William Gallagher
Alongside the announcement of subscription podcasts, Apple has detailed how creators can join the program to get their shows into the service.
Apple teased the launch of its subscription podcasts at its "Spring Loaded" event, keeping pricing and a precise launch date to be announced later. Alongside the user-facing new podcast service, though, the company has detailed how subscriptions will work for creators and producers.
Rather than one single subscription price, as it has for Apple Music, Apple is letting individual creators set their own pricing. Precise details of the pricing allowed, or recommended, have not been released, but it's up to creators whether they offer monthly and annual subscriptions.
Plus creators can offer free trials, or sample episodes, as they choose. Users will access their podcasts through the updated Listen Now page on the Podcasts app, where they will also be able to manage their subscriptions.
"Fifteen years ago, Apple took podcasts mainstream, offering creators a premier, open platform to inform, entertain, and inspire hundreds of millions of listeners around the world," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, in a statement.
"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," he continued. "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 company has launched a new Apple Podcasts for Creators website, which is similar in principle to its Apple Music for Artists app. Podcast producers will be able to manage their shows and get performance metrics.
To access the site, producers must enrol in the new Apple Podcasters Program. It costs $19.99 per year to be enrolled in the program and creators can join now from the Apple Podcasts Connect site.
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Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
2 Comments
I am hopeful that by charging creators $20/year to cover admin costs, there will not be a 30 percent kickback to Apple on any podcast subscriptions/support. We'll have to see how Apple handles this, but giving the creators full flexibility on participating (or not), setting their own prices, the option of sample episodes/trials, is all good. Giving listeners a way to directly manage their support/subscriptions through the app is especially good.
Will this be only for audio podcasts or also for video podcasts? If the latter, will this then compete with paid video websites like the paid Youtube or Nebula or similar services? So far I have refused to use any paid video subscription service because I don't want them getting my email address. I presume the new Apple service addresses this privacy issue. I would probably pay once I'm protected by Apple.