GOOGLE is killing off its beloved podcasts app, which has left fans furious and threatening to switch to rivals.
The tech giant is retiring Google Podcasts in favour of YouTube Music, which users will have to migrate to sometime in 2024.
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Google has said it will help podcast creators with the switch, so users will likely still the familiar titles they’ve grown to love.
However, it forms part of efforts from Google to turn YouTube into an all-in-one app, a destination for podcasts, music and video.
From next year, Google Podcasts will join Google Play Music, which was shut down in December 2020, in the app graveyard.
Fans are gutted to see the podcasts appgo, with many preferring to keep them in a separate to their music.
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“I don’t care if I sound like a grandpa. Why does every music service so desperately want me to listen to podcasts in their app?,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“I don’t want to use my music app for podcasts. I want them separate. It’s better when they are separate.”
Another wrote: “We loved Google Play Music, it was converted to YouTube Music.
“Now Google Podcast supports background play (No subscription needed). We’ll be forced to subscribe to YouTube Music.”
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“Nothing surprising. It’s Google. They love to shut down things which people like,” said a third disappointed user.
While Google has offered up YouTube Music as an alternative, users are contemplating moving over to Apple and Spotify’s podcast offerings.
Some users have even made the switch already.
“Honestly, I haven’t touched Google Podcasts ever since Spotify upped its podcast game,” senior editor at 9to5Google, Ben Schoon, wrote.
“It’s a shame to see it closing though, because it was a good podcast app.”
Another person tweeted: “So glad I left that app and moved to Apple Podcasts lol.”
Although, some users are quite keen on the concept of an all-in-one app.
“Amazing! Having two apps when things can naturally fit into one is devastating and cluttering,” one user tweeted.
“Excited to try out podcasts in YouTube Music :).”
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