Apple Launches New Podcast Analytics Beta for Podcasters - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Launches New Podcast Analytics Beta for Podcasters

by

Apple in June promised to introduce new analytics features for podcasters, providing in-episode analytics options for tracking people listening, where in a podcast listeners stop and skip content, whether ads are skipped, and how long people generally listen for.

Starting today, Apple's podcast analytics feature is rolling out in a beta capacity, reports TechCrunch.

podcastsanalytics
In recent years, podcasts have been growing in popularity, which is what led Apple to finally introduce dedicated analytics tools. Apple also redesigned the Podcasts app entirely in iOS 11, implementing a much improved end user experience with better linearity for podcast episodes.

Apple's new podcasts analytics feature uses anonymized data to make sure user privacy is preserved while also allowing developers access to data that will improve their podcast performance. Data is available from iOS 11 and iTunes 12.7 users.

Podcasters can access the new analytics options for free starting today in iTunes Connect.

Top Rated Comments

110 months ago
This is HUGE for podcast creators. Until now there's only been very vague indications of listener engagement.

Having better data will allow them to charge advertisers more accurately and likely make much more money, which will in turn make them invest in the shows we love to listen to.
This is only going to make podcsasters less money.

Everyone will see that ads are simply skipped.

We'll get our Forward 15 button removed first. Then somehow ads will become unskippable.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
richard4339 Avatar
110 months ago
Apple also redesigned the Podcasts app entirely in iOS 11, implementing a much improved end user experience
Personally I’ve found the user experience to be frustrating to the point that I stopped using the supplied podcasts app, while it was usable in iOS 10. And I haven’t seen many comments anywhere that feel like the interface was “improved”.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
I imagine this will be a big wake up call for some podcasts when advertisers start asking for this data instead of usual garbage analytics. "Oh, I see most of your listeners are just skipping through your ad-reads…no thanks!"
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
The Podcast app can be quite frustrating to use. The UI is confusing and many more taps are needed to play an episode than before. While just anecdotal evidence, my friends and coworkers share the same feeling about the update.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DiegoEGonzalez Avatar
110 months ago
I don’t see how giving more data to podcasters will get rid of more high quality podcast. It’ll allow them to make it more engaging. I do see the 15 second forward button disappearing or if possibly Apple taking the next step and administrating ads themselves to force listeners to listen to ads. I’m too lazy to skip them so i don’t really care. It’s free content.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
The Podcast app can be quite frustrating to use. The UI is confusing and many more taps are needed to play an episode than before. While just anecdotal evidence, my friends and coworkers share the same feeling about the update.
Agreed. It bothers me that I can't mark podcasts as played or unplayed on iOS. I have to use Apple TV or iTunes to do that. The iOS 11 podcast app is pure garbage.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

General Spotify Feature

Spotify to Adopt Apple's Technology for Video Podcasts

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:02 am PDT by
Spotify today announced plans to adopt Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology for video podcasts, a move that will allow creators to distribute video shows across both platforms without changing their existing setup. Apple introduced an enhanced HLS-based video podcast experience for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and the web at the end of March. The upgrade significantly improves ...
after the whiste podcast

Apple's 'After the Whistle' Podcast to Return for World Cup

Wednesday May 27, 2026 3:39 am PDT by
Apple today announced that "After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe" will return on June 7 for a third season built around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hunt is an actor and cocreator of Apple TV's Ted Lasso. Lowe hosts NBC Sports' Premier League coverage and is cohosting FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast. The two will recap games as the tournament unfolds, with new episodes...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Tuesday May 26, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...