In addition to a library of 35 million songs, Google Play Music will also soon offer podcasts.
Google is working with more than a dozen popular podcasters like Feral Audio, HBO, HowStuffWorks, Public Radio International, StarTalk Radio, and This Week in Tech to bring their shows to the service. The list of podcasters headed to Google's streaming service also includes 5by5, Dan Carlin, Dave Ramsey, Earwolf, Gimlet Media, Head Gum, the Loud Speakers Network, Nerdist / Legendary, Radiotopia / PRX, the Sideshow Network, Slate / Panoply, and Tim Ferriss.
Once it launches, the new feature will make it easy to discover podcasts you might find interesting, Google Play Music Product Manager Elias Roman wrote in a blog post.
The streaming service already "helps connect people with the perfect soundtrack for whatever they're doing—whether they're stuck in rush hour traffic, staying up late with friends or lifting weights at the gym," Roman wrote. "What if that same technology and curation could help connect people with great podcasts based on their mood or interest — something to make them laugh, get lost in a story or learn something new? We thought that would be awesome."
You will, of course, be able to search for and browse podcasts, but Google is taking discovery a step further, giving you the ability to find shows based on what you're doing, how you're feeling, and your interests. "Similar to our contextual playlists for music, this will give podcast fans and new listeners a way of finding and listening to content," Roman said.
Gearing up for the launch, Google has created a portal for podcasters to start uploading their shows to Google Play Music before it opens the feature up to listeners. Podcasters in the U.S. can start uploading their shows here.
At this point, there's no word as to when the feature will arrive, but Google promised more details "in the coming months."
Apple released a standalone podcast app for iOS in 2012, which hit 1 billion subscriptions a year later.