With billions of users and powerful discovery influence, YouTube podcasting is important for podcasters aiming to grow their audiences. If you’re looking for a simple, effective way to publish a podcast to YouTube and reach listeners where they already are, Libsyn’s integration makes it easy. And it’s not just for video—audio podcasters can jump in too.
Libsyn’s enhanced integration with YouTube’s Podcast API, announced at The Podcast Show in London, makes that easier than ever. This upgrade gives Libsyn users exclusive tools right inside their account, including streamlined audio episode publishing to YouTube Music, automatic playlist creation, and synced artwork updates. Whether you’re a podcaster or a YouTube-first creator, Libsyn helps you connect with your audience through one of the most powerful platforms in digital media.
Why YouTube is a Crucial Platform for Podcasters
If you think the YouTube platform doesn’t apply to your audio-only podcast because you doubt anyone would watch a podcast video with a still image, or if you believe your audience doesn’t use the YouTube Music app, think again. This integration is about reaching new listeners and being present where your current audience engages with video content AND reaching new listeners who don’t know you yet. It’s the perfect way to get your podcast on YouTube with very little extra work, thanks to the streamlined tools built directly into Libsyn.
The growth of YouTube in the podcast space is undeniable. A survey on YouTube and podcasting found that:
“in 2021, YouTube was the third most accessed destination for podcasts. In 2022, it tied Spotify as the platform used most among weekly podcast listeners. Now, across two studies in 2023, YouTube has pulled away from the pack and leads as the most used podcast platform in the U.S.” – Forbes Magazine, 2024
Libsyn also maintains a strong YouTube presence, offering podcast gear tips, Libsyn platform education and serving as a distribution platform for its award-winning show, The Feed Podcast. Looking for more tips on Video podcasting in general? Check out our other blog post Two Ways To Create a Video Podcast — Examples, Gear, & Tips.
Key Features of the Libsyn YouTube Integration
This powerful integration simplifies your publishing workflow with features designed to help you grow your audience on YouTube:
- Automatic Designation: Any existing playlist or new playlist can be automatically designated as a Podcast Playlist through the integration.
- Publishing to YouTube Music: Make your show available on YouTube Music, reaching a dedicated audience of audio listeners.
- Automatic Conversion: Automatically convert audio files to podcast videos (MP4) for a seamless experience on a video-first platform.
- Artwork Sync: Update your podcast artwork in Libsyn, and it will automatically sync to your YouTube podcast playlist thumbnail.
- Stats Tracking: If you have a Libsyn Advanced Stats Plan, you can track your podcast analytics and the number of views your podcast videos receive directly within your Libsyn account. If you want more detailed podcast analytics, you can always log into YouTube Studio.
How to Set up the Libsyn YouTube Integration
This new integration ensures automatic alignment between show artwork updates in Libsyn and your playlist thumbnail on YouTube. Before you complete the integration process, consider what kind of podcaster you are and if you are already using Libsyn to publish to YouTube. This will help to ensure you make the best use of the available features.
Libsyn Audio-only Podcasters
The Libsyn integration allows you to publish your audio content automatically as video to YouTube Music by converting your audio files to MP4 video files. Your original audio remains unchanged and is distributed to audio-only platforms, while a video version is created only for YouTube podcast listeners. You can customize the artwork for each podcast episode, creating a unique image that will be displayed throughout the episode. If you don’t provide custom episode artwork, the video content will default to your show artwork. Your podcast playlist artwork on YouTube will also update to match the podcast artwork you have uploaded to Libsyn.
Libsyn Video-only Podcasters
If you’re already experienced with video podcasting and are currently publishing and hosting your video podcast episodes on Libsyn but have yet to share them on YouTube, you can use this integration. Libsyn will publish your videos on YouTube just as they would on other channels and maintain the format and quality of your original video file.
Audio Podcasters with a Separate Video Podcast
Creators who host an audio podcast on Libsyn and also publish a video version directly through the YouTube platform for your YouTube audience only, you can continue to maintain that workflow. If you would like your video-only version available everywhere video podcasts are available, you can create a new podcast on Libsyn and use the new integration. Libsyn will also distribute your new video podcast to YouTube and other video-compatible podcast platforms. Yes, Libsyn supports video podcast hosting and distribution.
Completing The Libsyn Integration & How to Publish a Podcast to YouTube
These instructions are for anyone who is not currently using Libsyn to publish to YouTube but is a current Libsyn customer. They apply to both video and audio podcasters. If you already have a YouTube channel and playlist set up, you can skip to step #3 below. If you already have the Libsyn YouTube integration set up, skip ahead and see how to apply the new integration features.
Complete the following three steps:
- Create or Select a YouTube Channel that you have verified.
- In YouTube Studio, create a New Playlist and enter the title and description of your podcast.
- You do not need to select New Podcast. The Libsyn integration will populate your new playlist with your show artwork, keep it updated, and convert it to a Podcast Playlist when you complete the configuration within Libsyn. If you update your show artwork in Libsyn, it will update the Podcast Playlist thumbnail automatically!
- Follow Libsyn’s instructions for publishing your podcast on YouTube to complete the integration.
✅ How to Apply the Enhanced Integration to Your Current Libsyn Integration
If you are already using Libsyn to publish to YouTube and want to ensure your podcast has the enhanced features available in the integration, please review the YouTube Social Destination in Libsyn. Please complete the new configuration options, verify your YouTube channel, and save the destination to implement the new connection. Once complete, your playlist artwork will update to match the artwork for your podcast provided in Libsyn. If you are making changes on YouTube after publishing from Libsyn, you can also continue to do so with this integration. Support for completing the latest settings in Libsyn can be found in our YouTube support article.
QUICK TIP: You can also use YouTube Badges, provided by YouTube, to promote your new podcast listing directly on your website.
YouTube Podcast Playlist Examples
Every creator takes a different approach to content creation. Some use the same show artwork for every episode, while others opt for unique artwork per episode. Additionally, some creators record full video-only podcasts. Libsyn can accommodate all of these options and does not require you to select a specific format for publishing through the integration.
Below are some examples of Podcast Playlists to consider. Not all are using the Libsyn integration, but Libsyn can support the combinations of original audio + artwork or a video-only approach to podcasting. Libsyn’s Official Podcast, The Feed, is a great example of an audio-only podcast with unique episode-level artwork.
YouTube Podcast Integration Features FAQ
Any Playlist or Podcast Playlist available on your YouTube channel is designated as a Podcast Playlist through the Libsyn integration, so you do not need to create a new podcast; a new playlist will also work. The Libsyn integration offers a drop-down menu of your current YouTube playlists. It lets you select the one you would like Libsyn to designate as your podcast playlist, including existing podcast playlists. Once complete, it automatically includes that playlist on YouTube Music along with your show artwork!
Show artwork changes in Libsyn will automatically update on YouTube. If you rebrand your podcast show artwork in Libsyn, your Podcast Playlist artwork on YouTube will also update automatically—like magic!
This integration automatically converts your audio files to MP4 files and designates any existing playlist as a podcast playlist, making your podcast available on YouTube Music.
This integration will transfer the number of views your videos receive from your podcast audience on YouTube to the Libsyn stats if you have the Advanced Stats plan. If you want more detailed YouTube statistics for your podcast videos, log in to YouTube.
If you create unique episode artwork and descriptions, both will be published on YouTube with each episode. If you are an audio podcaster, your episode artwork will be the visual that displays on-screen while your video plays. If you publish a video, your original content will display on YouTube just as if you had published it using YouTube.
Descriptions will also be published on YouTube, but the API does not currently import hyperlinks and some other formatting, so you may need to go to YouTube and add naked links in order to have clickable links in your YouTube description. Other formatting may not be supported, so if you have particularly long episode descriptions, blog-like content, and complex formatting, you may want to adjust it within YouTube.
At this time, one default playlist is available. All episodes published after the integration settings are complete will only go to the playlist you select from the drop-down in Libsyn. If you want them to appear in multiple playlists, you can edit them on YouTube.
This integration is designed to publish new episodes, not to back-publish all the episodes on your RSS feed. It won’t automatically upload all the episodes from your back catalog to YouTube. This is a current limitation of the API, which means bulk ingestion of old episodes isn’t possible. This limitation might improve in the future, but for now, you can focus on new episodes.
We are Here to Help Your Audience Grow
Libsyn has a long-standing history of ensuring that creators have an easy path to the most popular podcast apps and discovery platforms. This integration echoes our solid commitment to helping podcasters find new listeners and illustrates the YouTube team’s dedication to podcasters. If you have any questions about the integration, please consider joining one of our upcoming YouTube Lives, reading our help articles, or contacting our support team.
