Is Paying for Podcasts the Future? Hope Breakfast’s Tech Expert Explains

Over the last few years, the number of podcasts in the world has skyrocketed. There are more than two million shows to listen to, consisting of a total of 48 million episodes. On-demand audio has been embraced by users, but some recent announcements by Apple and Spotify have rocked the boat, and raised questions about whether our favourite podcasts might soon sit behind paywalls.

Geoff Quattromani from the Technology Uncorked Podcast explained the changing landscape of podcasting on Hope Breakfast.

“Effectively, from this month, if you have a podcast and you would like to put a paywall in front of it so that people have to pay a monthly fee to listen to your podcast, you can now do that,” Geoff said.

“This is taking the experience to something like a Netflix or a Stan, where people are paying a monthly fee to binge all that content.”

These changes have been announced for both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and it could really shape the future of the medium – for both creators and listeners.

“This is a good way of Apple and Spotify taking a land grab of existing podcasts that are out there,” Geoff said.

“We know Spotify have signed some exclusive deals, Apple has done the same where people have to remain on that platform.

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“The reality is that Apple takes 30 per cent of revenue that would be generated through those podcasts, whereas Spotify at the moment is taking none. So you could be making more from Spotify at the moment.”

So, how does Geoff feel about on-demand audio that has always been free now potentially costing users money?

“The podcast platform has blown up so much in the past few years that I don’t want to see people becoming restricted,” he said.

The good news is that Hope Podcasts will remain free, and you can find them all at hopepodcasts.com.au.

Hear the full chat with Geoff Quattromani in the player above.