PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Report: Google Play Music Podcasts Launch April 18

According to a leaked NPR member newsletter, the new service will reach Android "and other platforms" soon.

 & Stephanie Mlot Contributor

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Mark your calendars: Google Play Music podcasts arrive Monday, April 18.

According to a leaked NPR member newsletter, released on Wednesday, Google will launch its podcast service on Android "and other platforms" early next week. As Engadget points out, consumers should take this news with a grain of salt: Still unconfirmed by Google, the report could have been falsified—like when HBO's Bill Simmons incorrectly tweeted a February podcast start date. NPR, however, boasts that it "worked with Google to ensure that public radio is represented in the Google Play environment."

Initially announced in October, Play Music's podcast service is expected to include more than a dozen popular streams, like HBO, How Stuff Works, Star Trek Radio, and This Week in Tech, as well as those by Nerdist, Slate, and others. Once it launches, the new feature will make it easier to discover podcasts, based on your mood or interests—similar to the Google Play Music platform.

In preparation for the launch, Google last fall created a portal for podcasters in the US to start uploading their shows to Play Music before the feature opens to listeners. Since February, folks have reported seeing hints of support, like a podcast icon hidden in the mobile app's side menu.

Google, however, has remained tight-lipped about the program; the Web giant did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.

Apple released a standalone podcast app for iOS in 2012, which reached 1 billion subscribers a year later.

About Our Expert

Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

Contributor

My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
  • Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

My Areas of Expertise

  • Science & Space
  • Video Streaming Services
  • Social Media
  • Cars & Auto
  • Education

The Tech I Use

  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • MacBook Air (hooked up to a 23-inch Dell monitor)
  • Google Chrome
  • Google Drive
  • Soundcore Life P3 earbuds
  • Various Amazon Echo devices

Read full bio