Future trends in podcasting: What to expect in the next five years

Podcasts have quickly become one of the most popular mediums for consuming content, especially on the go or whilst working. They’re well placed to serve those looking to better inform themselves, escape to another world or hear a discussion about their passion all whilst on the morning commute, cleaning the house or working at their desk. Over the last decade podcasts have evolved rapidly as the number of listeners has grown and platforms have adapted eager to cater for this growing demand. But what future trends in podcasting can we expect in the next five years and how can we set ourselves up for success in this evolving landscape. 

What is a podcast?

A podcast is made up of a series of audio files which have been produced for listeners to stream or download. They can be accessed via the internet, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to hours in length. Unlike a radio programme which is produced and shared by a broadcaster, podcasts can be created by anyone and streamed online at very little or no cost.

The number of people tuning into podcasts around the world has now grown to more than 500 million listeners, a staggering figure which highlights how large the industry has become. 

Why are podcasts so popular?

The fact that there are now more than 4 million podcasts available for listeners to stream and to listen is testament to how popular the format has become in recent years. In a world of short form videos, social media feeds and limited attention spans, podcasts are a personal and engaging format which offer listeners the opportunity to dive deeper into areas of interest and consume longer form discussions. 

Podcasts are very easy to access as a content format, requiring only a smartphone, internet connection and pair of headphones. The wealth of choice also provides audiences with the option to pick podcasts which are focused on areas which interest them. 

Future podcast trends to look out for

As podcasting has grown rapidly in recent years, and continues to do so, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve so that your podcast remains relevant and takes full advantage of new functionality and trends as they emerge.  

Vodcasts will continue to grow

If listening to your favourite podcast wasn’t enough, you can now watch many of your favourite shows on platforms like Spotify and YouTube as vodcasts. This is already a growing trend and is only set to become more popular in years to come. It’s an easy next step, as many popular podcasters bring cameras in to film their discussion or interview for audiences to watch as well as to listen. 

If you choose to film your podcast so it can be released in both video and audio formats, thinking about how you are going to visually present your show is an important factor to consider. Depending on where you recorded your podcast before, you might need to identify a new space which is both acoustically suitable and visually appealing. 

Adding the video element to your podcast also brings additional benefits. Video is already the most popular content format on social media, with millions of videos uploaded every day to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Having the option to cut up video clips from your podcast interview or panel discussion to share online will provide you with an invaluable resource for promoting your show and reaching your target audience.

Repurposing content 

Historically podcasters have recorded their episode, had it edited together and then shared it with the world for listeners to download and stream. They’ve then switched their attention to planning and recording future episodes, leaving the episode that they just released to exist only as an audio podcast. Now podcasters are trying to extract the most value from their work by repurposing their episodes into a multitude of other content formats to maximise the potential of reaching their target audience.

One option is to transcribe your podcast episodes and then turn them into blog posts which can be shared online for people to read. This is an easy route for many and provides yet another way for audiences to engage with the content that you produce and consequently drive audiences towards listening to the full episode on podcast platforms. 

Interactivity could take off

For some podcasters who want to engage further with their audience, new interactive functionality could provide the opportunity to do this. Asking audiences to answer questions, contribute to episodes and engage with the hosts are all future possibilities. Spotify for instance has introduced a Q&A polling function, where you can ask your listeners to answer a question when they’re listening natively via their platform.

Live podcasting events 

It’s time to take this show on the road! Whether it’s virtual or in-person, there is growing demand amongst audiences to see their favourite podcasts being recorded live whilst they watch. This gives them an opportunity to interact live, ask questions, talk to hosts and feel like they’re part of the show. This is also providing podcasters with a new, highly lucrative, way to generate revenue for their shows as many have been able to sell out entire theatres with fans wanting to see them live.

Recording live shows is not for everyone however. It can add another level of complexity to the recording process, especially if you also produce your show as a vodcast. Plus, you need to have a large enough following to draw a big enough crowd to make it worth your while.

Growth of niche podcasts  

With millions of podcasts out there for audiences now to listen to, it’s increasingly difficult to set yourself apart from the competition and carve out your own space in the podcast universe. One option that many podcasters are now pursuing is producing a show which focuses on a niche of a larger topic. So for instance, instead of producing a show about football you might consider narrowing the focus down to exploring the history of football clubs or how football stadiums are built.

Identifying a niche within a wider subject area is allowing podcasters to set themselves apart as they offer something different which listeners can’t get anywhere else. 

Quality content will remain king

If you focus on one thing when producing your podcast it should be quality. Even if you choose to take advantage of podcast trends like filming your podcast, repurposing content or focusing on a niche, if you are not producing quality content then you might be setting yourself up to fail.

As the number of podcasts available grows, audiences have greater freedom to choose podcasts where the quality of content and production is higher. Listeners want to hear well researched conversations, engaging interviews and well written dramas.

In addition, there is a growing expectation that podcasts need to sound good too. If the audio quality is not up to scratch, listeners can easily switch to other podcasts which are more professionally produced and focus on similar topics or themes. 

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