Podcast app Stitcher is shutting down, leaving much less alternative for listeners

We will all see the place the podcasting trade goes, and it’s probably going to get down to a different large three.

On its assist web site, podcast app Stitcher has introduced that it is going to be shutting down. In keeping with its mother or father firm, Sirius XM, the corporate is “targeted on incorporating podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription enterprise. Subscribers can hearken to podcasts inside the SiriusXM app and can see an all-new listening expertise later this 12 months.”

Along with accessing podcasts that had been on Stitcher within the Sirius XM app, listeners can clearly entry loads of podcasts that had been on Stitcher on quite a lot of different podcast platforms. For individuals who need to hold listening on Stitcher, Sirius XM says that the service will nonetheless be obtainable on the net and on the app till it formally shuts down on August 29, 2023.

SiriusXM, the proprietor of Stitcher, is concentrated on incorporating podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription enterprise. Subscribers can hearken to podcasts inside the SiriusXM app and can see an all-new listening expertise later this 12 months.

The shutting down of Stitcher signifies that podcast listeners can have one much less possibility for the place they need to get pleasure from their podcasts. This trade has actually matured in recent times and, after seeing it develop up, it does really feel that what is occurring with Stitcher will occur with different smaller podcast apps as nicely.

In reality, it’s beginning to really feel that the podcast trade, at the very least on the subject of apps, is beginning to consolidate itself into three apps from three large firms: Apple, Spotify, and Google. It’s straightforward to see that the most typical apps used to hearken to podcasts is now the Apple Podcasts and Spotify app. And, with Google lately including podcasts to YouTube Music, I wouldn’t be stunned to see Google shoot up when it comes to market share right here both.

Is that good for the podcasting trade? We’ll have to attend and see. However, if competitors is nice, consolidation is dangerous.