Google has ended the feature that allowed users to access playable podcasts directly from Google Search results, and allowed us to provide podcast recommendations. Officially launched in 2019, the feature showed podcasts when they matched a user’s query, including when the user specifically included the word “podcast” in their search term. But a few weeks ago, some creator started noticing that the podcast carousel was disappearing from his Google search results.
The disappearance was first spotted on Podnews.net, which noted in January that searching for podcasts no longer returned a play button or a link to Google Podcasts itself. I tested the feature by searching for “history podcasts,” and it only provided a list of shows with links to podcast reviews, Apple Podcasts pages, and other streaming destinations.
At the time, Google only told the site that the feature was working “as intended.”
However, according to a new Google Podcasts Manager announcement, this feature will officially be retired on February 13th.
“Google Search will stop showing podcast carousels by February 13. As a result, clicks and impressions will be How People Find Your Show After that date, it will be zero,” the message said. Podcasters have also been instructed to download any historical data they wish to retain prior to this final closure.
Of course, as many podcasters have already discovered, the metrics were already dropping as features were discontinued.
To be fair, Search Playable Podcasts wasn’t a very well executed product as it didn’t offer a way to do more than just click to play an episode. The Podcasts vertical allows podcast authors to index different parts of an episode so users can jump directly to the section they want to hear. Additionally, users can watch the podcast video if the creator chooses to shoot it.
YouTube has also proven to be more popular than Google Podcasts and other competitors. For example, a 2022 market study of podcast listeners shows that YouTube surpasses Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts as users’ preferred podcast platform. Many podcast market analysis reports don’t consider YouTube when comparing the popularity of different podcast apps, but according to a recent report by Buzzsprout, only 3.5% of the market share is using web browsers as listening apps. is at least suggested to be very small. Despite Google indexing the show, its share has barely increased over the years.
Asked for comment, Google explained that its decision to reduce the number of playable podcasts in Search will allow it to focus on new additions instead.
“The existing podcast feature will gradually be replaced by a new single feature. what to podcast A spokesperson told us. The feature is now rolling out on mobile for English-speaking users in the United States, stating, “This feature provides detailed information about podcasts, links to listen to shows on various platforms, and the podcaster’s own We will provide a link to the website,” the spokesperson added.
According to the help documentation, if the user is signed into a Google account, these recommendations will be personalized to the user, and will include information such as the user’s past searches and browsing history, saved podcasts, and other podcast settings. be considered. However, users can turn off personalized results if they prefer more general suggestions, he said.
