Add Basic Episode Download Analytics for Self-Hosted MP3s (e.g., S3)

[jeffpaul]

Is your enhancement related to a problem? Please describe.

As noted by @bacoords:

Problem: There is currently no built-in solution for tracking basic download metrics (e.g., raw downloads per episode) for self-hosted podcasts, especially those using services like Amazon S3 to serve MP3 files. This has led some podcasters to question whether the lack of such analytics is a reason why people opt for paid hosting services that offer built-in analytics (over otherwise free, open source options like Simple Podcasting).

Proposed Feature: Implement a simple tracking mechanism to gather and display download metrics for self-hosted podcast episodes. The basic metrics to track should include:

• Total downloads per episode.
• Optionally, referrer data (e.g., where the downloads are coming from).

Benefit: This would provide self-hosted podcasters with a way to track how many times each episode is downloaded, helping them better understand audience engagement without relying on third-party hosting services.

Designs

No response

Describe alternatives you've considered

No response

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[peterwilsoncc]

A couple of implementation thoughts:

• Storing the data in post meta will invalidate the attachment/post's cache and the WP_Query cache -- this would probably need a custom table for the analytics
• I suggest a redirect to the download file, this redirect would need to include no-cache headers in order to ensure that analytics are correct.

Considerations:

• what, if any, bots should be ignored?
• is playing the file on the front end of the site (ie, using the block) considered a download?

[jeffpaul]

is playing the file on the front end of the site (ie, using the block) considered a download?

Yes.