Apple Podcasts updates

• Selling paid subscriptions through Apple Podcasts? Until now, you’ve had to upload that audio separately to Apple; but Apple Podcasts Delegated Delivery was announced yesterday, allowing creators to upload and manage that audio through selected podcast hosting companies when this feature launches in Q3.

  • A number of initial podcast hosting companies have been announced including RSS·com, Libsyn and Buzzsprout; but if you run a podcast hosting company and wish to participate in Delegated Delivery, you’re encouraged to fill out this form. (Memo to Apple: here’s a list).

• iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, and macOS 12.4 were made available yesterday. This brings annual paid subscriptions within the Apple Podcasts app. We told you last month; you can add an annual plan now.

• With the new iOS, the Apple Podcasts app has had a welcome tweak for automatic download settings, with per-show customisation. You’ll find the new settings in your Settings app on iPhone and iPad. The app will now also recommend removing old downloads when necessary.

• AI-powered podcast editing app Cleanvoice - which automatically removes ums, ers, stammers and pauses in your audio - has added an AI-powered podcast audit to show how how your show is going. It tests your show for fluency, flow and, soon, audio quality. It likes Podnews’s podcast to our relief.

• AdsWizz has posted video of its IAB Podcast Upfront presentation.

• Patreon published a creator census.

• John Sullivan writes about how corporate takeovers are fundamentally changing podcasting.

Moves and hires

• Elena Fernández Collins is now working with Simplecast in communications and content. She is a well-known podcast critic, reporter and host.
• Rich Morgan has joined JAR Audio as Client Success Lead. He’s worked for a number of agencies.

Tips and tricks - with SoundStack

• Courtney Kocak looks at Podspike, a podcast promotion tool.
• What’s your podcast’s potential audience? Nick Hilton looks at potential audience size.

Podcast News - with Lemonada Media

From Lemonada Media: Burnout, hosted by Connor Franta, explores the story of burnout, discovers how it affects your body and mind, and looks at why the easy solutions simply won’t work to solve a systemic problem. Burnout is produced by Lemonada Media and Mindful.
Stolen: Surviving St Michael’s is new from Gimlet and acclaimed investigative journalist Connie Walker. It focuses on a dark part of Canada’s past - the residential school system for Indigenous children.

Now, Where Were We? with Barry Cryer and Bob Cryer features the late comic writer in conversation with his many friends. This launched in December; Barry died in mid-January, but the last few episodes, released after his death, are rather lovely: including a special tribute episode.