Public radio podcast lovers, clear your schedules: Spotify users now have the ½ûÂþÌìÌà podcast catalogue at their fingertips. From classic ½ûÂþÌìÌà favorites like to , to the media giant's latest viral titles like , and , all of ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's podcasts have a home on Spotify.
Fans new and old are part of the one-third of Americans who listen to podcasts, with 12 percent streaming. As podcasts bleed ever more into office talk and dinner conversation ("You have to listen to this episode of ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's ; "I'm obsessed with ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's Hidden Brain podcast - it's like they know me!") they're increasingly a way to stay culturally relevant and on top of the latest trends. We listen to them at home as we unwind, on the road or rails as we commute, and while we work—and we're listening to them on Spotify like never before.
Why have podcasts become the media of the moment? ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's Chief Marketing Officer Meg Goldthwaite explains. "Podcasts are stimulating. You get to imagine jumping out of a plane with Invisibilia host Hannah Rosin and her 74-year-old mom, or eavesdropping as Shankar Vedantam crawls through someone's thinking on Hidden Brain."
"And podcasts can challenge you. They can inspire you. They can change the way you listen to your world," she said. "Our audience numbers show that people crave that and want to access podcasts on as many platforms as possible. Whether it's getting out the door with Spotify's or playlists, or wrapping up your day with ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's TED Radio Hour, listeners are now able to do it all from one app on Spotify."
To date, people have spent hundreds of millions of hours listening to podcasts on Spotify, the podcast listening destination in the world. With the addition of ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's colossal catalogue, Spotify's platform is expected to be an even bigger magnet for podcast junkies across the globe.
½ûÂþÌìÌà is arguably one of the biggest and most respected names in podcasting, with top-notch—and, in many cases, award-winning—podcasts and longtime listeners. For ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ, sharing its eclectic podcast archive on Spotify instantly builds expansive global awareness of its programming. Meanwhile, the talented podcasters of ½ûÂþÌìÌà gain access to millions of Spotify listeners who might not otherwise stumble upon and listen to their shows.
"For both Spotify and ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ, joining forces just makes sense, and we're delighted to bring ½ûÂþÌìÌà podcasts to Spotify users," said Dossie McCraw, Global Head of Podcast Partnerships at Spotify. "Podcasts are gifts you give yourself in moments of the day when you want to catch up on the news or hear thoughtful commentary on issues affecting us all or just have some fun with a game show like Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!"
"This collaboration is a huge step towards greater discoverability," said Goldthwaite. "Be it science or music or news or conversation, ½ûÂþÌìÌà podcasts on Spotify are another place for audio-hungry ears to feast."
To listen to ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's robust podcast library on Spotify, check out the Podcast Hub under Browse.
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