Anchor goes away: Spotify make big changes

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).

• NPR has joined the Spotify Audience Network. Spotify is also partnering with Patreon.

• A video “celebrating podcast creators” includes Joe Rogan saying how much he’s enjoyed being on Spotify. The first promotion of Rogan for some time by the company, it could, perhaps, be read as a suggestion that he’ll renew his contract later this year.

• Spotify Hi-fi, announced in February 2021, has still not been launched.

News That Isn’t Spotify

• Podbean has announced a new invitation-only VIP platform for podcasters with larger audiences, to connect them to the company’s ad marketplace.

• Blubrry has released "the thrive bundle", an additional set of tools for all Blubrry customers available for an extra fee, including pre-roll advertising support and enhanced analytics.

• Substack has come under fire for not giving free 301 redirects for RSS feeds. The company, which offers free podcast hosting, deletes 301 redirects if you delete your account with them.

Moves and hires

• Julie Adam has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager for Universal Music Canada. She had worked at Rogers for many years, and was behind the acquisition of branded podcast company Pacific Content.

Tips and tricks - with Phantom Producer

• Spotify published four suggestions to retain and grow audiences.

Podcast News

In Sound Judgment, the co-hosts from the Ambie Award-winning Bone Valley go behind the scenes on how they made the show. Bone Valley won two Ambie Awards on Monday.

In France, Choses à Savoir now has 24 shows and is the most popular podcast network in France. The company has just launched Choses à Savoir ACTU - a daily news podcast, which covers all the news of the day in just seven minutes.

Mel’s Electric Adventure is new from Tortoise today - Mel Giedroyc and journalist Giles Whittell discover the world of electric cars, discuss life and wonder how it’s going to be changed by the electric revolution. It’s available everywhere today.