After announcing integration of podcasts on its platform
some time back, Twitter is finally launching the feature within the new Audio
tab, which was previously known as the Spaces tab.
The Audio tab will contain podcasts as well as Spaces, both pre-recorded
and live, that will be categorized as Stations and Spaces spotlight. Stations are specific topics or themes, such
as News, Movies & TV, Music, etc., while Spaces spotlight will show some of
the top curated broadcasts. Additionally, a list of upcoming Spaces will be
displayed for users who might be interested in attending them.
This division of the audio content could make it easier for
users to check in on different broadcasts that are closer to their interest. As per
Twitter, “Stations are designed to incorporate your interests and the more you
use them, the more accurate they become. Each Station is unique and curated for
you.” The company further reports that 45% of people who use its platform in
the US also listen to podcasts monthly. “We’ll automatically suggest compelling
podcasts to help people easily find and listen to the topics they want to hear
more about,” says Twitter.
Real-time engagement around major media events is one of the
key elements on Twitter, and building up on it via audio features is a valuable
decision which would also benefit broadcasters in the app. The new podcast integration
could help boost audio discovery on Twitter and even revive users’ interest in
Spaces, which hasn’t been receiving much attention lately.
Twitter is currently testing its new Audio tab with a
limited number of users on both iOS and Android around the world.
