Cheaper Audible for podcast-lovers

Audible has a new, lower-priced, subscription offering for people who really like podcasts. The $8.99 “standard” plan gives users unlimited access to Audible Originals, as well as nearly 200 shows previously available on Wondery+. You also get access to one audiobook a month.

This replaces Wondery+, which has been announced to be closing “in the coming months”. Not all of those shows are making it to Audible. If you are interested in the Audible standard plan, for the next week or so, you can get it for $5.99 a month for the first year by going through the Wondery+ website. Shh.
Amazon’s choice is a bit bewildering. For $11.99 a month, Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers get access to one free audiobook from Audible each month, but no Audible Originals podcasts. Or, Audible’s Premium Plus plan is $14.95 a month, which gives one credit a month for an audiobook (ie one audiobook a month, though these credits only expire after twelve months) but no music. And you can buy a different plan, still called Audible’s Premium Plus plan, for $22.95 a month which gives you two credits a month.
Spotify also offers audiobooks. For $9.99 a month, you get access to 15 hours of audiobooks “from our audiobooks subscriber catalog” (with ad-funded music and podcasts); and for $12.99 a month, you get the full premium music and podcasts and 15 hours of audiobooks.

Apple Podcasts will be talking at Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW, it has been announced today. The company will be spotlighting its new video podcast experience - it’s the first time that Apple Podcasts has officially spoken at a US podcast conference. The event has also confirmed actor Sean Astin, the President of SAG-AFTRA, for the Sunday keynote; and a live performance from Penn Badgley.

First look: The Podscribe Rankings were released for February. Acast has climbed to the world’s second biggest podcast publisher in terms of audience reach, the data says, while BetterHelp remains the #1 podcast advertiser.