Does Amazon Music Have Podcasts? (Yes! Plus How It Compares to Spotify & Apple)

If you enjoy listening to podcasts, you may be wondering: does Amazon Music have podcasts?

The short answer is yes! Amazon Music provides access to over 70,000 podcasts across a wide variety of categories.

In this detailed guide, we‘ll explore everything you need to know about Amazon Music podcasts:

• How many podcasts are available and what genres are popular
• Notable exclusive podcasts you can only find on Amazon
• How Amazon Music podcasts compare to Spotify, Apple, and more
• Whether you can download episodes to listen offline
• If Amazon Music podcasts are free with your subscription
• Tips for choosing the best podcast platform for your needs

Let‘s dive in!

Overview of Amazon Music

Amazon Music started as an online music store in 2007 before expanding into a full streaming service.

Today, it stands as one of the top music streaming platforms, claiming over 75 million songs in its catalog.

Users can access Amazon Music through one of four subscription options:

• Amazon Music Free: Available to all Amazon customers, you can stream top playlists and stations with ads.

• Amazon Music Prime: Bundled with an Amazon Prime subscription, this ad-free plan allows you to download songs and podcasts for offline listening.

• Amazon Music Unlimited: For $7.99/month, get unlimited access to over 75 million songs and thousands of podcasts without any ads.

• Amazon Music HD: Pay $9.99/month for lossless, CD-quality audio with millions of songs in High Definition.

In addition to vast libraries of songs, playlists, and radio stations, all Amazon Music plans provide access to podcast content.

But how many podcasts are we talking? And how does its selection compare to competitors like Spotify and Apple Podcasts? Let‘s find out!

Yes, Amazon Music Offers Over 70,000 Podcasts!

The podcast selection on Amazon Music currently sits at over 70,000 shows and growing. New programs are added weekly across a wide span of topics and genres.

So if you were wondering "does Amazon Music have podcasts?", the answer is a resounding yes!

Podcasts are available on all Amazon Music subscription levels:

• Amazon Music Free: You can browse, search, and stream podcasts for free with an Amazon account. Periodic audio ads will play.

• Amazon Music Prime/Unlimited/HD: Paid subs remove ads entirely and let you download episodes for offline listening.

While Amazon Music doesn‘t have quite as many podcasts as Spotify or Apple, 70,000+ is still an impressively large catalog that covers all interests.

Next, let‘s see how Amazon Music podcast numbers stack up to the competition.

How Amazon‘s 70,000+ Podcasts Compare to Other Platforms

While Amazon Music boasts tens of thousands of podcasts, its library is smaller compared to leading platforms like Spotify and Apple.

Here‘s a breakdown of how Amazon Music podcast numbers measure up as of 2022:

Platform	Total Podcasts
Spotify	Over 3.2 million
Apple Podcasts	Over 2 million
Amazon Music	Over 70,000

With over 70,000 podcasts and counting, Amazon Music has enough variety to keep any listener engaged. But Spotify offers nearly 50X more shows, while Apple clocks in at around 30X larger.

Part of the size difference comes down to when each company got serious about podcasts:

• Spotify began making major investments in 2015, acquiring companies like Gimlet Media, Anchor, and The Ringer. Exclusive deals with Joe Rogan and other stars followed.

• Apple Podcasts launched in 2005 and had a long head start in the space before streaming emerged. But the platform has faced criticism for lack of innovative features.

• Amazon Music started pursuing original podcast content and exclusives more recently around 2018. They still trail Spotify and Apple in podcast market share.

In terms of yearly growth though, Amazon‘s podcast library is expanding rapidly. From 2020 to 2021, their catalog doubled from around 35,000 shows to over 70,000.

So while Amazon Music may not have the sheer volume of Spotify or Apple yet, they‘re gaining ground. Next, let‘s explore the top podcast categories and genres found on the platform.

Most Popular Podcast Genres on Amazon Music

Even with a smaller catalog size, Amazon Music still offers extensive variety with big collections across all major podcast genres:

Genre	Examples
True crime	Crime Junkie, Solvable, Dr. Death
Comedy	SmartLess, Conan O‘Brien Needs a Friend
News & politics	The Daily (NYT), Today Explained (Vox)
Business	How I Built This, The Dave Ramsey Show
Music	Dolly Parton‘s America, Hit Parade
Kids & family	Wow in the World, Story Pirates
Fiction	Welcome to Night Vale, The Left Right Game
Culture	Stuff You Should Know, Revisionist History

In terms of most popular categories, true crime and news podcasts see heavy engagement on Amazon Music, along with comedy.

But again, all interests are covered – from science and tech to arts, sports, health, history, and more. Let‘s highlight some of the top podcasts you‘ll find on Amazon Music.

Notable Podcasts and Exclusives

Beyond housing thousands of top public podcasts, Amazon Music invests in developing original exclusive shows. Some noteworthy examples include:

• DJ Khaled – The First One: Interviews music icons in this exclusive podcast
• Becky G – En La Sala: Candid conversations only available on Amazon Music
• Disgraceland: The music crime podcast left Stitcher for an exclusive deal with Amazon

Amazon aims to differentiate itself through boldface name exclusives and concepts that stand out.

Some of the most popular podcasts on the platform (non-exclusives) are:

• Crime Junkie: One of the most downloaded true crime shows
• Dateline NBC: Popular long-running NBC news series
• SmartLess: Comedy podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett
• Dr. Death: Gripping medical investigation podcast from Wondery

With hits like Crime Junkie and Dr. Death alongside exclusives from DJ Khaled and Becky G, Amazon Music brings big names to its podcast audience.

This focus on cultivating buzzworthy exclusives is key to how Amazon Music competes for podcast listeners. How else does it compare to rivals?

How Amazon Music Stacks Up Against Top Podcast Platforms

When it comes to podcasts, Amazon Music competes most directly against streaming giants like Spotify and Apple. How do they stack up?

	Amazon Music	Spotify	Apple Podcasts
Podcast Library Size	70,000+	3.2 million+	2 million+
Exclusives	DJ Khaled, Disgraceland	Joe Rogan, Call Her Daddy	–
Podcast Features	Charts, categories, new episodes, downloads	Discovery, topics, profiles, clips, playlists	Top charts, categories, follower recommendations
Podcast Subscriptions	Planned for 2022	Launched 2020	Coming 2022
Market Share	10%	31%	34%

Where Amazon Music falls short is in market share – Spotify and Apple each hold over 3X more of the podcast listener base.

However, Amazon redeems itself by snagging exclusive content and matching standard features like charts, categories, and episode downloads.

One lagging area is podcast subscriptions, where Spotify and Apple allow creators to charge listeners. But Amazon aims to launch its own subscription platform soon.

Next, let‘s explore the pros and cons of choosing Amazon Music as your go-to podcast provider.

Pros and Cons of Amazon Music for Podcasts

Here are some benefits that Amazon Music offers podcast fans:

Pros

• Ad-free listening with Prime, Unlimited, and HD plans
• Downloads for offline listening
• Major exclusives like DJ Khaled and Disgraceland
• Solid core features like personalized recommendations
• Podcast integration with Alexa and Echo
• Available as part of Prime membership

Potential drawbacks include:

Cons

• Smaller podcast library compared to Spotify and Apple
• No podcast subscriptions yet
• Lagging behind in podcast market share
• Fewer third-party integrations than Spotify
• Uninspired app design and UI

Amazon Music podcasts win big on exclusive content and ad-free listening. But the smaller catalog size may limit your options.

For podcast devotees, Spotify may be a better bet for its huge array of shows and community features. But Amazon remains a strong contender.

Choosing the Best Podcast App for You

Here are a few key questions to help determine the right podcast platform for your needs:

• Do you want access to the most podcasts possible? Go with Spotify for over 3 million shows.

• Are you an avid Amazon customer? Easily try Amazon Music podcasts with a Prime sub.

• Do you care about exclusives? Amazon nabs big names like DJ Khaled.

• Will you listen on smart speakers? Amazon Music integrates with Alexa.

• Do you need advanced podcast features? Spotify leads in community tools.

There‘s also Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and specialty apps like Overcast and Castro to consider. Test different apps to find your favorite interface and library.

The Bottom Line on Amazon Music Podcasts

At the end of the day, Amazon Music provides an appealing podcast destination for both casual and hardcore listeners.

While its catalog falls short of Spotify and Apple, over 70,000 podcasts is still an impressive selection with top titles across all categories. Scoring exclusives from major celebrities like DJ Khaled gives Amazon Music unique value.

So if you already subscribe to Amazon Prime or Music Unlimited, feel confident sinking your teeth into thousands of podcast options. Just be aware Spotify leads in podcast volume if you crave endless variety above all else.

To recap, here are the key takeaways on Amazon Music and podcasts:

• Access to 70,000+ podcasts, but trails Apple and Spotify in size
• Ad-free listening and downloads with paid subscription plans
• Exclusive shows from DJ Khaled, Becky G, and Disgraceland
• All major genres covered, with true crime and news topping charts
• Benefits like Alexa integration for Prime members
• Lagging in podcast subscriptions and market share

I hope this detailed guide helps explain what Amazon Music offers podcast listeners in 2022 and beyond! Let me know if you have any other questions.