🎙️The Podcasting Shakeup of 2024🥁

In a move that's sent shockwaves through the podcasting world, Apple's iOS 17 update has dramatically changed how its Podcasts app downloads episodes. The biggest impacts:

• Older episodes over 7 days old no longer auto-download

• Devices pause auto-downloads if low on storage or if a listener is inactive

• Only new episodes download after resuming a previously paused show

The restrictions hit some categories harder than others, according to new Podtrac data. While fiction podcasting boomed 36%, tech (-29%), religion (-31%) and business (-23%) took a major beating.

Overall, the top 1,000 podcasts saw a 15.2% year-over-year download decline in February across all podcast players. Comedy, news, sports, and society & culture were also down double-digits.

Platforms in Flux

These iOS changes only add to the turbulence recently seen across podcast platforms:

• Spotify has taken the download crown with 33% market share

• Apple Podcasts slips to 27% as it finally releases an Android app

• Google recently shuttered its podcasting efforts, migrating users to YouTube Music (3.6% share)

While podcasting's total audience remains substantial, the medium's trajectory and competitive landscape are shifting rapidly. Some winners and losers have quickly emerged.

The Fiction Phenom

Fiction podcasting has managed to thrive amidst the chaos. While non-fiction categories like business and tech struggle with the new realities of on-demand downloads, the narrated fiction format seems to be resonating with listeners.

As one of the few categories up significantly, fiction's 36% download growth indicates the potential for more hits like "Alice Isn't Dead" and "The Left Right Game" to emerge.

Podcast Radio, by AudioTuner

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