AudioBoom announced that can no longer provide accounts for free. Current users who have been enjoying ad-free channels at no cost will be asked to pay a $9.99 monthly subscription fee starting October 2, 2017.
It is time for podcasters who have audio on audioBoom to make some decisions. Stay with it and pay a subscription fee? Or move your audio elsewhere.
The new subscription includes:
- Publish up to 5 episodes per month
- Up to 10,000 plays per month per episode
- RSS feed compatible for distribution via podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, GooglePlay and Stitcher, TuneIn, etc.
- Advanced analytics
- Embeddable Players for your website and social media integration
Those who want to add additional podcasts can visit their audioBoom dashboard and follow the instructions to purchase subscriptions for additional podcasts at $9.99 per month each.
What happens if you exceed 10K plays per month? “Your account will continue to work as normal, though audioBoom reserves the right to move you to a bespoke subscription plan or a free, advertising supported, account by a certain date.” If you decline to take up that offer, your account will become private and you will no longer be able to upload new content.
However, your RSS feed and web embeds will continue to work for a period of 1 month, and after 36 months, your account will be deleted (including your old podcasts and your RSS feeds). AudioBoom recommends that you arrange for the redirection of your RSS feeds, download your old podcasts and back them up elsewhere, before that period expires. You can contact audioBoom support for help in redirecting your RSS feeds to any new podcast provider.
What if you don’t want to pay for a new subscription and instead choose to do nothing? In that situation, audioBoom states “If you take no action, then after 2nd October 2017, you will no longer be able to upload new content and your account will become private.”
AudioBoom will enable distribution of your existing content for one month so that all your RSS feeds and web embed continue to work for that period. After 36 months from August 30, 2017, your account will be deleted (including your old podcasts and your RSS feeds).
The changes audioBoom made to their Terms have already gone into effect (on August 30, 2017). Some of the changes include information regarding their subscription fee.
Their Content Policy now states: “We value your voice, but we also need to restrain any abuses that could threaten our ability to provide our services and the freedom of expression it encourages.” All podcasts that you upload to audioBoom must comply with the Content Policy.
If you currently have an audioBoom account, more details about the new changes will appear immediately after you log in. As for me, I chose to delete my audioBoom account (after downloading the few pieces of audio I put there) because I haven’t used the service since 2010. Those who are very active on audioBoom have a choice to make: pay for a subscription, or move your audio elsewhere before October 2, 2017.