If Spotify were smart, they'd focus on an ad platform and copy Apple's open podcast distribution system (aka RSS etc.) If they can streamline the advertising while keeping it accessible to...
If Spotify were smart, they'd focus on an ad platform and copy Apple's open podcast distribution system (aka RSS etc.)
If they can streamline the advertising while keeping it accessible to traditional apps, they could have a tidy side business here. Not to mention if they offer an ad-reduced/free feed for subscribers -- or better yet, a method for podcasts to have their own paid subscribers (a la Patreon), they could have a really great product on their hands... but it all boils down to them keeping things open like Apple.
Spotify’s VC investors aren’t looking for a side business though. They’re wanting multiples on their investment that there’s only a chance of through something like owning the platform and booting...
Spotify’s VC investors aren’t looking for a side business though. They’re wanting multiples on their investment that there’s only a chance of through something like owning the platform and booting everyone else out.
As it sits right now, it looks like they're fine with you being with another aggregator and simply giving them the RSS feed. If they stick with this, it'll be a non-loss for everybody....
As it sits right now, it looks like they're fine with you being with another aggregator and simply giving them the RSS feed. If they stick with this, it'll be a non-loss for everybody.
I really like podcasts simply because I can listen to them in the app of my choice. I'm not locked into what one entity says is okay. This also means that tracking is severely limited. All they...
I really like podcasts simply because I can listen to them in the app of my choice. I'm not locked into what one entity says is okay. This also means that tracking is severely limited. All they know about you is your IP (general location) and your user-agent string. It's like the old days of cable, where ads were way less targeted and creepy.
There's tons of podcasts that do dynamic ad insertion now, but if Spotify does it in their own app, they have the ability to get far more data than any other client. That scares me a little. They can find out all sorts of creepy things about you (just look at how much info Facebook slurps up from your devices).
I mentioned this a few days ago in a different thread, but one of the podcasts I listen to (Last Podcast on the Left) is going Spotify exclusive starting this week. I'm not going to switch to Spotify for one podcast or use Spotify for all of my podcasts. I'm just going to stop listening.
It sucks, since I enjoy the show, but I'm not changing my entire podcast library over for one show. I assume that's Spotify's play here - keep grabbing shows until enough of them are exclusive to their platform that you just give in and change over.
Their play makes sense though - the more you listen to podcasts, the less you're streaming music. Someone streaming a song costs Spotify money. Someone listening to a podcast in their app makes them money from the ads.
I’m a big fan of Last Pod as well, and already a spotify user so the change isn’t really affecting me at all. I’m actually curious why you wouldn’t consider downloading the app just to listen if...
I’m a big fan of Last Pod as well, and already a spotify user so the change isn’t really affecting me at all. I’m actually curious why you wouldn’t consider downloading the app just to listen if you do enjoy the show? Is it that it feels forced, or some other concern? You wouldn’t have to shift your whole library of course - you could make an account with a burner email and use it to listen to LPOTL. As far as I understand as well the ads will still be the same as they were before.
In any case it’s obviously a personal choice. I’m just curious because in my mind it’s simply downloading an app, for which you’ll continue getting nice, quality content.
It's because if it's not in my podcast listening app of choice, I'll never remember to check Spotify to see if there's a new episode. I know there's a new episode now whenever I open my podcast...
It's because if it's not in my podcast listening app of choice, I'll never remember to check Spotify to see if there's a new episode. I know there's a new episode now whenever I open my podcast app to listen to something (which happens multiple times per day) and there's a new episode in my feed.
I honestly have no problem with them moving to Spotify. Good on them for getting paid in a field where big paydays are few and far between.
I feel the same way, I have a specific janky workflow to collect, organise and listen to podcast episodes. For me it's the same issue as game launchers. I have steam, most of my library is on...
I feel the same way, I have a specific janky workflow to collect, organise and listen to podcast episodes. For me it's the same issue as game launchers. I have steam, most of my library is on steam, when I have games that aren't on steam I find I invariably end up never finishing them because they get forgotten.
If Spotify were smart, they'd focus on an ad platform and copy Apple's open podcast distribution system (aka RSS etc.)
If they can streamline the advertising while keeping it accessible to traditional apps, they could have a tidy side business here. Not to mention if they offer an ad-reduced/free feed for subscribers -- or better yet, a method for podcasts to have their own paid subscribers (a la Patreon), they could have a really great product on their hands... but it all boils down to them keeping things open like Apple.
Spotify’s VC investors aren’t looking for a side business though. They’re wanting multiples on their investment that there’s only a chance of through something like owning the platform and booting everyone else out.
As it sits right now, it looks like they're fine with you being with another aggregator and simply giving them the RSS feed. If they stick with this, it'll be a non-loss for everybody.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/faq
I really like podcasts simply because I can listen to them in the app of my choice. I'm not locked into what one entity says is okay. This also means that tracking is severely limited. All they know about you is your IP (general location) and your user-agent string. It's like the old days of cable, where ads were way less targeted and creepy.
There's tons of podcasts that do dynamic ad insertion now, but if Spotify does it in their own app, they have the ability to get far more data than any other client. That scares me a little. They can find out all sorts of creepy things about you (just look at how much info Facebook slurps up from your devices).
I mentioned this a few days ago in a different thread, but one of the podcasts I listen to (Last Podcast on the Left) is going Spotify exclusive starting this week. I'm not going to switch to Spotify for one podcast or use Spotify for all of my podcasts. I'm just going to stop listening.
It sucks, since I enjoy the show, but I'm not changing my entire podcast library over for one show. I assume that's Spotify's play here - keep grabbing shows until enough of them are exclusive to their platform that you just give in and change over.
Their play makes sense though - the more you listen to podcasts, the less you're streaming music. Someone streaming a song costs Spotify money. Someone listening to a podcast in their app makes them money from the ads.
I’m a big fan of Last Pod as well, and already a spotify user so the change isn’t really affecting me at all. I’m actually curious why you wouldn’t consider downloading the app just to listen if you do enjoy the show? Is it that it feels forced, or some other concern? You wouldn’t have to shift your whole library of course - you could make an account with a burner email and use it to listen to LPOTL. As far as I understand as well the ads will still be the same as they were before.
In any case it’s obviously a personal choice. I’m just curious because in my mind it’s simply downloading an app, for which you’ll continue getting nice, quality content.
It's because if it's not in my podcast listening app of choice, I'll never remember to check Spotify to see if there's a new episode. I know there's a new episode now whenever I open my podcast app to listen to something (which happens multiple times per day) and there's a new episode in my feed.
I honestly have no problem with them moving to Spotify. Good on them for getting paid in a field where big paydays are few and far between.
I feel the same way, I have a specific janky workflow to collect, organise and listen to podcast episodes. For me it's the same issue as game launchers. I have steam, most of my library is on steam, when I have games that aren't on steam I find I invariably end up never finishing them because they get forgotten.