August 17, 2005

Pod People

Since I'm still on vacation I'm not beholden to writing about the news of the day. It's August and other than Air America owing money to everyone there isn't anything going on (the distraught mother in Crawford, TX doesn't count). This brief post is on podcasting. For those who haven't been following this young phenonenon Glenn Reynolds spells out its potential:

Interestingly, he [GarageBand's CEO, Ali Partovi] thinks that DJs will be harder to bypass than radio stations: "DJs play an important role. Consumers want new music, but most don't want to take the trouble to listen to it on their own. They want someone else to do the filtering, and the human touch is key." What's more, it's a better promotional tool than radio in some ways. If you hear a song you like on the radio, you have to figure out what the song is and who does it, then go find out about the artist. With podcasting it's different: "Once you discover an artist you like via a podcast, the technology makes it easy to find out more about the artist. You can find a band via a DJ's podcast, follow a link to subscribe to the band's podcast, and then the band doesn't need a middleman to get in touch with you. You'll know when they have something new."

That's not only important for the little guy, but for established artists like Paul McCartney who are no longer darlings of the radio, he notes. They need a way to reach their fans that doesn't depend on the radio business, and the Internet provides one. (Partovi didn't mention it, but I wonder if this isn't an answer to the unfolding payola scandals involving commercial radio, too.)

I've been toying with putting out a music podcast. Searching for cheap bandwidth and simple tools are part of my barriers to entry. The fact that I couldn't play any song I wanted to is another problem. Podcasters can't get "blanket licenses" like over-the-air radio stations. Reynolds thinks Big Radio (and probably Big Music) will use their political muscle to keep it that way and try to stifle the new-tech competition. But like with any barrier the internet finds a way to get around it. There is now something called "podsafe" music where the artist gives permission to podcasters to play their music. There is even the Podsafe Music Network that's a clearing house for artists and podcasters.

With that I'll give you my list of must-listen-to podcasts:

• Rip & Read Blogger Podcast--Charlie Quidnunc has a unique, down-to-earth voice as he points out what the political blogosphere is talking about.

• Tim Riley's City Desk--Witty yet informative. This podcast harkens back to old-time radio. Only after you're entertained do you realize Riley shoved a bunch of news into your ear.

• The Starkcast--Beware, this contains some of the filthiest stuff ever to enter your ears, but it's so damn funny. JimK yammers about politics and pop culture. This is a politically incorrect zone.

• 5 Minutes with Wichita--Wichita Rutherford has the funniest voice in the podosphere. I don't care who he interviews as long as he says, "precious." And it's only five minutes so you feel like you wasted any time listening.

• Dave's Lounge--Downtempo and trip-hop to chill things out.

• ACIDplanet Electronica Podcast--Lots of variety each week. It makes you appreciate how far bedroom production has come.

• The Tartan Podcast--It features Scotish bands, but this is the best music podcast around. Mark Hunter plays songs loaded with melody, harmony, rock crunch, and all the stuff that makes good pop rock so infectious.
  

"Podcasting and the New Media"

[Added to OTB's Beltway Traffic Jam.]