Daniel Ek at Spotify's Stream On event
Spotify

Anchor goes away: Spotify make big changes

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At the Stream On event in Los Angeles CA, USA on Wednesday (transcript), Spotify made a number of announcements.

  • Anchor, the free podcast host, is now called Spotify for Podcasters. The new podcast hosting service from Spotify includes automated ads (US-only, invite-only), and podcast subscriptions (in 34 markets). Spotify will now allow any podcaster to use Q&A and polls - wherever they’re hosted.

  • The company announced an expanded video podcasts lineup, a return of a Gotham City-themed podcast, and new exclusives including The Comment Section.

  • Spotify revealed their latest interface, a vertically-scrolling way to discover new shows (and music, including video clips). Spotify has also unveiled Autoplay for Podcasts - when a podcast ends, another relevant episode that fits your taste will automatically play. (As our Editor will reveal later on Thursday at Podcast Movement, Spotify has the lowest figure for per-person podcast consumption in the industry: these automated plays will significantly change that).

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Companies mentioned above:
Anchor logoAnchorBlubrry logoBlubrryNPR logoNPRPacific Content logoPacific ContentPodcast Movement logoPodcast MovementRogers logoRogersSpotify logoSpotifySubstack logoSubstack

Podcast data for Mar 9

#1 in Apple Podcasts
US flag The Coldest Case In Laramie (Serial Productions & The New York Times)
CA flag The Coldest Case In Laramie (Serial Productions & The New York Times)

#1 in Spotify
US flag The Joe Rogan Experience (Joe Rogan)
CA flag The Joe Rogan Experience (Joe Rogan)

Over the last week, 221,292 podcasts published at least one new episode (down 0.7%). source

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