“In one of the shortest trajectories yet for a new Internet technology, podcasting has gone from the hands of indie developers to media giants in less than a year. Credit Apple. With typical finesse, it has created a centralized, easy-to-use service on iTunes that makes it a snap to find and listen to podcasts, the audio recordings that can be downloaded from the Net and played on a computer or portable music player. Apple also put out a new version of the iTunes software, which makes it easy for people to create their own podcasts, and invited all to post their creations on the site. Indie podcasters… rejoiced, ready for the mainstream to embrace the technology they had championed,” Heather Green reports for BusinessWeek.
Green reports, “But the reality isn’t so simple. Apple’s service, though just over a month old, is already changing the dynamics of the field. It has helped legitimize the medium, drawing traditional giants, from Ebert & Roeper parent Walt Disney to Dow Jones and News Corp. As they join iTunes, they’re squeezing out many of the do-it-yourselfers who evangelized podcasting. Once a podcast drops off the top 100 list, it’s almost impossible for a casual visitor to find it,” Green reports. “None can touch Apple today. As companies vie to create the primary site for podcasts, Apple has a huge edge because of the dominance of iTunes and the iPod. But rivals are developing sites that go beyond simple top 100 lists.”
Full article here.
Related iPodDailyNews articles:
Apple clarifies podcast rankings in iTunes Music Store – August 01, 2005
McNamee: In one day, Apple won podcasting war, ‘Google whiffed on it’ – August 01, 2005
The next big thing? Apple’s iTunes 4.9 supports Video Podcasts (with example) – July 29, 2005
NY Times: Apple has just mainstreamed podcasting and put another feather iPod’s cap – July 28, 2005
NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ now available as podcast – July 28, 2005
Survey reveals 87-percent of U.S. internet users don’t know meaning of term ‘podcast’ – July 22, 2005
Apple’s iTunes Music Store offers erotic podcasts that some are calling ‘porncasts’ – July 22, 2005
Fortune: podcasting is a celebration of power of the Internet – July 12, 2005
Microsoft employees squeamish about ‘podcast’ term, try using ‘blogcast’ instead – July 11, 2005
The Economist: Apple’s embrace of podcasting ‘could have significant consequences’ – July 08, 2005
Research group: U.S. podcast audience will grow to 56 million by 2010 – July 06, 2005
This is just a normal winnowing of an already overcrowded field. Indie podcasters will have to create compelling content in order to survive. As it should be.
Apple leads the way… again. They have invented or popularized more computer technologies in use by the typical user than anyone else. And they continue to have an effect on our culture that is unprecedented. Remarkable.
Established names and brands have already established themselves and created a brand. That’s why more people listen to Ebert & Roeper than some generic Fred’s Flicks Reviews. Indie podcasts will have to work hard to establish themselves as viable brands, just as, I’m sure, Ebert worked for years to establish his. The cream rises.
I also find it interesting that I can communicate back and forth with people on another site. If you go to this story on iPodDailyNews…
http://www.ipoddailynews.com/index.php/ipoddailynews/comments/6499/
…those who’ve posted from MacDailyNews are identified with the “via MacDailyNews” stamp and vice versa while reading this story on MacDN.
Pretty cool!
As far as any struggles, Luke is right. Remember desktop publishing? So much crap in so little time. The negative effects (masses of low-quality content essentially) of the availability of a technology such as podcasting may never disappear entirely, but are far outweighed by the positives… at least in the long term.
Geo,
I agree on both counts: The cream rises and it is quite cool that I’m here on iPodDailyNews and I’m interacting with you (the via MacDailyNews posters are identified) here. My iPodDailyNews-originated posts just show my name. Nice job, MDN/iPodDN.
How’s the weather over on MDN?
“.. But rivals are developing sites that go beyond simple top 100 lists ..”
Oh really? Anybody here know anything about Internet Radio? If not, you’ll just have to trust me:
You know that seemingly ‘simple’ iTunes Radio Directory? The one that many folks erroneously assert is one of Apple’s most poorly attended to features? Well, if you broadcast internet radio, that ‘simple’ iTunes Radio Directory is THE super exclusive internet radio directory that almost every broadcaster would sell their mother to be listed in. Why? Because it actually works in delivering listeners when virtually all other internet radio directories do not work. And why does it work? Because Apple intentionally keeps it simple (and seemingly won’t be dissuaded from that policy, either).
Luke,
The weather’s fine here on MDN. Pop on over.
MDN MW “come” (no kidding – wow!)
I’m sure there are some modifications Apple will make to help make sure that worthy indie podcasters aren’t squeezed totally off the map. I hope, anyway!
Somebody really thought out the MDN+iPodDN integration well at MDN.
The intrasite communication concept on “shared” articles is quite a nice touch, especially how they ID the source site of the post.
MDN readers should keep in mind that iPodDN readers may be Windows-only iPod users and be civil! They’re halfway home already.
Good idea on the integration of some articles between MDN and IPDN to promote the new site. I believe this is what they call “finessé”.
gawd … There’s two of all of us! lol!
But errr .. how am I going to justify having two different RSS feeds just to see two of all of us? hmmm.
Since this is the first iteration of podcasting in iTunes, I’m sure Apple will address this as well as other problems with podcasting.
I would hope that Apple might do something to support the smaller podcasters. Just because someone is not high on the list does not mean their content is less interesting than others. It just means that people have not yet found them to even be able to evaluate them. I would like them to be able to be “found” more easily. Perhaps Apple can have two lists: the real top 100 and the small top 200’s. I don’t know how those groups would be sorted out. Maybe a rotating 100 for the second list? I would like to see something so that the little guy isn’t overwhelmed by what will surely become increasingly commercial.
So, given that these two sites look almost identical, shall I assume they are owned and run by the same person? I shall. Clearly, I missed the announcement/discussion on this new addition.
lots of garbage podcasts….
just like 99.9% of blogs are crapola.
I believe the way MacNN launched iPodDN is called a “Soft Launch” or a “Stealth Launch.” Not a peep from MDN so far.
Hello, MDN? Hello?
They probably want to work out any issues first before making an announcement about iPodDN, if they ever do. I see it’s already on Google News (link) and people seem to be posting from the iPodDN site, so maybe MDN doesn’t need to trumpet it from the rooftops.
James,
Well, the pulsing blue Aqua “Go to iPodDailyNews” and “Go to MacDailyNews” near the top left of both sites are sort of an announcement.
Cool.
Earnest,
If the podcasts were really good, they would be BROADcasting. Instead, those companies that CAN and DO broadcast are taking more of the space originally meant for the little people who really should have some place to put their “garbage”. If they are crowded out of podcasting, where do you recommend they go? Hmm. Never mind.
MW: public
As in, podcasting should stay in the hands of the public, not end up residing in the pockets of the corporations like so much else today (which is not to day that all corporations are bad).
Perhaps Apple will start charging in the future for listing in their directory one day…. Remember iTools??
are getting more listeners because of Apple. This is NOT hurting them. They were NOT better off before.
The top left? The part I immediately shift out of view ’cause the whole page wont fit in my RSS view? oh ..
Sure enough. There it is! I’ll be darned. Congrats, iPDN/MDN
(next thing you know MacObserver will prolly try to copy it)
Look! I can chase my own tail! ahaha
Anyways … Podcasting is just a file distribution method. It only differs from broadcasting in that it delivers in short bursts instead of a steady stream like broadcasting.
As for the indies? They’ll need to be good to be noticed, just like in broadcasting. Casual sharers of casual podcasts won’t have many takers no matter where they are listed. Folks who put lots of effort and polish into their Podcasts will prevail.
If by ‘Indie’ what we really mean is ‘laid back hobbiests .. then yep, it’s gonna be a struggle to achieve listeners, for sure. But then, does that really come as a surprise?
I don’t use the iTunes interface to find PodCasts, merely to subscribe and manage them. Personally, iTunes has a ways to go for good PodCast management on the application side and PodCast browsing on the iTMS side.
Their Music Video feature, while fairly enjoyable, has the worst sort/search function of any Apple-iCation IMO…
MDN, you should have the “via iPodDailyNews.com” links take you to the article the poster was responding to on the sister site, and maybe put it in parenthesis or something…
I agree. I hate that the people who built the podcasts and esablished an open network way before apple came in are pushed to the side for companies who aren’t doing podcasts for fun. They’re doing them because it’s “in”.