The podcast forecast: Streaming sites reveal bright future for all podcasts

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Angelica Tejada, Opinions Editor

Popular streaming services are now incorporating podcasts into their platforms for all listeners.

Podcasts are growing in popularity by the second and so are the means in which one can listen to them.

Many music streaming services, such as Google Play Music and Pandora, have incorporated podcasts into their services. Some listeners tune in to their favorite music and talk programs, sometimes weekly, as much as they tune in to their favorite artists and musicians.

A major move was Spotify buying Gimlet Media, a podcast publishing network, and Anchor, which provides creators the tools necessary to create podcasts. “The Gimlet deal is thought to be worth somewhere around $230 million,” Vulture reported.

Spotify spent a ton of money in order to increase the quality and accessibility for its users to listen to podcasts.

There’s a promising feature within podcasting and that is its fast-paced growth in listeners. “Nearly one out of three people listen to at least one podcast every month,” reports the The New York Times.

In the past, the possibility for someone to listen to a podcast was slim and podcasts were almost unheard of.

“With the increasing number of podcast listeners, this can change the way in which individuals inform themselves about what is happening around them and podcasts from media organizations that focus on news stories can attract more people.”

The increasing spotlight on podcasts has resulted in different kinds being made to favor many kinds of listeners, even those who have never listened to one before. From fiction storytelling to conversational podcasts, the variety is there for everyone.

Most music streaming service users are there for the music and the different playlists created.

 Yet that doesn’t stop the rising popularity of podcasts.

Spotify has already implemented a way to input podcasts in users’ days “by placing suggested episodes into algorithmically generated playlists,” The Verge reported.

The strategies put into place by Spotify will increase the number of people that listen to podcasts.

Podcasts are going to grow and it’s going to be a big feature on all music streaming services.

Media organizations are adding podcasting to their agenda and are working toward making news more accessible. The New York Times has “The Daily” podcast hosted by Michael Barbaro, which covers the week’s biggest news stories.

Based on the recent investigations concerning Russian influence in the 2016 U.S. election, ABC News has “The Investigation.”

MSNBC added “The Oath” with former U.S. Attorney and contributor to MSNBC, Chuck Rosenberg.

Rosenberg said, “This is for people who are interested in the news but want to go deeper… people who want to learn,” Variety reported.

This new podcast is meant to reach not only readers but those that want to be exposed to the news in other media.

With the increasing number of podcast listeners, this can change the way in which individuals inform themselves about what is happening around them and podcasts from media organizations that focus on news stories can attract more people.

They will be interested in the  content because more listeners will be tuning in.

The utilization of podcasts can also be a tool to gain the attention of people that don’t necessarily look for the news.

Podcasts will be handed to them just like a playlist suggestion on Spotify or from a friend who is obsessed with podcasts.

Media organizations can take this opportunity to have more people interested in their organization and what their overall message is.

Soon enough, everyone will be listening to a podcast created by one of them.