Apple Podcasts Update Enhances Content Discovery in Preferred Genres
Apple has introduced new features to its Podcasts app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, which simplify the process of discovering content in preferred genres. The app now offers nine additional subcategories, including Mental Health, Relationships, Self-Improvement, Personal Journals, Entrepreneurship, Documentary, Parenting, Books, and Language Learning, in addition to existing subcategories such as True Crime and Sports.
Apple has been focusing on mental health for the past few years and recently introduced a Journal app that lets you document your emotions. Additionally, the company recently introduced a mood tracking feature as part of Health in iOS 17. Adding a mental health subcategory to Podcasts, along with others like relationships, self-improvement, and personal journaling, seems to be part of this.
Each subcategory has its own charts that show the most popular shows and episodes in your specific market. “For example, a listener in the U.S. can browse mental charts that show the top 200 shows and top 200 episodes available in the U.S. based on a combination of listening, following, and completion rates,” Apple wrote in its Podcasts. for creators blog.
In comparison, Spotify has eight main podcast categories and at least 54 subcategories. YouTube offers 14 main podcast categories and PocketCast 19, but neither offers subcategories. With the new additions, Apple seems to be offering a good selection without overwhelming users.
Nine new subclasses and 19 primary classes have been updated with new images and recommendations. The latter includes new and noteworthy shows, shows of the month, feature channels and creators, and global highlights.
With the upcoming release of iOS 17, Apple is adding new Podcast features, including an updated Now Play experience and queue, episode view, search filters, and more. However, podcast updates have been relatively infrequent, with the last major update coming a year ago with new Podcast Charts. Apple’s biggest rival Spotify, which spent heavily on podcasts in 2019, recently laid off 200 employees from the division.
