More iTunes Observations

[robaustin]

A couple of things I've noticed in the past few days:

At least two podcasters with very heavy subscriber base have added "-" to
the beginning of their feed names. What this does is pop their podcasts to
the top of the podcasts in the subscribed podcasts in iTunes. I have mixed
feelings about this. I think it's good marketing strategy but bad form.
They remove themselves from the regular alphabetical listing, which kind of
annoys me.

I have noticed the change on the main podcasting page for different sections
- and very little "indie" content listed up front. What's up there in the
majority now - even more then last week - is the repackaged content from
Disney, ABC, Bravo, etc.. The Queer Eye Hip Tips (which I actually
downloaded) are nothing more then the EXACT hip tips from the show - audio
only - just repackaged. Talk about boring. But I'm a bit disappointed that
more "indie" stuff isn't spotlighted.

But what is more interesting is how much of the public radio, regular radio
and Disney stuff is being downloaded. It may not be true "podcasts" the way
we here think about them - BUT - the fact that people are
downloading the stuff indicates their need to not only get indie podcasts -
but to get stuff that is familiar to them in a new way. Just because I get
the Z-100 NY phone taps, does not mean I'm NOT downloading other podcasts -
quite the opposite - it frees me from having to listen to the repetitive
music on their station - and only get exactly what I want.

Ah well - just my $.02 as always - feel free to comment or not.

--*Rob

[jeffoest]

On the first, you may want to check this thread

http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2773

On the second, my opinion is that Apple HAD to load up the front page with 'branded' content in order to make a marketing splash and generate excitment for iTunes and Podcasting. While we love the amateur podcasts, they are simply not names that are known and therefore carry no marketing 'polish'. We'll see if Apple continues to continue to give strong visibility to their branded content or if they support market-driven demand. Probably a combination going forward is what I would guess.

[robaustin]

Now I notice four shows with the "-" at the beginning of their show name.

This is VERY annoying to not have everything in Alphabetical order.

The four shows I have in my iTunes that do this are:

- Area 51
- The Rock and Roll Geek Show
- Podcast 411
- Yeast Radio

Ugh.

--*Rob

[thefly]

Now I notice four shows with the "-" at the beginning of their show name.

This is VERY annoying to not have everything in Alphabetical order.

The four shows I have in my iTunes that do this are:

- Area 51
- The Rock and Roll Geek Show
- Podcast 411
- Yeast Radio

Ugh.

--*Rob

Unsubscribe from them. Then let them know that you think it's moronic for them to play these sorts of games.

VIVA ALPHANUMERICS!

:wink:

[jeffoest]

Unsubscribe from them. Then let them know that you think it's moronic for them to play these sorts of games.

VIVA ALPHANUMERICS!

:wink:

I would probably just give them the feedback. If you are already subscribed and like the shows, unsubscribing would end up only really depriving yourself though maybe satisfying a short-term emotional impulse.

[podcastshuffle]

One thing I noticed is that it doesn't seem to really take a lot of subscribers to make it into the top 100. Using the FeedBurner Awareness API I noticed that a show in the 80's only had about 1300 subscribers. I'm guessing that the top 20 or so podcasts are pretty top heavy in Apple's 1,000,000+ subs and the trail of the feeds goes out a long long way (I think feedburner said that their avg podcast had like 60 subs)

Jeff

[richpav]

On one hand it's bad form, on the other hand it's a necessary evil when the shows aren't categorized granularly enough. But mostly, it's bad form. And it makes Madge's c*nt smell a bit like spam.

[notyourusualbollocks]

I'm surprised Michael from the R and R Geek show is doing this. After all, he's the one who usually gets on his high horse about rigged voting on podcast alley.

MK

[paul]

I think this community should come together and cut out the dashes.

Let's think of this in terms of sustainable systems--if everyone puts the dash then it's going to be stupid not to have one.

We will ALL have stupid dashes in front of our titles in everything that pulls RSS.

One day someone will ask, "Why do all these podcasts have dashes in front of their names?"

And the answer will be that they all tried to compete to be close to the top in July 2005 and have remained that way ever since.

Pretty sad.

[rwalch]

I have changed my title back and removed the Dash "-"

It was a poor decision on my part. Paul thanks for bringing reason to this.

I apologize to those that are (were) subscribed and I will not do any more of these cheap (stupid) games.

Humbley yours Rob

[Keeme]

Rob, You should never have to apologize for trying to get the message out there. We are all trying to be heard whether it be by finding a perfect list perfect name or complaining about the guy who "found" a better way of doing that very same thing.

That being said... you stood up to the the special secret (podcasters club) Mic here, took ownership and proved once again why you are that guy... that **** cool guy we all love. To complain is like a rant and rants come easy to us... But it takes balls to step up and say what you said.

My hat is off to you sir!

Keeme

[paul]

Yeah Rob mi kittygato--
I'm proud of you too. Although I have to admit that when I first realized this was happening...my first impulse was to run and edit the rss...but then I just thought about where this is going.

You are the first person to 'change back' Rob, and your lead is a great example.

[dcolanduno]

I have changed my title back and removed the Dash "-"

It was a poor decision on my part. Paul thanks for bringing reason to this.

I apologize to those that are (were) subscribed and I will not do any more of these cheap (stupid) games.

Humbley yours Rob

Sucks when attempting to market yourself at all gives you a whiplash from whiny folks doesn't it?

I'm not going to change mine just because I think people are getting really ANNOYING about it.

Yes, big long useless Alphabetical lists... THAT is fair.

People saying that it is comparable to vote-fraud... please remove 100 points from your IQ and have a nice day.

It is the ONLY form of marketing you get in the iTunes services. 99% of the people that go there, NEVER see a message forum, know NOTHING about the podcasting community, and have no clue as to what they are looking at.

iTunes supplies no mechanism to promote yourself; other than a huge alphabetical list, the top 100, or some hand-chosen front page content, (Which is mostly big money folks). And NONE of those, do you have any control over.

Comparing it to vote fraud on the Alley where you can talk to a small community and get the word out... build a relationship, is just absolutely childish.

[Zany Aguirre]

Do the majority of you have nothing better to do then be pissy about everything?

Instead of bitching about everything (votes, ranking, popularity, "-", etc.), step away from your little podcast show and get a life.

It's embarrassing to come in here and see all the bickering, fighting and general nastiness towards eachother and every little thing. There's very little difference between "podcasters" and the rest of the arse holes available anywhere...

I do appreciate those of you that aren't afraid to be accountable, communal, networkers, edifiers, assistors and facilitators. The rest of you are just a drag.

Flame mail can be directed here (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73799493)

[dcolanduno]

I think this community should come together and cut out the dashes.

Let's think of this in terms of sustainable systems--if everyone puts the dash then it's going to be stupid not to have one.

We will ALL have stupid dashes in front of our titles in everything that pulls RSS.

One day someone will ask, "Why do all these podcasts have dashes in front of their names?"

And the answer will be that they all tried to compete to be close to the top in July 2005 and have remained that way ever since.

Pretty sad.

Why don't we all put the dash in our names...

So the Indy content comes before the corporate content.

We all know Disney, isn't going to put a dash in their name. So why don't we leverage the system to the advantage of the small time podcasters.

Or, are we all too 'lofty' to possibly use the system against them? :)

[dcolanduno]

Do the majority of you have nothing better to do then be pissy about everything?

Instead of bitching about everything (votes, ranking, popularity, "-", etc.), step away from your little podcast show and get a life.

It's embarrassing to come in here and see all the bickering, fighting and general nastiness towards eachother and every little thing. There's very little difference between "podcasters" and the rest of the arse holes available anywhere...

I do appreciate those of you that aren't afraid to be accountable, communal, networkers, edifiers, assistors and facilitators. The rest of you are just a drag.

Flame mail can be directed here (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73799493)

Not that you are a stranger to mass media attention and promotion! I guess it can mean a lot more to folks that weren't on an ABC prime time show. :)

But, I agree... and love the blatent use of the Apple Phobos link. ;)