It’s no secret that the recording industry, and indeed many artists, have never been a big fan of Spotify. Rather than having to purchase music from the big labels, listeners can stream any song they like for a monthly subscription price, or free if they don’t mind putting up with ads. But something happened on February 6th that may change the future of Spotify, and the future of podcasting, forever.
Spotify made its first forays into podcasts a mere two years ago, likely to diversify their offerings in the face of steep competition, and have since become the second largest podcasting platform behind iTunes. On February 6th Spotify announced the purchase of Gimlet Media, responsible for such popular podcasts as Reply All, Homecoming, and Startup, and with that announcement the platform has now become the publisher.
Spotify didn’t stop there, however, as they also announce the purchase of Anchor, a company that helps people produce and monetize podcasts. With this announcement Spotify has doubled down on their commitment to create content, leaving many to wonder what this means for the future of podcasting.
Reactions have been varied, with some celebrating the announcement as a win for podcasters who may finally see increased listernership and revenues for their efforts. Others, however, see this as the end of open podcasting, with corporate interests and corporate backing sure to change the industry forever.
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