YouTube has just announced that it now has more than 1 billion active podcast viewers on its platform every month. The Google-owned company has also stated that it now serves as the most frequently used platform in the US for listening to podcast content. While YouTube isn’t solely a podcast application, it has become the number one place for the format.
YouTube Celebrates 1 billion monthly podcast users
YouTube has certainly achieved a significant milestone by reaching 1 billion podcast viewers on its platform every month. This increase in podcast viewers or listeners on YouTube highlights the social media giant’s influence in the podcasting world. It appears that after videos, YouTube is playing a pivotal role in shaping how people discover and engage with podcasts. Furthermore, YouTube claims that American viewers have watched more than 400 million hours of podcasts monthly on living room devices in 2024.
It’s worth adding that YouTube’s 1 billion monthly podcast viewers number isn’t just more than Apple or Spotify can claim, it lays them to waste. In 2023, Spotify claimed that it had 100 million regular podcast listeners. As per third-party reports, Apple came behind Spotify last year.
YouTube continues to enhance the podcast experience
In a bid to further increase the number of podcast listeners on its platform, YouTube has been actively enhancing its podcast product to improve the user experience. These developments make it easier for people to find their favorite shows, discover new podcasts, and enjoy them in both video and audio formats. Notably, this flexibility caters to different listening or viewing preferences, allowing people to engage in podcasts in a way that suits them best.
Furthermore, the company is adding more and more podcasters to its revenue-sharing YouTube Partner Program. The platform’s initiative empowers creators to monetize their podcasts and further invest in creating high-quality shows for their audience. That said, the streaming social media giant now sees podcasters and creators as extremely similar.
