ultimate destination for podcasts

YouTube Music is now the ultimate destination for podcast users thanks to its incorporation of podcast content and utilization of a recommendation system and back catalog for content discovery. Podcasts have been available on YouTube Music globally since late last year, allowing users to watch, listen, add episodes to the play queue, and access offline without a Premium subscription.

In an effort to further enhance podcast offerings, Google has decided to discontinue its dedicated service Google Podcasts in the United States, with plans to cease international operations on June 2. The platform now supports subscribing to podcasts via RSS, private RSS feeds in the library, and improved listening experiences on Android Auto.

YouTube Music has redesigned its algorithms to offer seamless content discovery for both creators and listeners, aiming to become the definitive destination for the podcasting community. The platform emphasizes the visual component of podcasts, enhancing the traditional audio consumption with creative visuals that complement the content.

The incorporation of artificial intelligence for creating background visuals for podcasts is a concept under consideration. The focus remains on the recommendation system and the extensive YouTube back catalog, providing users and creators with access to new and old content. With these enhancements, Google aims to make YouTube Music a preferred destination for podcast creators and listeners.