Apple event rumor again points to 'Podcasts+' subscription service

Browse Podcasts on iPhone 11 Pro
Browse Podcasts on iPhone 11 Pro (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)

What you need to know

  • Apple will hold its April Event later today.
  • A second rumor says Apple will unveil a new Podcasts+ subscription service.

Another April Apple event rumor says that Apple plans to unveil a brand new Podcasts subscription service later today.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Apple Inc. on Tuesday is expected to reveal its annual update to high-end iPads, among other new products, and introduce a paid subscription option within its podcast app.

We've long know Apple will release updated hardware at this event, likely a new iPad Pro, AirTags, and even a new iMac. However, rumors of a new Podcasts subscription service coming at the event are very recent. The report continues:

The rollout of a paid subscription option within its podcast app will allow listeners to compensate hosts directly, according to people familiar with the effort. It underscores a core strategy that Chief Executive Tim Cook has been championing before the pandemic, one focused on building out the company's digital services to fuel growth and make Apple's ecosystem even more sticky.

From a report yesterday:

Apple will announce a new premium paid-for podcast service at tomorrow's media event, according to a new report. Such a service has been rumored on and off for months now, but tomorrow is said to be the day Apple finally takes the wraps off of it.According to a tweet by Recode's Peter Kafka, they're "pretty sure" that Apple will announce the podcast service tomorrow.

Apple has also stopped accepting Podcast submissions, fueling rumors of a new Podcasts+ type service.

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.

Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9