Apple is walking back yesterday’s warning to podcast producers that putting episode numbers in titles risked the podcast getting kicked out of Apple’s service.

It’s likely complaints from users brought about the change in this policy.

Apple podcasts reducing, cutting and lowering redundancy

An email sent to podcast producers earlier this week warned them to not put redundant information into the title of every episode. That includes the name of the podcast, the creator’s name, and similar details.

The email pointed out that this information should be in the metadata that goes along with the podcast file, and including it in the title is redundant and therefore unnecessary.

The real controversy started when this warning included episode numbers in the list of items that are verboten in episode titles. That information should also be in the metadata and so, according to Apple’s original warning, is equally redundant.

This email warning really caught people’s attention because it included the caution that failing to follow these rules could result in podcasts being rejected from Apple’s Podcasts app.

Walking it back

Apple sent a follow-up email to makers of these collections of downloadable audio files that is a clear reversal in policy. It says flat out: “Your Show Won’t Be Removed for Having Episode Numbers in Episode Titles.“

Apple gave no reason for the change. That said, the most likely basis for it is complaints from listeners of podcasts. While am episode number in the title isn’t necessary for the Podcasts app to put files in order, many users depend on them to remember whether they’ve listened to a particular episodes.

Via: Federico Viticci