TL;DR
Apple says 2025 was the strongest year yet for Apple Podcasts, reporting record listeners, plays, and subscribers. The milestone comes as podcasting expands and competitors such as YouTube and Spotify invest heavily in audio and video shows.
What happened
Apple published an update on services performance for 2025 via its Newsroom, and highlighted Apple Podcasts as having its best year on record. The company reported growth across listeners, plays and paid subscribers. The piece notes how podcasts first gained traction through iTunes and that the word “podcast” traces back to Apple’s iPod. In recent years the podcast landscape has shifted: platforms including YouTube and Spotify have taken large shares of attention, and video-formatted podcasts have driven broader industry growth with even streaming companies entering the space. That trend has made Apple Podcasts appear more niche in comparison, yet Apple’s absolute audience and engagement metrics reached new highs. The report also mentions that Apple’s Podcasts app still lacks extensive optimization for video shows, though iOS 26.2 shipped some updates to the app.
Why it matters
- Apple reporting record listeners and plays suggests the overall podcast audience grew even if Apple’s market share may have declined.
- Big investments from rivals and a rise in video podcasts are reshaping how listeners discover and consume shows.
- Apple’s continued prominence in absolute numbers could influence creators’ platform choices and industry partnerships.
- The lack of deep video optimization in Apple’s app highlights a potential product priority gap as podcast formats evolve.
Key facts
- Apple published a 2025 services update on its Newsroom.
- Apple says 2025 was Apple Podcasts’ best year ever.
- Apple reported record levels of listeners, plays, and subscribers for Apple Podcasts in 2025.
- Podcasts initially grew through iTunes; the term “podcast” was inspired by Apple’s iPod.
- Competitors including YouTube and Spotify have taken substantial podcast market share in recent years.
- Video podcasts have been a major driver of growth across the podcasting industry.
- Streaming companies such as Netflix have begun investing in podcasting.
- Apple Podcasts has not been heavily optimized for video-formatted podcasts, according to the company’s update.
- Apple released some new features for the Podcasts app in iOS 26.2.
What to watch next
- Whether Apple will announce a broader overhaul of the Podcasts app to better support video podcasts — not confirmed in the source.
- How Apple’s absolute growth in listeners translates into market share compared with YouTube, Spotify, and other rivals — not confirmed in the source.
- Any roadmap or specific feature plans from Apple for improving video support in Podcasts beyond the iOS 26.2 updates — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Podcast: A digital audio program released episodically, typically available for streaming or download.
- Video podcast: A podcast-style show that includes video as well as audio, often published on platforms that support both formats.
- Market share: The portion of total industry activity—such as listeners or plays—attributable to a particular company or product.
- Apple Newsroom: Apple’s official channel for press releases, announcements, and company updates.
- iOS 26.2: A version of Apple’s iPhone operating system; the source notes it included some new features for the Podcasts app.
Reader FAQ
Did Apple say Apple Podcasts had its best year in 2025?
Yes. Apple stated 2025 was the Podcasts app’s best year, with record listeners, plays, and subscribers.
Does the source provide exact listener or subscriber numbers?
Not confirmed in the source.
Has Apple fully optimized the Podcasts app for video shows?
The source indicates Apple Podcasts still does little to optimize for video podcasts.
Did Apple add new features to Podcasts recently?
Apple shipped some new features for the Podcasts app in iOS 26.2, but the source does not list specifics.
iPhone 17e launching as soon as next month: Here are five upgrades to look forward to Michael Burkhardt Jan 11 2026 APPLE PODCASTS Apple Podcasts is officially more popular than…
Sources
- Apple Podcasts is officially more popular than it’s ever been
- Apple reveals its most-listened-to podcasts of 2025. Here's who came out …
- Apple Announces 2025 Podcast of the Year
- Top Charts of 2025
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