Introduction

Spotify is inaugurating its podcast catalogue to third-party apps. 

The company this week started a new version of its Podcast APIs that makes it feasible for third-party apps to connect to Spotify to maintain a user’s podcast library, explore its podcast catalogue and get detailed data and podcast shows and episodes, the firm says.

The Importance of the New Update 

The launch is important as it taps into the broader developer community to assist Spotify to grow its podcast user base. 

More importantly, it gives access to Spotify’s exclusive shows outside of Spotify’s app for the initial time.

Spotify, like various streaming providers, has started to use the phrase “podcast” loosely. 

To Spotify, the name means an audio program, displayed in an episodic format. 

But initially, the word was intended to refer to audio episodes made accessible over the web utilising the open format RSS.

Apple’s personal Podcasts app, despite its majority market share, never revised what a podcast was by placing select shows behind some paywall, membership or prepaid subscription.

But Spotify (and additional newcomers like Luminary), have done precisely this. 

Read Also: WhatsApp experiments new characteristic to combat misinformation: Search the web

Spotify’s Network

In Spotify’s case, it obtained technology startups created to help people build and maintain their podcasts, along with a number of podcast networks — including The Ringer, Gimlet and Parcast — which set out some of the industry’s prime shows. 

Now, several of Spotify’s 700,000-some podcasts are exclusive to its service. 

That indicates if you desire to listen to them, you have to register on Spotify.

Sadly for podcast listeners, it also implies that you had to utilise the Spotify app to stream these shows, instead of your otherwise favoured third-party podcast app such as Overcast, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Castro or the countless others that fill the app stores.

Spotify’s latest podcast APIs don’t change this, unfortunately.

Instead, the latest API is concentrated on podcast development, search and managing shows — not on streaming Spotify’s podcasts, exclusives or originals through a third-party app activity.

Spotify assumes the latest features accessible now will be beneficial to apps that import shows to a user’s Spotify library, or for combinations with calendar apps, or social podcasting encounters to help Spotify users share what they’re listening to with their mates.

Conclusion

Spotify’s new Podcast APIs are a major step forward in expanding its podcast ecosystem. By allowing third-party apps to integrate with Spotify’s podcast library, the streaming giant can tap into a broader audience and offer users more flexibility in how they access and manage their podcast content. While these updates do not allow users to stream exclusive podcasts outside the Spotify app, they do open up possibilities for better discovery, sharing, and managing podcasts across various platforms. This update could ultimately strengthen Spotify’s position as a leader in the podcast space and encourage further innovation within the podcasting community.

FAQs

1. What is the new Spotify Podcast API update about?
The new update allows third-party apps to connect to Spotify to manage podcast libraries, explore the catalogue, and access podcast data. However, streaming exclusive Spotify podcasts via third-party apps is not yet possible.

2. Can I listen to Spotify-exclusive podcasts on third-party apps now?
No, the update does not allow Spotify-exclusive podcasts to be streamed outside the Spotify app. It only focuses on enhancing podcast discovery and management.

3. What does this update mean for podcast creators?
Podcast creators will benefit from greater exposure to Spotify’s broad audience, as the API allows third-party apps to integrate with Spotify’s platform, helping them grow their listener base.

4. Does this mean Spotify is opening up its podcast content more?
Yes, in a way. This update allows users to interact with their Spotify podcasts through third-party apps, but it still keeps exclusive content within Spotify’s ecosystem.

5. Will Spotify be adding more features to the podcast API in the future?
Yes, Spotify plans to add new features and apps to its developer website to expand the capabilities of the podcast API in the future.