Apple Unwraps Its Most Popular Podcasts of 2023 The Votes Are In

Apple recently peeled back the curtain on its 2023 podcast charts, revealing the most popular shows and creators that captivated listeners across nearly 100 countries and regions.

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For podcasters, this yearly data drop offers helpful intel to better understand evolving listener interests and podcast consumption habits. Whether you're looking to fine-tune your podcast focus or gain inspiration on engaging topics and formats, Apple's roundup spotlights noteworthy trends.

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Diving Into The Data

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The rankings highlight the highest-performing podcasts of the year based on various popularity metrics. These include the overall top shows, the buzziest new series that debuted in 2023, the most followed podcasts with the largest subscriber bases, and the individual episodes that listeners shared the most.

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Some interesting highlights for podcasters:

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In the UK, business-themed shows secured top spots on multiple charts. "The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett" nabbed the #1 overall show, while also ranking as the most followed podcast.

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Health and science-focused shows also performed well in the UK. "ZOE Health & Nutrition" and "Feel Better, Live More with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee" both made the Overall Top 10 list.

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Single standout episodes drove significant sharing for UK shows across genres—from business to health, politics, history and more.

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In the US charts, true crime ruled supreme, with "Crime Junkie" clinching the top overall show. Self-improvement and society & culture podcasts also claimed multiple top spots.

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Newly launched series garnered quick interest from US listeners in 2023. Debut shows like "Scamanda," "The Retrievals," and "The Deck Investigates" entered the Top New Show and Most Followed charts.

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Like the UK, viral episodes fueled sharing for both fledgling and established US shows covering an array of niches.

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Crunching The Takeaways

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While popularity doesn't automatically equal quality, observing what resonates in Apple's 2023 podcast charts offers helpful signals for creators aiming to grow their shows.

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Pay attention to rising genres that dominate multiple metrics, like true crime's strong showing for US listeners. Look for overlap between the Overall, New, and Most Followed rankings to pinpoint breakout topics, like business-focused shows in the UK.

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And don't underestimate the power of an individually epic episode to drive discovery and subscriptions for podcasts. Crafting share-worthy installments with buzzy themes can bring new ears to existing shows.

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For the full 2023 charts and insights across nearly 100 localized markets, dive deeper using the Browse tab in Apple Podcasts through the New Year.

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