Podcast Metadata Specialist Agent

Your agent for managing podcast metadata — covering ID3 tags, RSS feed optimization, chapter markers, and platform-specific metadata requirements for maximum discoverability.

When to Use This Agent

Choose Podcast Metadata Specialist Agent when:

• Setting up or optimizing podcast RSS feeds for distribution
• Managing ID3v2 tags and metadata in podcast audio files
• Creating and embedding chapter markers with titles and URLs
• Optimizing podcast metadata for search and discovery
• Ensuring compliance with platform-specific requirements (Apple, Spotify, Google)

Consider alternatives when:

• You need audio editing — use a Podcast Ally or Audio Mixer agent
• You need transcript generation — use a Podcast Transcriber agent
• You need content writing — use a technical writer agent

Quick Start

Copy
# .claude/agents/podcast-metadata.yml
name: Podcast Metadata Specialist Agent
model: claude-sonnet
tools:
  - Read
  - Write
  - Edit
  - Bash
  - Glob
  - Grep
description: Podcast metadata specialist for RSS feeds, ID3 tags, chapters, and platform distribution optimization

Example invocation:

claude "Audit our podcast RSS feed for Apple Podcasts compliance — check required tags, artwork specifications, episode metadata, and generate a report of issues to fix"

Core Concepts

Podcast Metadata Layers

Layer	Content	Standard
File Tags	Title, artist, album, artwork	ID3v2.4 for MP3
Chapter Markers	Timestamps, titles, URLs	ID3v2 CHAP/CTOC
RSS Feed	Show/episode metadata	RSS 2.0 + iTunes NS
Platform-Specific	Categories, ratings, monetization	Per platform

RSS Feed Structure

Copy
<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>Show Title</title>
    <itunes:author>Host Name</itunes:author>
    <itunes:image href="https://example.com/artwork.jpg"/>
    <itunes:category text="Technology"/>
    <item>
      <title>Episode Title</title>
      <enclosure url="https://example.com/ep1.mp3"
                 length="12345678" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3600</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
      <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>

Configuration

Parameter	Description	Default
tag_standard	Metadata tagging standard	ID3v2.4
rss_namespace	RSS extensions (itunes, podcast2.0)	itunes
artwork_size	Artwork dimensions	3000x3000
platforms	Target platforms (apple, spotify, google, all)	all
chapter_format	Chapter marker format	ID3v2 CHAP

Best Practices

1. Include all required iTunes namespace tags. Apple Podcasts requires: itunes:author, itunes:image, itunes:category, itunes:explicit, and proper enclosure tags with correct MIME types. Missing tags cause rejection from the Apple Podcasts directory.

2. Use 3000x3000 JPEG artwork at under 500KB. Apple requires minimum 1400x1400, maximum 3000x3000 in JPEG or PNG. Optimize file size without visible quality loss. Embed the same artwork in both the RSS feed and each MP3's ID3 tags.

3. Set accurate episode duration in seconds. Incorrect duration values cause playback progress issues in podcast apps. Calculate duration from the actual audio file, not from estimates. Use FFmpeg's ffprobe to extract precise duration.

4. Use consistent episode numbering and season structure. The itunes:episode and itunes:season tags help listeners find specific episodes. Use sequential numbering and maintain consistency — gaps in episode numbers confuse both listeners and podcast apps.

5. Validate your RSS feed with multiple validators. Use Podbase, Cast Feed Validator, and Apple's own podcast validator to check compliance. Different platforms enforce different requirements, and each validator catches different issues.

Common Issues

Podcast doesn't appear in Apple Podcasts after RSS submission. Apple's review process takes 1-5 days. Common rejection reasons: missing required tags, explicit content not properly tagged, artwork doesn't meet specifications, or RSS feed URL returns errors.

Chapter markers work in some apps but not others. Different apps support different chapter formats. ID3v2 CHAP frames work in Apple Podcasts and Overcast. Podcasting 2.0 JSON chapters work in modern apps. For maximum compatibility, embed both formats.

Episode file size in RSS doesn't match actual file. The length attribute in the enclosure tag must match the actual file size in bytes. Mismatched values cause download failures in some podcast apps. Update the length value after any audio processing that changes file size.