Podcasts coming soon to YouTube Music and they will do it accordingly, confirmed the person in charge of the area; but don’t get too excited because this will all start in the United States and we’ll see how it goes and when it spreads to the rest of the world.

This is because YouTube is a multidisciplinary platform and there are already many podcasts that are distributed through it, either because they are produced in other media and later transferred there, or vice versa. In addition, we talk about both audio and video podcasts and in both formats at the same time. However, YouTube Music has still failed to offer such content properly, it needs to be repeated.

And how does it correspond? Well, as it happens on other platforms that are not specific to podcasts, but in which podcasts are the top level content, see Spotify or Amazon Music: s own section within the application and with other types of functions and features designed for both users and creators.

So the notable detail that was already mentioned is that the YouTube Music mobile app will be able to play podcasts with the screen off even for users of the free plan, something they promised for music reproduction as well, but still don’t deliver. Of course, if they want to make a name for themselves in the podcast sector as such, this is almost an essential requirement.

As for creators, they were expected to be able to start uploading their audio podcasts—again, podcasts as such, not videos or videos without images—via RSS by the end of the year. YouTube Studio will adapt serve their needs as well, i.e. create specific audio and video podcasts.

Monetization is of course Google’s top priority, and audio-only ads for podcasts are also on the way. Another change to adapt the platform to the new environment will be content recommendationswhich will be based on listening habits on YouTube Music, but also on YouTube channels such as video podcasts and the like.

In short, YouTube has already threatened to do so, but now it will start taking podcasts seriously, and YouTube Music will of course do the same as the prevailing application. Everything should be up and running well throughout this year, but it’s worth repeating once more, only in the United States, although the intention is to expand it to all territories where the service operates.

Where does that leave Google Podcasts, the internet giant’s current podcast app? Currently in none: Googler Podcasts will continue to function as before and given the above, no changes are expected in the short term: podcasts won’t be integrated into YouTube Music internationally anytime soon, and Google Podcasts is a small advance in comparison.