Amazon brings podcasts to its streaming music service Amazon Music. From now on and on your favorite device you will be able to ask Alexa to play your podcasts. And all this without having to pay anything extra, because they will be available even in the free version of the service.
Amazon Music bets on podcasts
Podcasts are becoming one of the main claims for many platforms. Although it is true that Apple has been, practically since its inception, one of the leading champions in podcasting; During the last months we have seen how Spotify also got seriously into competing with exclusive programs such as Understand your mind among others.
Is now Amazon Music which integrate podcasts into your service and this is especially interesting for all those users who have a device compatible with Alexa. Because, how could it be otherwise, the idea is that the vast majority of users request their favorite programs through the company's voice assistant.
In addition, this would serve to give greater visibility to the service that is still unknown to many and who knows if getting a percentage of these users to end up paying for one of the subscriptions that give access to Amazon Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. Although if you don't want or want to pay, you won't have to do it, because with Amazon Music Free you can also listen to them all without any limitation.
So, after a few months in countries like the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Mexico and Brazil, now it is Spain's turn to see how the platform expands and begins to implement all that experience and learning. obtained.
Podcasts on Amazon Music and Adible, what's the difference?
It is likely that you have wondered what this arrival of podcasts to Amazon Music means when the company already had a podcast service like Audible. Well, really this second service that we have already had available for a long time is not just a podcast platform.
Audible includes a collection of audiobooks which, in addition, are usually produced by very recognizable voices. At least for important titles like the Harry Potter Saga that have the narration of the actress and singer Leonor Watling. But not only that, there are also podcasts and they are again very careful productions that as such fall within the idea of ​​paid podcasts.
The difference is that they are offered there thanks to the payment of the monthly subscription. An amount that is 9,99 euros per month, but that you can try for free for 30 days and up to three months free if you are an Amazon Prime customer.
Therefore, Amazon Music podcasts are the way to carry the program created by any user, regardless of whether they are an amateur or a professional on the subject. The only requirement is that you upload your podcasts to a server and add them to the Amazon Music catalog so that the service can serve them to whoever is interested in listening to them from devices compatible with the service and Alexa, as well as mobile devices with the Amazon app. Music or through the web version.
How to play Amazon Music podcasts on the Amazon Echo
If you have an Amazon Echo device, you should know that you will be able to play any podcasts available on Amazon Music on it. As we say, in any of the options that currently exist: Amazon Music Free, Amazon Music Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited.
The podcasts you play will also be synced to your devices. So you can start listening to them on your phone and when you get home or later, ask your Amazon Echo to continue and it will continue at exactly the point where you left off or stopped.
Now if you want to know how to play an amazon music podcast on an amazon echo, all you have to do is the following:
- Open the Alexa app on your mobile device
- Go to option More
- Then go to Settings
- Within settings, scroll down until you find the Alexa Preferences section and select Music and Podcasts
- Sets the default service for playback
- Done, when you request a podcast it will play it directly from Amazon Music
In case you have other podcast services configured on your smart device with Alexa, to play those that are on the Amazon platform, you would only have to specify it. For example, "Alexa, play (insert name here) podcasts on Amazon Music."
This specifying the service will be interesting in the future if exclusive titles arrive on the platform. Something that does happen in other countries, but at the moment in Spain it has not been closed with anyone. Because they want to see how the service is received and because we understand that many of the big ones already have an exclusivity with some platform or do not want to be closed to an option as recent as this one. As much as its speakers are the best sellers in the smart speaker sector.
Other Podcasts services available on the Amazon Echo
Amazon is upping its ante in terms of content within its Amazon Music streaming music service. With the advent of podcasts, it will have more reasons and value to offer users who decide to bet on it.
However, it is also true that it will not be easy because there are other better positioned services that can also be used in Alexa-compatible products. Something that, for example, Apple's HomePod does not allow and that can be an important limitation for many, but also a way to force the use of its services.
Returning to the services, these are those of Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Two options that you can easily enable on your speaker just by installing the skills appropriate in your application. Once done and configured to give permission through your account you would have done it.
So by options it will no longer be, if you like podcasts and you have an Amazon Echo you will be able to listen to your favorite episodes from the service you prefer or wherever it is available.