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Podcasting

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NYT: Podcasts Are Here

The NYT hops aboard the Podcasting train. Podcasting is one of those concepts where the right ingredients of technology, marketing and ease-of-use have combined at the right time to gain currency in not only a certain niche, but now the mainstream as seen through the mainstream media's coverage. In my book, Audible.com was the original Podcaster. (btw, I think a lof of people would agree that Podcasting hasn't quite reached a mass market point in terms of usability)

Another example? MP3 Players were around for years before Apple introduced the iPod.

Search engines: Remember the 1.0 search engines like Northern Light & AltaVista before Google changed the paradigm?

It's not just great technology though. It's great technology mixed with brilliant marketing and ease-of-use, the combination of which delivers a value proposition to the consumer that blows the others out of the water.

I think iPodder and other programs out there are great, but they're the 1.0 versions, not quite ready for prime time...can't wait to see the next revs.

[cross posted from my Soapbox]

 
Comments
 

Re: NYT: Podcasts Are Here

Posted by stan at February 21, 2005
The beauty of podcasing is that Adam Curey and David Winer made it possible for radio shows to be portable to your mp3 player. Plus with podcasting you can make your MP3 player and PC act like a TIVO -- that is, once you subsribe to a show, such as NPR's Inside the Media, you automatically receive new programs in the series.

It is conceivable that indie podcasters can carry ads and make money from it. Of course, Clear Channel and Viacom (CBS) could start podcasting soon -- except who wants to waste the effort to download the shows they produce?

 

Have 6 Million Really Tried Podcasting?

Reuters reports on a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project on Podcasts' Catching on with iPod Owners. Apparently 29% of adults that own MP3 players say they've downloaded podcasts, equating to 6 million people. These consumers skewed younger with nearly half of those under 29 having tried podcasts vs. 20% of those older than 29.

I don't buy it.

I wonder if all the buzz around Podcasting skewed the results. The survey period, 2/21/05 - 3/21/005 was during the time when there were many prominent mentions of Podcasting in the mainstream media.


Also note that the sample size of 208 digital-media owners, while ample, wasn't huge. Basically 58 or 59 people said they'd accessed a Podcast.

I've accessed Podcasts, but I'm skeptical about the numbers. Why? The UE of Podcastng and its content is still in the version 1.0 stage -- a little buggy and a little 'raw', though this is changing (e.g. KCRW & BBC now offer Podcasts of their programs).

I actually think that there is a large gap between the hype and coverage that Podcasting has gotten to date, and the actual product available to consumers. With that said, there are several companies out there that haven't yet launched that I'm sure will bridge this gap (not to mention companies like Clear Channel). Finally, the folks that have accessed Podcasts, whatever that number is, will no doubt be a relatively young, early-adopter crowd that should attract tech-savvy advertisers.

[Cross-posted from http://www.ragsgupta.com]

 
Comments
 

Re: Have 6 Million Really Tried Podcasting?

Posted by pablo at April 04, 2005
The margin of error would be 12.7% for this sample size. So the sample is a little small but, worst case you are looking at 16% penetration of Podcasts. Pretty impressive still.

Re: Have 6 Million Really Tried Podcasting?

Posted by Mike at April 05, 2005

However, with multiple mobile and wifi radio solutions hitting the market this year, we'll see if the less tech savvy gravitate towards podcasters or more commercial radio via these new devices.

There is always a market for "raw, opinionated, un-corporate" content, and podcasts will be there to provide it...so I think the trend will last for some time.

-M

Re: Have 6 Million Really Tried Podcasting?

Posted by Steve Meyer at April 09, 2005
Regardless of how many have listened to podcasts...to think that these numbers will multiply into such proportions that Podcasting might actually become a viable media, is just not something anyone can predict at this point.

The iPod is the rage and the media is all over about podcasts and anything iPod related. But podcasts at this point are a niche markets (albeit a lot of them) and I would compare them to the niche stations users create online.

More important...the one critical element for all broadcasts, whether heard on the iPod or your portable XM player, is that to have any staying power they have to ENTERTAIN.

Steve Meyer
President - Smart Marketing
Publisher - DISC&DAT - A New Media Newsletter
Las Vegas, NV
 

The Infinity Podcasting Experiment Begins...

Infinity announced KYOURadio.com this week.  People can submit archived shows (which are now being called Podcasts by the press) with the best, most interesting ones being broadcast on AM 1550 (in the Bay Area) and streamed online from their website.  Infinity will insert ads in between the shows although the content producers won't yet be able to participate (rather they'll be doing it for fun or to promote their show).  On the other hand, it's not an exclusive deal for the content producers and all of the licensing will be taken care of by Infinity.  As the article mentions, Infinity acknowledges that they're not taking a huge risk since the station had not been doing well financially anyway.  Still, it's a good, bold move that terrestrials like Infinity need to make to catch up.  It's as if the New York Times devoted a page in their paper or website to articles submitted by their community (hint, hint).



They're outsourcing (or is it open-sourcing?) their programming to the masses (not unlike some other folks out there), which is a good way for them to identify talent.  And they're challenging the folks out there who think radio sucks basically saying: "We hear your complaints; we're now going to give you a shot at it".   I hear they've already gotten numerous submissions today and I bet they'll end up with some good shows, but I'm not sure that it'll be enough to increase that station's ratings - the esoteric and disparate nature of the shows may make it confusing to listeners (though having a program guide on their website would help).  What they'll need is a system to rate the submissions once there are a lot of them or else their producers will spend all of their time wading through the chaff to find the wheat.  Internet-based rating systems like GarageBand.com's could help on this front. 



It's an interesting experiment and I'll be all ears to hear how it goes.



[cross-posted from www.ragsgupta.com]

 
Comments
 

Re: The Infinity Podcasting Experiment Begins...

Posted by Steve Meyer at April 29, 2005
" In the digital era, the future is one in which consumers watch or listen to what they want to watch, when they want, at any time they want, on any device. This is a generation that will not wait for content to be delivered to them at a prescribed time. " -- Carly Fiorina, the ex-chairperson at Hewlett-Packard, from her 2004 NAB speech

Tivo was one device that allowed people to do that with television. It was the first of its kind, but now the same DVR (digital video recorder) technology is available from your cable or satellite provider. The iPod and similar digital storage devices are going to do it to radio and online audio.

Make no mistake about what's happening out there. The leaders in the world of digital media already see the future and they realize on-demand is going to play a critical part in the next phase of media development.


Steve Meyer
President - Smart Marketing
Publisher - DISC&DAT - A New Media Newsletter
Las Vegas, NV
 

Podcasting = Cops?

Ok - I'll admit it... when something gets a ton of hype, it is my nature to try and poke holes in it. I'm sorry, I just can't help it. Perhaps it is my contrarian nature, my futile desire to be unique in a vast society, or maybe it's just my distaste for anything rubber stamped by the masses. I'm really working on it, because I know that it makes me judgemental and rude - but, enough for caveats.

I really have been holding back on this one, and I've waiting until there was a sign - and this interview on CNET certainly was a sign:
http://news.com.com/The+man+whos+got+mainstream+radio+quaking/2008-1026_3-5711864.html?tag=nefd.ac. I actually had another sign just now when I went to start this blog, as Paul has added "Podcasting" as one of the "categories" for a post.

In the CNET interview, the interviewer questions the level of hype that Podcasting is receiving, and in its defense, Curry uses the television show "The Osbournes" as, i guess, some kind of allegorical support. He heads further down the "reality tv is proof that Podcasting is compelling" argument for a few more questions, but honestly, he lost me on "The Osbournes". I mean, I kind of think we might all agree that reality tv has sort of eaten itself, right? Also, reality TV is hardly produced in bedrooms on laptops. Anyway, I won't continue on with the Adam Curry thing - you can read it yourself - but it did get me to hone in on some core questions: is Podcasting compelling, and if it is, why?

It brought me to think of none other than our old friend Marshall McLuhan and his famous "The Medium is the Message" quote. (Tim - are you REALLY going to quote Marshall McLuhan? Yes - see you at Burning Man, bro). I believe that Podcasting is compelling as a phenomenon due to its marriage to that cultural heavyweight, the iPod, for sure. McLuhan would do doubt say that the mere existence of such a phenomenon is compelling enough to spark the collective consciousness into innovative action that will drive a new paradigm and generate something even more compelling and with more substance than the original phenomenon. Well, let's hope so, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. As industry professionals, we are interested in how it affects people's behavior, how it affects markets, and since its content related, what is it doing for content?

Well, on the behavior front, I think it is pretty compelling. Timeshifting is a HUGE benefit to the content consumer, and that alone makes it quite interesting. There are, of course, other behavioral effects, but let's just quite while we're ahead.

Markets... hmmm. Well, there certainly is a market for digital audio books, but does that count as Podcasting? I say no... first of all, they were around well before the term, and i don't really think it qualifies as being "programmed", which I think is necessary for the definition (see below). As far as all the other content types, including music podcasts, I think there is potential, but most of it is unlicensed and free at this point, so I am going to say that that its short term affect on markets is pretty small... compared to file-sharing - microscopic.

With respect to content - I have to say that I'm on the fence. Now, I dig the idea of sharing playlists with people, but most of the Podcasts that I have checked out aren't really about music... they are about some music and a lot of somebody talking about what they are playing. To be honest, as a discovery tool, I think the legal/paid sharing options available via Rhapsody, Musicmatch, Yahoo, Peer Impact, Mercora, and others are much more compelling from a pure music perspective due to a much lower barrier to creating and sharing. As far as the other, well, shall I say, "variety show" type Podcasts... well, most of it conjures up either public access television or worse. The tricky thing about content is that the quality of the content is, and always has been, independent of the "medium" in my humble opinion (sorry Marshall).

Ok - so what does all this mean? Yeah... its getting too much hype, but its also pretty cool when done right. Just like blogs, its all about filtering and finding people who have a knack for it vs. miles of garbage (yeah...well, I walked right into that one, didn't I). I really don't feel like I've seen a good definition yet, so, let's get back to basics. Sometimes a simple definition will demystify the thing and make it easier to put it into the proper context, so here goes:

Podcasting = programmed digital audio content available for download and playback on any device that will support the encoded format of said content. Not very sexy, is it. If it catches on, I want credit, dammit.

 
Comments
 

Re: Podcasting = Cops?

Posted by phoneranger at May 22, 2005
What is podcasting? Well first it’s not pod. You don’t need an Ipod, MP3 files or even a portable player. Listen to the daily soaps on your PC from www.881903.com in asf format. No pod there. Second it’s not casting but a distribution system where users automatically “catch” content from various manufacturers (musicians, newspapers), owners (record labels), licensees (radio stations) or aggregators (Apple, Audible). The user (via his Ipodder, Rhapsody, etc) pulls the desired audio-encoded content to his PC or portable gizmo. He can then choose the time or place to listen to it. This pull model is what makes “it” the opposite of broadcasting and so potentially disruptive to “big business” models. Once standards are set and music protected (via DRM I’d guess) things will change…quickly.

Re: Podcasting = Cops?

Posted by Steve Meyer at May 25, 2005
" In the digital era, the future is one in which consumers watch or listen to what they want to watch, when they want, at any time they want, on any device. This is a generation that will not wait for content to be delivered to them at a prescribed time. " -- Carly Fiorina, the ex-chairperson at Hewlett-Packard, from her 2004 NAB speech

TiVo forever changed the way we watch television and now podcasting will do the same for radio...think of it as audio TiVo. Make no mistake about what's happening out there. The leaders in the world of digital media already see the future and they realize on-demand is going to play a critical part in the next phase of media development.


Steve Meyer
President - Smart Marketing
Publisher - DISC&DAT - A New Media Newsletter
Las Vegas, NV

 

Apple to Support Podcasting

At D3, Steve Jobs announced that Apple would be adding support for podcasting in the next version of iTuenes within the next 60 days.  Good.  It's about time a major jukebox embraced podcasting (which is essentially supporting rss with enclosures).  The existing podcasting tools are typical 1.0 software releases -- a bit buggy and not too user-friendly (though these are and will improve over time).  I'm hoping Apple's support for podcasts will greatly increase the ease-of-use in terms of accessing podcasts.  But it won't be enough.  Apple is bringing its sensibility to this in that they'll be hand-picking the stuff that will be listed in iTunes, like they've done with the radio directory -- they don't want their pristine environs swarmed by the vox populi.  iTunes users will hopefully be able to add podcasts not listed in iTunes to their podcast directory as they surf the Web.  Finally, Jobs mentioned that podcasts would be available for free but didn't rule out charging for them via the iTunes Music Store (like they currently do for spoken word via Audible).  That would potentially enable copyrighted music to be included in podcasts (provided the files are protected by a version of Fairplay that ensures DMCA compliance).  I don't think this will happen anytime soon but the statement could have a chilling effect for would-be entrants to the space.



[cross-posted from www.ragsgupta.com]

 
Comments
 

Re: Apple to Support Podcasting

Posted by Steve Meyer at May 24, 2005
Rags -

Certainly you aren't surprised by Jobs announcement.

Podcasting is the new rage and Apple had little choice but to jump in and support Podcasting ASAP. Whether or not the charging for podcasts model will work remains to be seen as more radio broadcasters will offer podcasts for free to extend the listening audience beyond traditional measurement standards.

Steve Meyer
President - Smart Marketing
Publisher - DISC&DAT - A New Media Newsletter
Las Vegas, NV

Re: Apple to Support Podcasting

Posted by Adam Brotman at May 28, 2005
My guess is that Apple will start with spoken word only podcast support, with maybe a few opt-in unsigned-artist podcasts. But if they do it right (like they do so often), they will massively propel podcasting into the mainstream for iTunes users. With so many people using iTunes (13 million?), this could really take podcasting to a whole new level. And this will likely light a fire under Apple and others to figure out how to offer legal, licensed music podcasts containing major label and indie label music content. Now that would be cool.

 

A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

NPR now podcasts many of its shows and promotes their availability constantly. And there is almost universal fascination with this new form of radio which makes it possible for anyone to be their own producer and lets people listen to their favorite shows on demand on their computer or mp3 player.

Yet NPR does not podcast any of its music based programs including those broadcast by its acclaimed music based affiliate, KCRW. Even amateur podcasters know that there is a "legal problem" with podcasting music. They are right.
The problem is that to podcast music you would need permission from each label representing each artist whose record you wish to podcast. Unlike webcasting, podcasing is not subject to the DMCA compulsory license which makes it possible to bypass the labels for permission and pay SoundExchange, a not-for-profit organization, a statutorily mandated fee. SoundExchange then turns around and pays the artists and labels on a 50-50 basis for the use of their masters.

I think the DMCA should be amended to accommodate podcasting. The DMCA was passed in 1998 -- well before podcasting was invented. Yet this new form of "Internet radio" is perfectly consistent with the spirit, if not the letter, of the Act. The DMCA permits any webcaster to use as much copyrighted music as they want so long as they pay a statutorily mandated fee and so long as they comply with certain "conditions" including that they can cannot "cause or induce" downloading. The prohibition against downloading was to prevent displacement of record sales. But podcasting, like Internet radio, does not displace record sales. Just because you download an hour long music based show, which you can listen to on demand, does not mean you won't buy an album including one of the songs in the podcast. Moreover, if the DMCA were amended to apply to podcasting, the same "performance compliment" rules applicable to webcasting would apply to podcasters, that is, you could not play more than four tracks by the same artist or three songs from the same album within a three hour period.

The good reasons to make podcasting subject to the compulsory license include:

· Prevent podcasting from going underground -- this way at least labels and artists will get paid.

· SoundExchange is already set up to collect and distribute the required statutory fees.

· Podcasting is a form of Internet radio, and the DMCA was set up to allow Internet radio to live and flourish.

If individual podcasters had to license masters from the record companies, they would have to pay someone like me a small fortune to clear the masters, and pay a much larger fortune to the labels for the right to use their masters.
The only way to let music-based podcasting live and flourish is to amend the DMCA to permit it.

 
Comments
 

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by Phantom Poet Graffito at May 31, 2005
That's most likely the best approach, Mr. Gordon. Podcasting is going to propel even more talented people into an already crowded niche and pop field of creationist. The mere idea of amending the DMCA is gonna
be a slow year by year back and forth process. Meanwhile some little figure of a guy is gonna pay out the whatever to push the latest phenomenon across the globe. . . On the bright side, in the early days of digital distribution, you'll be remembered, Steve Gordon, as the high-
powered entertainment lawyer that stood on the little guys' side on the
podcasting issue--Yay! and Yay=cheers of toast to you!

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by steve gordon at June 01, 2005
Thanks Phantom,

I really believe that occasionally the little guy needs a brake -- especially in this field, where people are creating podcasts for love not money.

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by Steve Meyer at June 02, 2005
Steve -

Yes, the little guy(s) vertainly does need a break.

Your suggestion in amending the DMCA is both rational and necessary and the sooner the better. Podcasting and other "audio TiVo" type programs are going to play a much bigger role in expanding audience measurement for radio and the public will want the same content available on podcasts curently available on air.

Let's hope rectifying the DMCA as it's now written doesn't become another another major battle with the RIAA getting involved...but I got a bad feeling about this.

Steve Meyer
President - Smart Marketing
Publisher - DISC&DAT - A New Media Newsletter
Las Vegas, NV

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by Adam Brotman at June 04, 2005
Great thought. And, I agree with you that a "typical podcast" fits your argument, but I wonder how would you define a "podcast" vs. a non-compulsory license eligible download? Is there some number of spoken word introductions to the song required? What if it's a 10-song podcast with no spoken words, only music? What if it's just one song at at time with no spoken words. How would you draw the line?

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by steve at June 07, 2005
Adam,

The DMCA draws the line for us.

You can webcast masters, but you can't cause or induce a download of a copyrighted sound recording w/o permission of the copyright owner.

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by steve at June 07, 2005
Adam,

The DMCA draws the line for us.

You can webcast masters, but you can't cause or induce a download of a copyrighted sound recording w/o permission of the copyright owner.

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by elle at June 07, 2005
The author seems unaware of the reality that podcasts are MP3 downloads, and the realities of the DMCA. The DMCA was designed in part to control the proliferation of Internet radio, and maintain the status quo of control over distribution.

There is absolutely no reason to believe that most record companies are going to allow proliferation of the use of non-DRM'd music as podcasts. What possible reason would they have for wanting to do this? They'd get pennies a track at most.

Steve, what would keep you from doing a podcast of the latest CD from a major label artist? And why would a label or an artist be willing to trade the $1/track that iTunes Music Store charges for pennies/track? And why would they want to encourage the uncontrolled copying of MP3 music files, when they've spent five years suing companies and people over this?

There's a lot of wishful thinking in this argument, but, unfortunately, not a lot of common sense.

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by Adam Brotman at June 07, 2005
Steve,

You are aware, of course, that a podcast is not a webcast, right?

I'm assuming you are...but you are way more familiar with the DMCA than I am. What in the DMCA draws the line?


Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by steve gordon at June 07, 2005


"...if the DMCA were amended to apply to podcasting, the same 'performance compliment' rules applicable to webcasting would apply to podcasters, that is, you could not play more than four tracks by the same artist or three songs from the same album within a three hour period."

If you applied this rule to podcasts you could protect the record companies from piracy AND AT THE SAME TIME COMPENSATE THE LABELS AND THE ARTISTS.


Steve

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by Adam Brotman at June 08, 2005
Steve's point is really a good one. If the labels and publishers recognize how amazing music podcasts can be as a new methodology and technology for discovering and enjoying music, then they could come up with a new licensing scheme for enabling them. I'm just not sure how you could use a compulsory licensing method to achieve this, as a podcast is a download and the DMCA applies to non-permanent digital webcasts/broadcasts.

So if the point is that the labels must recognize this and act - I agree. If the point is that it should be done on a statutory/compulsory basis, I'm still confused about how you would define a "podcast" vs. an illegal download. It can't just be defined by the performance compliment - because that would still allow people to put out a single song on a podcast without any spoken words and call it a legitimate podcast - and only charge a penny per download, right?

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by Steve Gordon at June 08, 2005
Adam,


The DMCA could be amended to make the rate for small webcasters of 10% of gross receipts apply to podcasts of masters.

The performance compliment would prevent podcasters from selling albums or the works of one artist.


Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by Adam Brotman at June 09, 2005
Interesting. So the performance complement would prevent the single song issue, etc.? I haven't re-read the DMCA in a while. That might just work.

Then, the biggest difference between webcasts and podcasts, I guess, would be that a podcast can be stored and is portable. These two qualities of podcasts are shared by dowloads and CDs, etc. I wonder if the labels (and/or Congress) would consider these similarities a relevent distinguishing factor from webcasts, such that they would worry about the danger of indirectly replacing the sale of music. After all, if the podcasts are offered for free (and thus there would only be the negligible min payment due from each podcaster), then 10% of $0 is $0. Anyways, the labels might make that argument.

Also, I wonder if such a compulsory right would require a minimum level of DRM (copy-protection)....I'm sure the labels would.

I would love it if podcasts masters were subject to the DMCA compulsory. Also, the full publishing statutory rate would be way too expensive for any real mass distributed podcast don't you think? I think it would have to be something like 60% of the royalties due to the labels for the masters. Right now the labels and publishers are getting basically 50%+ of the retail amounts charged on dowloads and subscription services. They would argue that a total of at least 30% of the gross receipts is market rate for podcasts - since they are dowloads - and this would be a discount for the fact that podcasts are promotional, etc., etc.

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by selina at June 29, 2005
I think pod casts should be held to no higher standards than the radio. Radiostations can play the same artist, even the same song more than once in a half hour and nothing is stoping people taping them. I don't hear stories af cops raiding houses and cars for cassette tapes. It is just because they can so easily enter our computers or trace or IP adresses that they have now deamed it a "problem". On another note they could cut the salery of the artist by 50% say $10,000 a show instead of $20,000 and that would keep them rich and the extra money would cut the cost of the music and pay the little people (who made thier cd's possible) a little better.

Re: A Compulsory License for Music Based Podcasting

Posted by volume pills at September 23, 2005
I agree with you the way you view the issue. I remember Jack London once said everything positive has a negative side; everything negative has positive side. It is also interesting to see different viewpoints & learn useful things in the discussion.
 

The Human Touch

Aristotle observed that man is a "social animal". That is the fundamental premise behind why there will always be room for "radio" in people's lives.

I was reminded of this when listening to some podcasts this weekend. I rarely listen to terrestrial radio, save for NPR, preferring instead to listen to algorithmic, playlist-based streaming radio (like the sort that Launch or Rhapsody might offer). The podcasts, raw though they were, made me realize how much I miss having a live human introduce me to music in an intelligent way. I miss the personality and human touch that I love in great music shows like KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, NPR's All Songs Considered, Virgin Radio (UK) and now in podcasts. Playlist-based, algorithmic radio works well for me when I'm working and can't concentrate on another human voice. However, when I'm mobile (in the car or out and about), I'll want a human voice, whether as part of a talk show, or a music show introducing me to music I might like.

[cross-posted from www.ragsgupta.com]

 
Comments
 

Re: The Human Touch

Posted by Joe McKesson at June 01, 2005
"Social Animal" not just in terms of Radio, but in all things digital. There is a creative movement here that has really yet to be encouraged or nurtured. Everyone on the tech side of this industry sits and watches, as it waits to be impressed by the ways that content libraries are twisted, repackaged, or stolen. It has become increasingly annoying that Steve Jobs is the only person encouraging music expression in cyberspace, and really only at the lowest level of encouragement within the way of profitability. Where are the cyber DJs, Digital Artists?...yes we know they are out there, but shouldn't these pioneers be valuable. We are praising our selfserving technology, highlighting artists and names just as the labels have in the past. I realize the public isn't ready in some ways, and that all the service numbers are still comparatively low. But I believe the biggest part of that is the fact the cyberspace ultimately looks like everywhere else. The bar is raising on us all gentlemen, soon it will have to be a true happening, bells, whistles and personalities. The podcasts are only the beginning of what I believe can be a true music renaissance if the technologists can get past their striving for stardom and allow the artists to flourish under their tutelage. "At the end of the day a million+ tracks is a million+ tracks." in the parlance of our times.

Re: The Human Touch

Posted by Steve Meyer at June 02, 2005
Rags -

Unfortunately, the "human touch" went out at radio (most of it anyway, the syndiacted talents like Howard Stern and others at least continue to supply that) when radio became BIG business and on-air talent was dimished in imporatnce next to on-air content that was derived from all the research general managers employed in hopes of finding the magic keys to the kingdom of programming.

KCRW is a great example of how great on-air programming with talent could be and it's audience responds in respectable numbers.

But on-air talent and the himan touch is gone for the most part, leaving a radio landscape of cloned formats and sound-alike air-talent that isn't compensated very well. That's why satellite already has 5 million subscribers. Terrestrial radio has become stale and boring and that's why 5 million people are already willing to pay for something else (better music choices, better talk, etc.).

Steve Meyer
President - Smart Marketing
Publisher - DISC&DAT - A New Media Newsletter
Las Vegas, NV

Re: The Human Touch

Posted by Adam Brotman at June 03, 2005
I agree that having a person "introduce" and/or comment on a song is something special. It makes you care about the song even more...even listen to it more carefully.


Re: The Human Touch

Posted by mike at June 04, 2005
I have to partly agree with Steve. While audiophiles will always be interested in minute details of certain recordings -- the who, the what, and the why -- many listeners are either listening to music they're already familiar with, or are just flipping on some audio to accompany other tasks taking place.

I love NPR's All Songs Considered, but sometimes I perfer to have music constantly running in the background. It depends where I am.

Mike B
www.GarageSpin.com

Re: The Human Touch

Posted by Adam Brotman at June 04, 2005
So much about enjoying music is contextual. There are times that we are just want background music to bring energy to an environment that would otherwise be dull or dead without it - retail stores, doing chores at home, some work at the office etc. But, many times we want to really enjoy our music experiences. And, the best way to do this is to have a contextual experience. What I mean by contextual, is having some extra reason to "feel" something or "hear" something in the music when listening to it. A DJ introducing or talking about a song can really help with this. The best way to have context for music is to either be listening to it live, know something about the artist or the song, be remembering something you were feeling when you heard the song in your past, having the song recommended by someone whose music taste you trust etc. It's like enjoying wine. If you drink a great wine without knowing anything about it at all in the middle of the weekday, it's not nearly as enjoyable as when you know something about the winemaker, the grape, etc. and then you have the wine with just the right food on a Saturday night....or if someone who you trusted recommended that wine.

 

The Long Tail Wagging the Dog

I know that a lot of you follow or at least know about "The Long Tail" phonomenom, and if so, I think you will enjoy yesterday's post on Chris Anderson's blog: http://longtail.typepad.com/the_long_tail/2005/05/being_a_clich_i.html. Indeed, this was a slide we presented in a VC meeting, and it came as a result of our CEO trying to come up with a compelling representation of how we fit into the whole long tail thing... in the end, we just gave up and decided that anyone who knows anything about the content space is either saturated with the long tail or has been living under a rock for the last couple of years. We definitely got a good laugh... that's good right?

Our point, however, isn't that the long tail is hype and BS - the point is that a lot of people with direct experience are accepting that it IS real. Perhaps it is no longer a phonomenon and its just reality. This led me to think about another phonomenom - Podcasting. Yes, I realize that I gave it a "hype over substance" review in my last entry, but hear me out.

Increasingly, our goal is to make the tail fatter, and we can only do that by marketing content to the right people. Podcasting (and its super-set cousin, bloggin) just might be the "tail fattener" that is needed. It makes sense, right? Small promoting small, niche promoting niche. The indie world is all about taste-making, and if the micro-media world produces the next tastemakers, you can bet that those of us who think the tail could use a few pounds will be there.

 
Comments
 

Re: The Long Tail Wagging the Dog

Posted by eliot van buskirk at June 02, 2005
Nice one, Tim -- on the funny and on the money.

In order to encourage podcasting's tail-fattening effect, I'd love to see some sort of blanket BMI/ASCAP type license for music podcasters. Otherwise they'll have to go underground where the file sharing networks are... yet another opportunity squandered. Time after time, the labels just flat out don't want to get paid--quite the odd strategy, but hey, it's been working great for them so far ; )

 
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