Since nobody else is going to talk about it.

[thefly]

Are y'all sleeping or are we just too afraid to bring this up.

As posted on my blog this morning:

Podcasting goes commercial?

Adam Curry, 'poddaddy extraordinaire', announced his latest business venture. BoKu (I'm not going to even bother with the overbars. Overbars in company names are really stupid.) With the announcement of PodShow.com, and the reworking of the iPodder.org directory, some people are up in arms about the apparant hijacking of voulenteer labor. Y'see, the iPodder.org directory was maintained by a motley crew of voulenteer coders.

I'm not so sure this commercialization is a bad thing. I mean, let's never forget that Mr. Curry's #1 occupation is creating businesses. He never hid that from people. He talks about it all the time.

What does this hold for the future of podcasting? Well, for one thing, I wish they'd rebrand the **** thing. I HATE the term podcasting. Other than that, we'll wait and see.

References
http://webfeedcentral.com/index.php/archives/2005/03/13/adam-curry-goes-commercial-screws-the-volunteers/
http://www.podshow.com
http://bokucom.com

[jawbone]

Actually, I was sleeping.

Well, it's no surprise that this is happening. I equate this podcasting boom to the boom of websites around 96-97. Remember what sites looked like back then? There were a lot of homegrown sites and there still are. But as soon as people started realizing that this was where business was going, the look of the sites grew and evolved.

I think that there will always be those grassroots podcasts that sound unrehearsed and unprepared. So there is no worry that it will become completely a commercial venture. Essentially, AC has become one of the first podcast development companies. Whatever. I wish him luck. There were a ton of "web development" (notice the quotations) companies in 96, too.

As far as the people he screwed --- that sucks. :(

[sweek]

I still don't really get what Podshow wil be? It seems like it will be basically a more smooth and extended version of the ipodder.org directories, with some commercial plan for those interested in that.

Anyway, it looks pretty good so far, and hearing Adam Curry talking about it made me pretty excited.

[Cookiepuss]

It seems there are already Odeo and others racing to get to the all-inclusive podcast utopia thing. Podshow was mentioned in another post here a few days ago as well.

If AC did hijack the work of people that donated their time to create it I think he needs to share the wealth once he makes anything from PodShow with those people that volunteered if that is the case.

That would be tantamount to me having an Open Source project and getting everyone here to contribute code. Then saying. . ."oops I decided to change the licensing it is closed source now. Wanna buy the $ource ?"

But I am not sure of the details of the "up in arms" people so I can't say for sure. Although I do know for some sick reason I think of another word when I read Boku. That also starts with a "B" but ends in a "ukaki" :oops:

Plus I'd feel weird being refered to as the "podfather" or "poddaddy". I give more credit to the actual developers of iPodder, since they actual do it. If having ideas made you the "father" of things then I was the father of roller blades years before they came out. Since when I was 3 I told my Dad it would be cool to put the wheels in a row like ice skates.
:lol:

[sweek]

Adam Curry said on his show that all the people that applied to volunteer on ipodder.org (maintaining one of the directories) have been mailed and can do the same and get paid for it now on podshow.com. He said that that's why he asked so often if there were people that wanted to maintain one of those directories.
I don't really get the earning money by having a podcast yet tough. I guess you can get advertisement deals through them.

[yaz]

if there is a possibility of people hearing about a product, companies will try to stick their noses in it to make their stuff heard, im surprised toilets don't flush to jingles...

[cc_chapman]

im surprised toilets don't flush to jingles...

Yo Chris! This is a perfect advertising idea for you! Instead of wiping music for The Daily Download you play a jingle! *laugh*

[camilian]

Been trying to get McDonalds to sponsor the flush. "Your lovin' it"

[rafa1215]

Product placement in a podcast might be a way to make money as well as using your blogging space to place a banner ad. I can't see any other way of making money. I guess the more popular you are - the more money you'll make.

[yaz]

that adam guy likes to tease his hair...

[spaz]

that adam guy likes to tease his hair...

Is it me, or are you obsessed with his hair?

[thefly]

that adam guy likes to tease his hair...

Is it me, or are you obsessed with his hair?

But not the hair on his head. :shock:

[yaz]

its a big joke to us...mullets, superteased hair...its all too funny, i live in north jersey...

[Berniquen]

I don't know. I'm less than thrilled with Podshow. My reasons below:

The Stategy Cast that was suppose to announce Podshow and it's features were poorly produced.

The sound levels on Adam and Ron were not nearly even and to hear Ron I had to turn up the volume and then Adam would say something and blow my ear drums.

They couldn't get to the headlines, instead you had to listen to them babble for hours... and honestly, 1hr 30 minutes in I'm still very confused. It's like shifting for Gold after a bear took a **** upstream. Not a plesant experience.

They don't offer any informative TEXT on the Podshow website. You can only get your information by listening to this babbling self-indulgent podcast or begging somebody to post clear headlines like I did at the DND Board and now here. (I'd like to point out that at DND people tried but couldn't post a clear outline of what Podshow is about.)


I don't care about the commercialization of Podcasting, but I do worry that the people who are positioning themselves to be the gateway into this medium for advertisers and the outside world can't make an official podcast sound halfway decent. Adam Curry the sound freak sure failed here, not even close to the quality we expect from Daily Source Code.

I'm going to push through the final 30 minutes... but I think that podcast is hopeless.

[johnandwayneshow]

I agree. And how many times did Adam fire one up? I counted four in the first half (before I couldn't take it anymore).

[yaz]

ha!

[xtffx]

Narf.

[tocard]

While I agree with what you have to say about people focusing on doing their shows...

At the same time, podcasting is the first step towards internet radio into peoples' cars, gyms, and lives... Once the next step is taken - live broadcasting - internet radio will suddenly be an entirely different place.

Right now, while listening to netradio in your car is possible... the learning curve and costs are prohibitive. Once those limitations are minimized, money will start to flow for internet broadcasts.

This makes your point about focusing on quality all the more important... and people should focus on building as much of a listener base now as possible, becuase when widespread mobile internet radio does hit, those that are popular already, and quality, will attract money.

Of course, there will still be hobbyists that just do this for fun... just like there are in regular radio NOW. (listen to a brokered AM station some time.... MMMM HMMM quality stuff...) (Either that or go out and get yourself a HAM radio setup... w00t! Good times. Crappy radio abounds.)

Once the money flows... even if you start doing it as just a hobby -If you are GOOD... if you attract lots of people to listen... you WILL attract advertisers... and you can turn away the money if you want - but I don't think most will do that if they feel they deserve it.

[mental-escher]

I think a lot of people are getting swollen heads. Yes, ipodder and related content aggregation applications are a neat idea. Yes, there's some good programing out there. It's a hobby. It's something fun to do. Relax and have a good time. Stop trying to make a buck out of everything. Yes, I know the programing in your head tells you that happiness comes from money. Just tell that voice to shut up, and just enjoy doing your show

Listen to the Truth encapsulated in the above statement- and just have some Fun!

[s]

And how many times did Adam fire one up?

I know! I came to the forum this afternoon specifically to raise this point if no one else had. I was like, "Hi, I'm kinda new to PodcastAlley, and I must be the biggest moron on the planet." Because after...oh 36 minutes of listening to this StrategyCast (just listening today), I suddenly thought, "Jesus, how many times does that guy have to light a cigare--OOooooohhhhh. Right. Got it."

Strategy man? Far out. Faaaaaar out. So glad this guy is our "podfather."

[ThePodder]

Strategy? What Strategy? Okay, maybe that's a little harsh, there was some strategy described. But, for a 2-hour show, I expected a lot more. Some of what was mentioned was rather obvious, like making it easier for listeners to find shows they would like. No kidding! Yeah, we're not only cast jockeys ourselves, but listeners, too, that know the challenges of finding shows to listen to.

Commercialization to some degree is inevitable. I think some is good too. I know I would like to make some money so I can enjoy the podcasting industry as a career. It's a lot of fun. I just hope we podcasters don't go overboard; I prefer not to hear ads in shows. A companion blog or web site is a good location to have the ads.

Finally, I agree with others about the quality of the Strategy Cast show. It was rather poor and the frequent interruptions with phone calls, visitors, etc. were distracting and negatively impacted the quality of the show.

While I have mixed feelings about the intentions of Adam and Ron, overall I support their promotion of podcasting and sincerely hope it lifts all boats.

[alissa]

Any time someone tries to make internet broadcasting a money-making venture, I have to laugh.

There's a well trod path filled with the wrecks of internet radio/show businesses. Pseudo, eYada, Den, Real Talk, etc.. I know a guy with a net show who is struggling to attract a subscriber base. After being at it for some time now, I think he makes enough every month to buy a meal or two at McDonalds.

At a time when the radio industry is desperate for ad sales, people want to try to build a viable business via ad sales using podcasting? Um, yeah.

I think a lot of people are getting swollen heads. Yes, ipodder and related content aggregation applications are a neat idea. Yes, there's some good programing out there. It's a hobby. It's something fun to do. Relax and have a good time. Stop trying to make a buck out of everything. Yes, I know the programing in your head tells you that happiness comes from money. Just tell that voice to shut up, and just enjoy doing your show.

nithe!

[skirt90]

Actually, I was sleeping.

I think you should find something better to do with you time...