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PowerPress Settings

The Blubrry PowerPress settings in WordPress let you configure podcast feeds, artwork, SEO, Apple Podcasts tags, players, and distribution. Use this guide to understand each tab and option so you can publish confidently and keep your podcast feed valid for directories such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Tip: If you use Blubrry Podcast Hosting or
Blubrry Podcast Statistics, connect your account in PowerPress for a streamlined upload‑and‑publish workflow and accurate analytics.

Welcome Tab

When you open PowerPress in WordPress, the Welcome tab shows a quick overview of your show. After you connect Blubrry Hosting or Statistics, you’ll see a snapshot of recent downloads plus a preview of how your podcast appears in apps such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Welcome tab also includes the four latest Podcast Insider episodes and blog posts to keep you updated on podcasting trends and tips.

Feeds Tab in Blubrry PowerPress Settings

The Feeds tab controls how your podcast RSS feeds are structured and optimized for directories. Configure these sections carefully to maintain compatibility, performance, and standards compliance.

Podcast Feeds

  • Enhance All Feeds (Recommended): Add podcasting support to all feeds on your site.
  • Enhance Main Feed Only: Add podcasting support to your site’s main feed only.
  • Do Not Enhance Feeds: Limit podcasting to designated PowerPress podcast feeds.
Important: Do not submit your main site feed (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/feed) to directories. Always submit a podcast‑only feed that includes episode posts only.

Podcast Feeds Overview

View all podcast‑specific feeds available on your site. Submit these podcast‑only feeds to directories such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify for the best listener experience.

Additional Podcast Feed Settings

  • Prevent Other Plugins from Modifying Podcast Feeds: Block third‑party changes that could invalidate or slow your feed.
  • Accelerate Feed: Optimize feed generation for faster loading and updates.

Suppress Unused Item Tags

Removes deprecated Apple tags to reduce clutter and warnings: itunes:subtitle, itunes:summary, itunes:author, isClosedCaptioned. This helps maintain current Apple Podcasts compliance.

Feed Discovery

Include Podcast Feed Links in HTML Headers adds auto‑discovery links so browsers and services can detect your podcast feed. This can improve discoverability and tool compatibility.

RSS2 Image

Ensures your artwork appears in supported directories. PowerPress inserts the image set in Podcast Artwork according to RSS2 standards.

Artwork requirements: 1400×1400 px (min), 3000×3000 px (max), RGB color, ≤ 0.5 MB, JPG or PNG (no transparency).

Emoji Support

Allows emoji characters in podcast titles and descriptions. Requirements: WordPress 4.2+ with utf8mb4 character encoding. Compatible with many apps (e.g., Apple Podcasts on iOS, Downcast on Android, Overcast on iOS).

MP3 Tags

For Blubrry Hosting users, PowerPress can embed MP3 ID3 tags (title, artist, album, year, artwork) before publishing. Learn more about ID3 tags in the Podcast Manual.

Feed Settings

Your Podcast RSS Feed

Displays your primary podcast RSS feed URL. Use this URL for podcast directory submissions.

Feed Title & Description

  • Feed Title: Keep it simple; avoid stuffing host names or extra keywords.
  • Feed Description: Write a concise, engaging summary (2–3 sentences).

Feed Landing Page URL

Set the webpage where listeners can learn more about your podcast (often your site’s main podcast page).

PodcastMirror Feed URL

Use PodcastMirror to create a reliable, scalable mirror of your feed. You can also use this field to redirect your PowerPress feed if you migrate away from WordPress or PowerPress.

Show the Most Recent Episodes

WordPress defaults to 10 items in RSS feeds. You can increase this, keeping performance in mind:

  • Max recommended: 300 episodes (some apps support more, but a smaller feed is faster and more reliable).
  • Feed size guideline: Aim to keep your feed ≤ ~512 KB for quicker updates.

Feed Episode Maximizer

Shows more episodes while keeping the feed size small. The newest 10 episodes include full metadata; older items include minimal tags.

Feed Lock

  • Enabled: Prevents third parties from importing your podcast without permission.
  • Disabled: Allows platforms to import your podcast.

Feed Language

Choose your podcast’s primary language. If the language you need is missing, you can contribute translations to PowerPress.

Copyright & Author Email

  • Copyright: Provide your show’s copyright notice.
  • Author Email: Required by some directories to contact you about your listing.

Caching Debug Comments

Allows WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache to add debugging comments at the bottom of your feed. Recommended: leave unchecked unless you are troubleshooting feed issues.

Podcast Artwork

Upload or link to your cover art so apps display your brand consistently. Make sure to meet the artwork requirements above to avoid directory rejections.

Podcast SEO

Episode Titles

Control how episode titles appear in the feed:

  • Replace post title
  • Prefix post title
  • Append post title

Schema.org Integration

Adds structured data to improve search engine visibility. PowerPress outputs AudioObject and VideoObject markup to help search engines index your episodes.

Website Settings in Blubrry PowerPress

The Website tab controls how your podcast appears on your WordPress site: media players, download links, permalinks, and subscription options.

Website Settings

Enable or Disable PowerPress Media Players and Links

  • Enable (Default): Automatically add players and media links to posts/pages.
  • Disable: Do not add players or links; use PowerPress only for feeds or add players via shortcodes.

Permalinks

Define how PowerPress structures episode URLs. For example, Match Feed Name to Page/Category keeps URLs like /podcast/ aligned with your feed settings.

Episode Box Appearance

Enable Episode Settings Before Media is Verified lets you configure episode settings before media uploads complete.

Warning: Publishing without media attached can cause data loss. Enable this only if you understand the workflow and need advanced control.

Blog Posts and Pages

Display Media & Links

  • Below Page Content (Default): Place the player and links below the post.
  • Above Page Content: Place the player and links above the post.
  • Disable: Do not place the player automatically; insert with shortcodes.

Additional Media Display Options

  • Display Player/Links in WordPress Excerpts: Show players in excerpts (e.g., search results or archives).
  • Hide Player/Links in “Read More” Posts: Prevent players from appearing in truncated posts.

Player Settings

Display Player enables or disables the on‑page media player.

Media Links

  • Play in New Window: Open the player in a separate window.
  • Download Link: Show a file download link. Options: include file size or include file size and duration.
  • Player Embed Link: Provide an embeddable player code; optionally include embed links in RSS feeds.

Subscribe Links Under Player

  • Enable Subscribe Links Below Player: Add a “Subscribe” button under the player.
  • Customize Label: Change the button text (leave blank for default).

Subscribe Page

Create a dedicated page where listeners can subscribe in their preferred apps.

How It Works

PowerPress can place a “Subscribe to Podcast” link below your player and generate a page that includes app buttons.

Create a Subscribe Page

Click Create a Subscribe Page from Template to generate a prebuilt page with the [powerpress_subscribe] shortcode, then customize text for your brand and SEO.

Subscribe Widget Settings

  • Shape Options: Squared or Rounded buttons.
  • Custom Styling: Use default styling (recommended) or exclude it to rely on your theme’s CSS.
  • Preview: Review how the subscribe button will appear before publishing.

PowerPress Shortcodes

Shortcodes let you embed players and subscription options anywhere on your site.

Available Shortcodes

  • PowerPress Player: [powerpress] — embeds the audio/video player for an episode.
  • PowerPress Playlist: [powerpress_playlist] — displays a playlist of episodes.
  • PowerPress Subscribe Button: [powerpress_subscribe] — adds a subscribe widget linking to podcast apps.
  • Skip‑to‑Position: [skipto time="TIME"] — creates a link to jump to a specific time. Example: [skipto time="45"] jumps to 45 seconds.

Troubleshooting Shortcodes

If a shortcode does not render, check for plugin conflicts or theme overrides. Use the Having Issues? dropdown in PowerPress settings to troubleshoot player issues.

Play in New Window Settings

Configure how the “Play in New Window” feature behaves:

  • Set Window Size: Width and height (default: 420×240).
  • Scroll Bar Adjustment: Account for scroll bars when calculating window size.

Destinations

The Destinations tab helps you manage where your podcast is available. Use it to submit and track listings across major directories and platforms.

Select Destination Point

Get quick access links for popular platforms, including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Blubrry Podcast Directory, Podcast Index, Subscribe on Android, Subscribe by Email, JioSaavn, Podchaser, Gaana, TuneIn, Deezer, Anghami, YouTube Music, and your RSS feed.

Tip: Submitting to multiple platforms increases visibility and helps new listeners find your show.

Podcast RSS Feed

Your podcast RSS feed URL appears in this tab. Copy this link to submit your show to directories.

Example: https://www.yourwebsite.com/feed/podcast/

How to Use Your RSS Feed

  1. Copy the feed URL shown in Destinations.
  2. Submit it to podcast directories (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.).
  3. Update the feed URL in those platforms if you change hosts later.

Advanced Options in Blubrry PowerPress Settings

The Advanced Settings tab provides controls for multi‑show publishing, user roles, imports, players, and more. These options are best for experienced users who need extra flexibility.

Multi‑Program & User Management

  • Multi‑Program Mode: Publish multiple Blubrry‑hosted podcasts from a single Blubrry account.
  • User Role Management: Allow administrators, editors, and authors to create and configure podcast episodes (uses WordPress roles and capabilities).

Import & Migrate Podcasts

  • Import Podcast: Transfer an existing podcast from platforms like SoundCloud, Libsyn, or Podbean.
  • Migrate Media: Move media files to Blubrry Podcast Media Hosting in a few clicks.

Podcast Optimization & Player Settings

  • Podcasting SEO: Improve search engine visibility for your episodes and feed.
  • Audio Player Options: Choose a Blubrry audio player and configure via Configure Audio Player.
  • Video Player Options: Select among built‑in video players and adjust via Configure Video Player.

Advanced Podcasting Features

  • Podcast Channels: Manage multiple media files/formats within a single podcast post.
  • Category Podcasting: Assign podcasting to specific WordPress categories (appears in the admin menu once enabled).
  • Taxonomy Podcasting: Similar to Category Podcasting, but for custom taxonomies.
  • Post Type Podcasting: Enable podcasting for specific post types beyond standard posts.

PowerPress Network & Playlist Features

  • PowerPress Playlist Player: Create episode playlists for topics or series.
  • PowerPress Network: Manage multiple podcasts under one WordPress site.

File Management & Uploads

  • Allow JSON Uploads: Upload JSON chapter files to WordPress.

WordPress Editor & Block Support

  • Show Errors in Block Editor: Display PowerPress Block Editor errors for debugging (disable if not needed).

Media Statistics & Tracking

  • Remove Statistics from WordPress Dashboard: Hide podcast download statistics from the admin dashboard.
  • Stats Prefix (Blubrry Statistics users): Add a tracking URL prefix to measure downloads accurately.

Example prefixes:

  • Stats Prefix 1: https://media.blubrry.com/yourshow/
  • Stats Prefix 2: https://diffs.podtrac.com/direct.mp3/

Important notes:

  • Use GDPR/CCPA‑compliant prefixes only.
  • If migrating from another service (e.g., Podtrac), confirm their prefix format is compatible.
  • Any third‑party prefix failure can cause download data loss.

Wrap‑Up & Help

The Blubrry PowerPress settings give you complete control over how your podcast is published and displayed in WordPress. For additional help and best practices, explore the PowerPress Documentation, learn more about Blubrry Podcast Hosting, and review Blubrry Podcast Statistics. If you have questions, contact Blubrry Support.