Amazon Echo speakers can now play Spotify podcasts through Alexa

Spotify’s big bet on podcasts gets a boost from Echo

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Spotify Podcasts have come toAmazon Echodevices, meaning listeners can enjoy their favorite podcasters – or those onSpotify, at least – through any Alexa compatible speaker.

Once you’ve linked your Spotify account in the Alexa app – something you may well have already done, if you’re a regular music streaming service user – it’s as easy as asking Alexa to play a particular podcast. If you haven’t, you can just go to Settings > Music & Podcasts in the Alexa app.

You can even “pause the episode you’re listening to on one Echo device and continue listening from where you left off on one of your other Echo devices, or on Spotify (web, mobile, desktop), by asking Alexa to resume the podcast by name.” You know, just like when you’re listening to music.

Podcasts have been a big investment for Spotify, with the Swedish streaming companyspending a staggering $200 million back in 2019to purchase two podcasting companies, Gimlet Media and Anchor, to secure its place as the future of podcasts.

Spotify still has a bad rep forunderpaying artists, of course, which can make any big expenditures hard to swallow. Podcasts are certainly going to be a big part of the company’s strategy going forward, though.

The so-called ‘podcast boom’ can be a bit misleading, given the medium has had a pretty substantial ecosystem for many years now, but it does look like bigger companies with bigger budgets are starting to pay more attention.

All coming up Echo

That’s not the only news for Amazon Echo devices, though. This year has seen a massive refresh of several Echo speakers, with the orb-shapedAmazon Echo 2020and newAmazon Echo Dot 2020ensuring Amazon’s smart speaker range stays with the times.

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Echo Showsmart displays– such as theEcho Show 5orEcho Show 8– have also finally got Netflix support, meaning you can binge your favoriteNetflix showson a compact screen while bustling around the kitchen, or otherwise.

Previously, the only smart displays supporting Netflix were theGoogle Nest Hub Maxand its step-down models, so it’s great to see the massive streaming service arrive elsewhere. Next, we’d like it on theLenovo Smart Clock, please.

Henry is a freelance technology journalist, and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar, where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs, projectors, soundbars, and smart speakers. Other bylines include Edge, T3, iMore, GamesRadar, NBC News, Healthline, and The Times.

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