It's official, there will be no more iTunes in the near future, but it's not as bad as it sounds. iTunes might be dead, but there are other places you can get your podcast heard.
Why is iTunes Closing Down?
Apple is repositioning itself as an entertainment company, rather than purely hardware. Shaking up the way it delivers media is a way for the company to split out its offerings and stay ahead of the curve.
Apple is splitting out its services across 3 different apps:
iTunes isn't going anywhere on Windows platforms (for the moment at least). Downloads will still be available in a sidebar on the Apple Music app for Macs. Apple is also creating a new Apple Podcasts app for macOS which will come in v10.15 (aka Catalina).
Will No More iTunes Affect Podcasts?
No, Apple Podcasts is separate. Since 2012, Apple's podcasting directory has been available for every iOS device. On a side note, the amount of listening to podcasts through iTunes on desktop is very small due to the rise of other podcasting services like Spotify. Most people now tune into their favourite shows on Apple Podcasts and other alternatives.
5 Alternatives to iTunes
Apple Podcasts has already superseded iTunes, so even if there's no more iTunes moving forward, your listeners still have a place to go. There are also loads of alternative directories to submit and get your podcast heard like...
1. Stitcher
Stitcher is one of the best places to get discovered by listeners. Available on macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, it has over 100,000+ podcasts and 10 million users. Just last year it was placed in the Top 5 Podcast Apps by TIME Magazine and in the Top 5 News Apps by Apple.
2. Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts is quickly becoming a popular place for listeners to keep up-to-date with all their favourite shows. Available on iOS, macOS and Android, Pocket Casts keeps track of what you've listened to, so your fans can stop and start your shows with ease.
3. Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts (much like Apple Podcasts and Spotify) has entered into the podcasting market. Currently, there are 2 billion active Android devices, in comparison to the 1.4 billion active iOS devices, so it's a place you don't want to miss out on!
4. Acast
Acast is a relatively new place available on iOS, Windows, and Android, but quickly becoming the best place for podcasters to get noticed. It actually suggests podcasts to potential listeners based on other things they’ve listened too, so there's potential for your podcasts getting discovered.
5. Spotify
Spotify is one of the most well-known music services to date and it's recently entered into the podcasting market. As of 2019, there are 217 million active users, all of which now have access to any podcasts submitted there. Available across all devices, Spotify is a must if you're looking to grow your podcast and get yourself noticed.
These 5 podcast directories are the main players, but there are others like Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Castro worth adding your show to - here's a full list of places to submit your podcast.
