Apple Podcasts Subscriptions are now live globally: Here are all the details

Apple’s Podcast channels and the premium subscription are now live and have been rolled out for all. The Apple Podcasts Subscriptions feature will enable creators to activate paid subscriptions for shows and channels. They can also opt for a model where the hows are free and the additional episodes are just for paid subscribers. The second option is what Apple is calling the ‘freemium’ model and this can include additional perks like unedited footage, archives, etc. Apple had announced the Podcasts Subscriptions feature in April this year and it was supposed to roll out then itself. However, it got delayed since some creators were facing issues with uploaded shows.

Apple has emailed all the creators to inform them that the Apple Podcasts subscription feature and the Podcast channels have been rolled out on June 15. The creators get to decide the pricing for subscriptions and can pick a billing plan that is annual or monthly. Creators also get to decide whether they want to offer a free model with no payment or the freemium model that allows users to listen in for free and then pay for some additional benefits. Creators can also opt for a paid model.

To be a part of Apple Podcasts, creators have to sign up for the Apple Podcasters Program to access the tools needed to manage the premium subscriptions. Apple Podcasts’ premium subscriptions cost ₹1,799/year in India and $19.99 in the US. Creators interested in being a part of this can sign up via the Apple Podcasts Connect website and there are no prerequisites like a minimum number of subscribers, so pretty much anyone can start using the features and get their content out. 

Creators also get to decide a fee for their content, a part of which is going to go to Apple. They get to decide whether they want to offer sample episodes or free trials for subscribers to help them make better purchase decisions. Besides these subscriptions, Apple Podcasts also has channels that come in both free and paid options. With channels, creators can group their content together with a logo, artwork, and a description.

Podcast creators receive 70% of the subscription fee with each billing cycle (minus the applicable taxes) and once the subscriber accumulates one year of paid service, the new revenue will increase to 85% of the subscription fee, minus taxes. For ther podcast revenue, including ads, the money will be received by the creator in full.

Podcast listeners in more than 170 countries and regions can now start purchasing subscriptions for individual shows and groups of shows through channels, like “Birthful” with Adriana Lozada, “Pantsuit Politics” with Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland, “Snap Judgment” with Glynn Washington, and “You Had Me At Black” with Martina Abrams Ilunga; premier studios such as Lemonada Media, Luminary, Realm, and Wondery; and leading media and entertainment brands, including CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, and Sony Music Entertainment. You can find out more about what is available right now from here. 

Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and channels are available to listeners on Apple devices running iOS 14.6, iPadOS 14.6, and macOS 11.4 or later. Customers can also play subscription content on Apple Watch with watchOS 7.5 or later, on Apple TV with tvOS 14.6 or later, and with HomePod, HomePod mini, and CarPlay. And each Apple Podcasts Subscription can be shared among six family members through Family Sharing.