YouTube debuts new features to make its Music hub the “ultimate destination” for podcasts

It’s been one year since YouTube launched support for podcasts on its Music app, and listeners are getting some fresh options. In the latest episode of the Release Notes web series, YouTube Creator Liaison Rene Ritchie discussed several improvements that have streamlined the podcast listening experience on YouTube Music.

The first episode of Release Notes featured a conversation between Ritchie and Johanna Voolich, and YouTube’s Chief Product Officer returned for the latest installment as well. The two execs discussed their personal listening habits (Voolich is a big Bailey Sarian fan), fielded questions from creators like Emily D. Baker, and revealed plans that will serve podcasters and their fans. “We want YouTube Music to be that one-stop shop for all of your listening,” Voolich said.

An accompanying blog post runs through some of the features that have recently arrived on YouTube’s music hub. “We want to make YouTube Music the ultimate destination for podcasters and fans alike, so we’ve rolled out several new features including support for third-party RSS podcasts, updates to the Android Auto experience for easy in-car listening, enhanced download options, and customizable playlist sorting,” reads the post. “Additionally, we’ve revamped our recommendation and discovery algorithms to help creators and listeners discover new content effortlessly.”

Voolich offered more details about those recommendations during her sit-down with Ritchie. She explained that YouTube categorizes podcasts into two general buckets: There are highly-produced shows that invest resources into video and “eyes optional” content that often serves as background listening. YouTube’s recommendation tools can surface podcasts in the same category a listener already enjoys, creating what Voolich calls “a tremendous opportunity for growth and discovery.”

YouTube’s new podcast discovery assets will join existing features that serve that purpose. Even with all of the upgrades to its audio-first programming, there’s still room for improvement — Voolich noted that YouTube still has no plans to support “RSS out” capabilities that would allow users to disseminate YouTube-based shows across the web, though the opposite feature — “RSS in” — is available.