by Steve Goldstein
Podcast intros are way too long, and audiences are increasingly frustrated — we agree with guest columnist Steve Goldstein. Top-of-show chatting and rambling is a holdover from podcasting’s youth, and feels increasingly out of touch with the medium’s professionalization. Steve makes an interesting comparison with long-running TV shows. Continue Reading
This guest column from Mark Mulligan poses an intriguing question: Is podcast listening cannibalizing listening to streaming music? After all, there are only a set number of hours in a day. Mark digs into recent Spotify metrics to outline a potential answer.
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This vital guest column by David Oxenford summarizes the royalty rate arguments put before the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) for a ruling expected by mid-June. In normal times that ruling would have been delivered before January 1, but this every-five-year cycle has been delayed by Covid. The outcome will chart the financial course for webcasters of all sizes in the 2021-2025 period.
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by Steve Goldstein
In this guest column, Steve Goldstein reproduces a conversation with Joel Sucherman, NPR’s Vice President for New Platform Partnerships, about podcast subscriptions. Sucherman illuminates NPR’s basic strategy points, and reveals how local NPR radio stations are involved in that strategy. Continue Reading
by Steve Goldstein
In this guest, um, “column,” Steve Goldstein demystifies (maybe) the podcasting ecosystem with a helpful infographic. Must see. Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with a richly informative newsletter about radio around the world. An Australian radio station doesn’t give time checks — for a clever reason. BBC’s random traditions. Much more in this roundup of observations and insights. Continue Reading
This guest column from Mark Mulligan notes that Spotify is raising the price of some Premium subscriptions … and argues it is past time. The basic single-person subscription of $9.99 remains in place, but Mulligan anticipates that level will move upward, and needs to. “The fact that streaming pricing has remained locked at $9.99 since the early 2000s is an open wound for streaming,” Mulligan asserts.
by Steve Goldstein
In this guest column, Steve Goldstein presents a much-needed thought piece which examines where the value lies in podcast subscriptions — for creators, for audiences, and for the global ecosystem. “We don’t yet know the value between podcast content and someone’s wallet.” Essential reading. Continue Reading
by Steve Goldstein
In a follow up to last week’s column, Steve Goldstein collaborates with Podnews, and continues to bring an intelligent and realistic view of the global podcast catalog. Two-million podcasts, per recent headlines? A more sensible number is much lower. This Amplifi/Podnews research is a must read for potential creators, and for advertisers.
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by Steve Goldstein
In this guest column, Steve Goldstein debunks the headlines declaring 2-million existing podcasts. Should single-episode “one-and-done” efforts count? The Amplifi Podcast Pyramid really clarifies how we should interpret the global podcast catalog — and is a thing of beauty.
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by Steve Goldstein
In this guest column, Steve Goldstein delivers a list of eye-catching, thought-provoking stats from the podcast realm. As far as we can tell, not a single one is April Foolery.
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by Steve Goldstein
In this guest column, Steve Goldstein gets real about podcast creators getting their shows into the mobile devices of prospective listeners, and then actually getting played as a separate challenge. “Our smartphones are loaded with the great intentions of downloaded podcasts that are never listened to.” Brace for numbers-based reality.
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