Podcast Insider

Podcast Insider


Podcast History: Why Apple Has Dominated – PCI 350

June 15, 2023
Apple Podcasts LogoWhy Apple Podcasts has dominated for so long.

Mike and Todd discuss how and why Apple Podcasts has dominated the podcasting industry for so long and the new releases that they are working on currently.


Today’s Hosts: Todd Cochrane and Mike Dell

Before Apple added podcasts, there were new innovations coming every day to podcasting. When Apple introduced podcasts to iTunes in June 2005 with Version 4.9, most podcast “innovation” stopped. People were only concerned with iTunes (now Apple Podcasts) as it had the majority of the podcast listeners.


At the time of release, there were 3,000 free audio programs available on iTunes podcast directory. There are now 4 million – we have come a LONG way!


Remember, this was before iPhone, Android, social media, YouTube and many of the ways podcasters now promote their shows. They just defaulted to “Find us in iTunes.”


Apple made it easier to subscribe and listen to podcasts. That is why most podcasters promoted it over any other means of getting podcasts.


Then came iPhone and Android. Since a lot of new iPhone users were using iTunes to sync their podcasts to the iPod, the new iPhone was an easy transition. Android never kept up with the podcast apps. Google tried three or four times to get into podcasting in a compelling way and never quite got the traction enjoyed by Apple.


That is why Apple has dominated podcasting for so long. However, times are changing and new options abound. We’re excited about Podcasting 2.0 and how it is shaking up the industry! Stay tuned to Podcast Insider in the months ahead and we’ll keep you posted on the latest and greatest.



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