We've known for a while podcasts are on their way to Google Play Music, but we may now have a date to look forward to: April 18. Oddly, the date comes from an email that NPR sent out to members (via Android Police), which notes the network's podcasts will be available on Google Play Music when the service launches on April 18:
Google will launch podcasts on Android and other platforms next Monday, April 18, inside of Google Play Music, a streaming service similar to Apple Music. Please note: this information is embargoed and should not be shared or promoted externally until Monday. NPR has worked with Google to ensure that public radio is represented in the Google Play environment. Learn more about adding your station's podcasts to this new platform.
Google originally announced that podcasts were on their way to Google Play Music way back in October, but they have yet to officially arrive in the app. While support could very well arrive on April 18 as NPR says, it should be noted that podcaster Bill Simmons previously indicated podcasts would arrive sometime in February — which obviously turned out not to be true.
As always, nothing is official until Google says so.
