Apple's new podcast metadata rules ban episode numbers, threaten removal [u: episode numbe...
Apple has contacted the makers of podcasts hosted on iTunes and details how they should write the metadata that details the show, episode and so on, with the biggest changes forbidding podcast show names in titles as well as banning episode numbers.
Apple has emailed podcast producers with advice on how to describe or list their shows -- and says that failure to follow these instructions "could result in your show being rejected ro removed." The instructions are mostly sensible advice on topics such as not forgetting to write an episode description, but some of Apple's guidelines are causing confusion and may prove problematic.
Headlined "Optomize Your Show's Metadata," the email describes metadata as "your product packaging." It points out that writing this well helps listeners find your show but also says that poor-quality metadata affects the company's aim to "ensure our platform meets Apple's quality standards."
As well as advising producers to write non-generic descriptions and avoid placeholder text, the email says that they shouldn't make the description be a verbatim repeat of the title or author name.
The new rules are ostensibly about presenting useful, clear information that can be displayed against a podcast series or episode title. However, Apple then specifies that podcasters should avoid putting episode numbers in titles.
The aim is that a listener can quickly see whether, say, "6.09" -- season 6, episode 9 -- has been covered yet.
Apple's Podcast app with (center, right) two very well-made shows that may be affected by these rules
Similarly, a podcast like the design series 99% Invisible -- which has a number in its show title -- will periodically run linked episodes with titles such as Mini Stories: Volume 5. The aim is to help people find other parts in those linked episodes and that is surely useful.
That show does also include a number in its episode titles, as do many others, and the most recent edition is 343 Usonia Redux. The email from Apple is not at all clear about whether a show like this will have to strip out the numbers forcing a re-index the content. Series like 99% Invisible are among the very best-produced podcasts on iTunes and Apple's email is not at all clear about whether it or others will have to re-do the metadata for hundreds of episodes.
AppleInsider has reached out to Apple for comment and clarification of the new rules, including timetables for when it expects the changes to have been made.
Update: It appears that Apple has reconsidered its podcast episode naming policy, and in a follow-up email to content creators said, "Your Show Won't Be Removed for Having Episode Numbers in Episode Titles."
Apple has emailed podcast producers with advice on how to describe or list their shows -- and says that failure to follow these instructions "could result in your show being rejected ro removed." The instructions are mostly sensible advice on topics such as not forgetting to write an episode description, but some of Apple's guidelines are causing confusion and may prove problematic.
Headlined "Optomize Your Show's Metadata," the email describes metadata as "your product packaging." It points out that writing this well helps listeners find your show but also says that poor-quality metadata affects the company's aim to "ensure our platform meets Apple's quality standards."
As well as advising producers to write non-generic descriptions and avoid placeholder text, the email says that they shouldn't make the description be a verbatim repeat of the title or author name.
The new rules are ostensibly about presenting useful, clear information that can be displayed against a podcast series or episode title. However, Apple then specifies that podcasters should avoid putting episode numbers in titles.
Podcasters have legitimate reasons to include a number in their episode titles. The West Wing Weekly for instance, currently has around 120 episodes and every one's title begins with a number. Each edition examines one episode of The West Wing television drama and its titles begin with the season and the number of that episode.Adding episode numbers in titles. For example, show titles like "The Very Hungry Tourists Episode 01" for episode titles like "01 Broken Heirloom."
The aim is that a listener can quickly see whether, say, "6.09" -- season 6, episode 9 -- has been covered yet.
Apple's Podcast app with (center, right) two very well-made shows that may be affected by these rules
Similarly, a podcast like the design series 99% Invisible -- which has a number in its show title -- will periodically run linked episodes with titles such as Mini Stories: Volume 5. The aim is to help people find other parts in those linked episodes and that is surely useful.
That show does also include a number in its episode titles, as do many others, and the most recent edition is 343 Usonia Redux. The email from Apple is not at all clear about whether a show like this will have to strip out the numbers forcing a re-index the content. Series like 99% Invisible are among the very best-produced podcasts on iTunes and Apple's email is not at all clear about whether it or others will have to re-do the metadata for hundreds of episodes.
AppleInsider has reached out to Apple for comment and clarification of the new rules, including timetables for when it expects the changes to have been made.
Update: It appears that Apple has reconsidered its podcast episode naming policy, and in a follow-up email to content creators said, "Your Show Won't Be Removed for Having Episode Numbers in Episode Titles."
Comments
Does anyone remember the sad state of MP3 file naming back in the pre-iTunes world? They often started with a track number which carried through to the song title field in the player software. It was ugly and an organizational disaster.
Structuring the metadata is smart.
This is a much less sensationalized take on the changes. Episode numbers should be in metadata. And the policy does not say no numbers in titles, only not to put the episode number in it. I suspect that a lot of podcasts have only been putting the episode number in the title but not in metadata, which complicates presenting an organized list of episodes.
Apple originally announced this at WWDC 2017: http://schoolofpodcasting.com/apple-set-to-enforce-no-episode-numbers-in-your-podcast-title/
01 Podcast Name Episode 00 March 3rd 3018
02 Podcast Name Episode 01 March 13th 2018
Of course the Podcasters named their shows this way. Why Podcasters complicated things so much, I have no clue other than lack of understanding aesthetics.
Sorry I understand most Americans(people in general) are dumb but adopting an outdated numeric format to further complicate things is not smart either.
Imagine asking Siri "Play Episode one of Podcast Name" and it plays 01 "Podcast Name Episode 00" instead.
Apples rules are common sense to me but this should have been standardized 15 years ago. More evidence Apple doesn't care about Podcasts.
if it’s woodworking. Ideas, as an example, it may have several episodes. I thing that having the title such as “Building the End Table: prepping for the finish. Episode #6” is a perfect title. Not everyone new to this will understand that earlier episodes need to be viewed in proper order. Numbers establish that. Having it directly in the title is very helpful.
i can’t u defat and why there should be a dual numbering system. Perhaps Apple should go away and not add their own nonsense to this.
The fact that they are tightening any policy relating to podcasts is evidence the do care now.
Why now is anyone’s guess. Spotify? Changing listener habits? I listen to more podcasts than I used to. Business reasons? Podcasts don’t cost Apple anything (no royalties).
Apple is late to the game in getting this sort of thing straightened out but it’s a step in the right direction.