Would Podcasters Allow Their Podcasts to be Broadcast on Radio?

[stubbornlikeamule]

I'm involved in a small community radio station, and I am thinking of producing a programme based around internet audio content.

The concept is that it would consist of music downloadable for free from various music sources and independent artists plus talk content from podcasts either a full episode or part of an episode.

Before I put too much effort into the project I would like to know if you were approached for this sort of project would you give your permission for someone to use your podcast material and broadcast it via a conventional medium?

Thanks

Stephen

[EndGamePR]

I'm involved in a small community radio station, and I am thinking of producing a programme based around internet audio content.

The concept is that it would consist of music downloadable for free from various music sources and independent artists plus talk content from podcasts either a full episode or part of an episode.

Before I put too much effort into the project I would like to know if you were approached for this sort of project would you give your permission for someone to use your podcast material and broadcast it via a conventional medium?

Thanks

Stephen
I suspect you'd run into more than a few podcasters (I might be included in that group) who would ask for a percentage of the ad revenue or perhaps a weekly flat fee. I mean, you're not getting FREE content here...

[pwfenton]

I would assume that when I see the phrase "small community radio station" we are talking about a listener supported station? In which case it would be essentially non-profit.

But even if it's a commercial station, podcasters should recognize it as an opportunity to gain exposure within an audience that might never even hear of their podcast otherwise.

[EndGamePR]

I would assume that when I see the phrase "small community radio station" we are talking about a listener supported station? In which case it would be essentially non-profit.

But even if it's a commercial station, podcasters should recognize it as an opportunity to gain exposure within an audience that might never even hear of their podcast otherwise.
I took it as being a small (probably low wattage) radio station in a small town. If it's listener supported, that's a different story entirely.

Assuming it's commercial driven, wouldn't it bother you that the radio station would be selling advertising around your podcast, and you weren't seeing any of that money?

There is a lot of short form programming that's offered to stations for free, but the kicker is that there's a commercial built into the show ... and the producers keep the money for that advertising. A 30-second commercial, even on a very low rated station, can be worth $25 or $30.

[pwfenton]

Assuming it's commercial driven, wouldn't it bother you that the radio station would be selling advertising around your podcast, and you weren't seeing any of that money?

Not really. My show has advertising in it. I would gain from the listeners, and possible new subscribers. Would the station expect a piece of my action?

More listeners makes my show more valuable.

[stubbornlikeamule]

Thanks everyone for your feedback so far, please keep it coming.

Just to clarify where I'm coming from. I'm talking about a community station which broadcasts to a city of just over 1 million people.

The majority of their funding is from subscribers and members, with a small amount of revenue generated through sponsorship. A typical 2 hour programme may contain up to 3 30sec sponsorship slots plus a few station promos for other programmes.

The majority of sponsorship revenue is generated from independent bands/venues wanting to promote their shows/albums.

It is not anticipated that there would be any revenue sharing in either direction, also I would not anticipate using the same podcast on a regular basis (unless agreed to by the podcaster). It would be more of a "these are some interesting podcasts I heard this week/month" type of thing.

[EndGamePR]

Not really. My show has advertising in it. I would gain from the listeners, and possible new subscribers. Would the station expect a piece of my action?

More listeners makes my show more valuable.
I suppose you do have a point there, but you're the exception ... not the rule. Most advertising in the podcast world these days is CPM-based, and obviously the show airing on the radio doesn't help with that at all.

You do bring up an interesting point, however. While the vast majority of podcasts right now are unable to get sponsors that are worth much of anything, If these shows are going to air on a station that's broadcasting to one million people, then the host/producer of the show COULD sell advertising and make a little money from the deal. The sponsor could be guaranteed the radio listeners plus the download listeners ... or the sponsor could be local to the radio station's area and the sponsor message would then only be in the radio station version of the show. Regardless, it would then be a situation like many programs that production houses provide to stations for free. The program wouldn't cost the station anything, but the producer gets to keep the money for the ad inside the show.

Stubborn -- would that be an issue with the station?

[stubbornlikeamule]

I made a post about something similar a while back and met with some very fire resistance :)

But, speaking personally, I think this is a fine idea.

In my own case it would be great exposure.

Issues like ad revenue don't bother me. As long as the podcast content was being broadcast with clarification of what it was, and where to find it, then it would - I think - benefit everyone.

I suppose you do have a point there, but you're the exception ... not the rule. Most advertising in the podcast world these days is CPM-based, and obviously the show airing on the radio doesn't help with that at all.

You do bring up an interesting point, however. While the vast majority of podcasts right now are unable to get sponsors that are worth much of anything, If these shows are going to air on a station that's broadcasting to one million people, then the host/producer of the show COULD sell advertising and make a little money from the deal. The sponsor could be guaranteed the radio listeners plus the download listeners ... or the sponsor could be local to the radio station's area and the sponsor message would then only be in the radio station version of the show. Regardless, it would then be a situation like many programs that production houses provide to stations for free. The program wouldn't cost the station anything, but the producer gets to keep the money for the ad inside the show.

Stubborn -- would that be an issue with the station?

All content would be appropriately recognised with links to the podcast read out during the show and also posted online. I was initially thinking about actually making the show available as a podcast also, but to save confusion will probabally just link to relevant podcasts and link to music used.

I hadn't considered anyone wanting to sponsor the show because of a particular podcast, as my current plan is not to play any one podcast regularly however play different podcasts or excerpts each show to provide a broad range of listening experiences.

If at some point down the track there was a particular listener demand for a particular single podcast and someone wanted to sponsor the show purely because of that podcast I envisage something would be negotiated with the podcaster as the situation arose.

I certainly have no intention of claiming anyone elses material as my own, or profiting in any way from it, all podcast URL's would be mentioned on air at the "top and tail" of the podcast as well as online on the shows blog.

[EndGamePR]

I certainly have no intention of claiming anyone elses material as my own, or profiting in any way from it
Not to be difficult, but if advertising was sold during the portion of your programming where podcasts were played, then the station WOULD be profiting.

[stubbornlikeamule]

Not to be difficult, but if advertising was sold during the portion of your programming where podcasts were played, then the station WOULD be profiting.

Given that the radio station itself is a fully volunteer run organisation, does not have any paid staff and any revenue is put back into the station for upkeep and running costs saying that the station would be "profiting" I think is drawing a fairly long bow.

[EndGamePR]

Given that the radio station itself is a fully volunteer run organisation, does not have any paid staff and any revenue is put back into the station for upkeep and running costs saying that the station would be "profiting" I think is drawing a fairly long bow.
No one at the station makes a salary? If that's the case, I withdraw my statement and request forgiveness.

[keifer]

If it's a one off sort of thing I see no reason why not to take advantage of getting ones show presented to a wider audience.

Now if the station wanted to use your show on a regular basis that's a different matter depending on a variety of variables.

[stereoradiation]

I think a lot of podcasters are in the same boat as struggling musicians, where something like this would help get the word out, and contribute to expanding their audience. But most would stop short of letting someone else make money off of them without some form of quid pro quo.

[Rasheed]

I also would like to add that not making any profit doesn't make you a non-profit organization. Most movie companies are so good at accounting that they make no profit. After everyone has been paid, no money is left, even for a movie that brings in tens of mega dollars at the box office in the first few weeks after release.

[WyethDigital]

I made a post about something similar a while back and met with some very fire resistance :)
I think if you'll look back, the resistance you met with had more to with your presentation than your concept. There's a difference. ;)

Incidentally, for a show with nothing on the block as far as ads go, then it's a fair trade, provided the radio station offers a plug for the podcast in return. In other words, if you play my show, then tell your audience how to find me. That sounds like the deal they're offering, and it's a fair one, overall.

We do something similar with a TV station in town.

Eric