Podcasts Coming to Amazon Music and Audible - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Podcasts Coming to Amazon Music and Audible

by

Amazon will add podcasts to its Amazon Music and Audible services, according to a confidential email obtained by The Desk.

iu 1

Amazon said in the email that it would soon allow Amazon Music and Audible users to subscribe, download, and stream free podcasts on the services. Podcasts will also be available to customers of Amazon Music's ad-supported free tier, in addition to its premium paid service. The launch date of podcasts in Amazon Music and Audible was not stated in the email.

foto no exif10

The email was reportedly sent to some podcast producers on Monday, with the offer to submit a podcast feed before the feature becomes publicly accessible. This is needed to allow the new podcasts feature to launch with popular shows already available.

During submission of a podcast feed, producers are required to agree to terms and conditions. Strikingly, one term in particular stated that podcasts on the platforms could not include comments that disparage Amazon or its products.

amazon podcast agreement excerpt

Podcast features would allow users of Echo smart speakers and Fire TV devices to stream podcasts through Amazon's default apps, rather than via third party apps. Amazon Music had 55 million subscribers as of January, just five million less than Apple Music's 60 million.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Apple is working on original podcasts that will be exclusive to its Podcasts app. Podcasts are increasingly becoming an area of competition between major tech companies, with Apple, Spotify, Google, and now Amazon heavily investing in the sector.

Tags: Amazon, Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Podcasts, Audible

Popular Stories

iPhone Satellite Feature

Apple and Amazon Ink Satellite Deal Amid Globalstar Takeover

Tuesday April 14, 2026 5:33 am PDT by
Amazon and Globalstar have announced a definitive merger agreement under which Amazon will acquire the satellite operator. News of the deal puts to bed questions about the fate of Apple's exclusive satellite connectivity partner, and reveals how Apple will still benefit. Alongside the acquisition, Amazon and Apple have signed a separate agreement for Amazon's Leo satellite network to power...
Read Full Article • 59 comments
Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Read Full Article
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Saturday May 9, 2026 6:03 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

russell_314 Avatar
russell_314
75 months ago
I hope this isn’t more proprietary crap like Spotify podcasts. I’ll stick with Overcast and traditional non-DRM non-proprietary podcasts
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H
happyprozak
75 months ago

I always felt like podcasts, even after being named for the iPod, never got the level of respect they deserved from Apple. It seemed like a movement they should have supported more strongly. I'm not sure how exactly, but at least a better app to manage them and more public mentions and support for podcasters.

Trying to tie podcasts exclusively to Apple, or making it feel like an Apple only medium would have doomed them, so there's a line to walk, but it feels like a revolution that didn't get the attention it should have. I hardly ever listen to live radio anymore.

Of course, with so much less driving these days, I hardly ever listen to podcasts anymore either...
The only problem I have with Apple is that I dislike their podcast app. Other apps like Pocket Casts and Castbox are so much better for management.

I do like that podcasting is an open platform but that is now dying with podcasts now commonly becoming exclusive to platforms. In hindsight, the podcast market was Apple's to lose. They could have developed a subscription service where ads were removed or helped podcasters monetize their work. They started the podcast scene and they could have become the dominant platform.

The open platform was a good ride while it lasted.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Analog Kid Avatar
Analog Kid
75 months ago
I always felt like podcasts, even after being named for the iPod, never got the level of respect they deserved from Apple. It seemed like a movement they should have supported more strongly. I'm not sure how exactly, but at least a better app to manage them and more public mentions and support for podcasters.

Trying to tie podcasts exclusively to Apple, or making it feel like an Apple only medium would have doomed them, so there's a line to walk, but it feels like a revolution that didn't get the attention it should have. I hardly ever listen to live radio anymore.

Of course, with so much less driving these days, I hardly ever listen to podcasts anymore either...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
TrevorR90
75 months ago
Spotify is probably where most users will flock to.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Appleman3546 Avatar
Appleman3546
75 months ago
If podcasters don’t like the amazon term about disparaging it’s products, at least there are plenty of other competitors like Spotify for podcasters to turn to
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Piggie Avatar
Piggie
75 months ago
I of course assume Apple will need to individually check/test and approve each podcast before it's available to maintain it's safely and quality policy.

You know, like they insist they MUST do for games.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments