In the latest episode of the New Media Show, hosted by Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee, the discussion begins with a light greeting and banter about upcoming events, particularly Todd’s anticipated return to the United States and the podcast movement. They briefly touch on the advertising campaigns Todd has been involved with on PodNews and his challenges with launching GuestMatch.pro, a new platform aimed at connecting podcasters with guests.

As the conversation progresses, they delve into Netflix’s shifting focus towards video content and its impact on traditional media. Todd shares his skepticism about the effectiveness of simple audio being placed on video platforms. At the same time, Rob discusses the implications of this shift, noting how it might reshape the dynamics of podcast talent.

The hosts then spotlight Overcast’s testing of built-in transcript support, congratulating founder Marco for joining Apple Podcast and Pocket Cast in incorporating transcripts. They hope that Overcast will adopt the transcript tag from RSS feeds, thereby increasing accessibility to podcasts.

The episode transitions to a discussion about Spotify, covering its challenges with ad revenue despite overall profit increases. Rob notes the industry’s pivot towards subscription models and raises questions about Spotify’s advertising future.

The conversation shifts towards programmatic ads and how new players in the space, like rss.com, are establishing their presence with low payout thresholds. Todd and Rob discuss the implications of advertising and the financial dynamics of big tech companies managing content platforms.

They also highlight a recent list from Time magazine that featured the 100 best podcasts, expressing disappointment over the omission of notable shows such as “Pod Save America” and “The Joe Rogan Experience.” The hosts speculate on the potential political bias in the selections.

Further conversations explore the estimated boom in the podcast market projected to reach $40 billion by 2025; however, they debate whether this is realistic given the nature of the industry.

The discussion then navigates through the broader podcast landscape, tackling the nuances in monetization paths for creators and the increasing reliance on private platforms like Patreon and Substack.

Todd and Rob reflect on the evolution of audience engagement, particularly with women-led podcasts establishing a significant presence compared to traditional solo-hosted shows, which men often dominate. They discuss the importance of forming direct relationships between creators and their audience, encouraging creators to harness tools for community building and revenue generation outside traditional platforms.

As the episode nears its conclusion, they share personal anecdotes related to travel and technology, with Todd recounting his experiences with AI capabilities in optimizing tasks, such as finding flight deals.

Overall, the episode offers a comprehensive update on the podcasting industry, examining shifts in media consumption, the economic landscape, and providing guidance for creators navigating these changes. The hosts conclude the show with a reminder about their respective social media handles and encourage audience engagement before wrapping up.

The post Overcast quietly tests built-in transcripts! appeared first on New Media Show.

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In this episode of “The New Media Show,” hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee discuss various aspects of independent podcasting, referencing the financial success of the Joe Budden Network, which reportedly makes over a million dollars a month on Patreon plus an equal amount in advertising revenue. Todd expresses his views on what constitutes an independent podcast, questioning whether contracts with platforms like Spotify affect that classification. Rob adds that the definition of independence in podcasting is convoluted, as many shows labeled as independent still utilize a team for production.

The conversation highlights that Joe Budden once had a contract with Spotify but is now considered independent, having left due to insufficient financial support. Todd believes that many independent podcasters can sustain themselves financially through strategic planning and high-quality content, even with a small team.

Furthermore, they discuss monetization strategies, including flexible donation models on platforms such as Patreon & Paypal. Rob shares that he views independent podcasts as those that control their content rights and haven’t given them over to a larger platform. Both hosts agree on the changing landscape, where even well-known podcasters can still consider themselves independent despite having support teams.

As the dialogue progresses, they discuss NPR’s funding cuts and the implications of these changes on independent content creation, highlighting the evolution of podcasting since its inception around twenty years ago. They reflect on how their audience demographics have evolved alongside them, with the younger audience now more prevalent than when they first started.

The latter part of the episode transitions into a discussion about industry events, with a particular focus on the upcoming Podcast Movement conference. Todd shares insights on the scale and focus of the event, noting a shift towards more corporate sponsors and fewer independent participants. They highlight the need for unified metrics in podcasting to simplify advertising buy decisions, citing confusion among ad buyers.

As the conversation draws to a close, Todd and Rob cover the emerging trend of AI-generated voiceovers for ads, discussing potential ethical concerns and implications for audience trust in advertisements. They ultimately invite listeners to share their thoughts and feedback regarding the show and the topics discussed.

The episode concludes with both hosts sharing their contact information and encouraging audience engagement, highlighting the continued evolution and challenges within the podcasting landscape.

The post Independent Podcasts Build Massive Annual Revenue appeared first on New Media Show.

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In this episode titled “Adam Curry Returns and Spotify’s Seven Million Shows,” hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee welcome listeners to the new media show. Rob expresses his excitement about discussing various topics, particularly noting the significant milestone of seven million podcasts, mainly attributed to Spotify (wink)(wink).

As they delve into the numbers, Todd and Rob comment on how many new podcast creators fail to enable RSS feeds at Spotify, which limits their reach to platforms like Apple Podcasts. Todd notes that Spotify’s exclusive setup has led to many underwhelming shows, which the Podcast Index has responded to by halting the listing of new shows due to a high failure rate.

Rob points out the false perception of success that arises from inflated numbers while highlighting the challenges new creators face in achieving real engagement. Todd emphasizes that many shows are simply tests with little commitment behind them. They discuss the implications of free trials offered by hosting services, revealing frustrations with the influx of low-quality or “scammer” shows that clutter platforms.

The conversation shifts to the current climate in podcasting, where the number of new shows has decreased compared to previous years. Rob mentions that while many creators are searching for side hustles, they often have unrealistic expectations regarding making money through podcasting, which requires more effort than they anticipate.

Todd discusses the confusion many users have regarding the relationship between hosting platforms and listening services, citing that many believe Blueberry is a listening platform, which it is not. They also address Spotify’s reluctance to help creators connect with Apple Podcasts. Todd shares his experiences with users who mistakenly reach out to Blueberry for help with Spotify-related issues.

As they continue, Todd reveals internal data suggesting that many podcasts are inactive or have “dead” RSS feeds, while illustrating Apple’s unknown criteria for keeping their catalog updated compared to other platforms. Todd speaks about a rare rejection moment from Apple regarding a show based on audio quality, which Todd describes as surprising.

The episode then takes a turn towards upcoming events in the podcasting space, with mentions of Adam Curry’s participation in Podcast Movement. Todd sadly recalls past sessions that have drawn sparse attendance, emphasizing the need for promotion to attract audiences to such events.

They briefly discuss YouTube’s efforts to crack down on low-quality content generated by AI, contrasting it with the podcasting landscape, and share concerns about the rising dominance of AI in content creation. Todd shares his methods for utilizing AI tools to assist in content preparation, while maintaining that human oversight is crucial.

Towards the conclusion, the hosts touch upon trends in audience creation and how individuals are increasingly perceiving themselves as creators amid a deluge of content. They also address current scams and phishing attempts, urging listeners to be vigilant in protecting their online presence and assets.

Finally, Todd expresses his excitement about the potential new fiber internet service coming to his area, and they share amusing anecdotes about scams encountered online. Rob mentions a recent scam involving fake podcast opportunities, urging caution in distinguishing legitimate offers from fraudulent ones. The episode wraps up with both hosts thanking their audience, sharing their social media handles, and teasing future topics before signing off.

The post Adam Curry Returns and Spotify’s Seven Million Shows – LOL appeared first on New Media Show.

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In this episode of “The New Media Show,” hosted by Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee, the discussion centers on various topics in the podcasting space, with a particular focus on the emerging interest in video podcasting publishing formats.

The episode starts with Todd welcoming listeners and mentioning that Rob has joined him for the episode. They begin by discussing the ongoing evolution in podcasting and how the interest in video podcasts via open RSS feeds is growing. Rob notes that such interest might seem new, but has been simmering for some time.

Todd brings up a behind-the-scenes conversation from a Slack channel regarding HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) and how it is being discussed among industry peers. He mentions his conversations with Apple during a recent podcast event in London, reflecting on how he may have been one of the few advocating for the issues at hand.

As they continue, they touch on the technical challenges surrounding hosting video podcasts, particularly the costs associated with bandwidth and the potential impact of monetization if platforms like Apple start caching video content. Rob expresses that the architecture for programmatic advertising in video podcasts is there but hasn’t been fully implemented.

The hosts reflect on whether they’ve received feedback from their audience regarding the video quality of past shows and review the general appetite for audio versus video content in the industry. They discuss how audience feedback on video quality has been minimal over the years.

Todd shares a recent observation about video podcasts, highlighting the importance of streaming technology versus traditional MP4 formats and emphasizing the need for seamless switching between audio and video. They both agree on the necessity of making video content discoverable, particularly by platforms like Apple.

The conversation shifts towards advertising trends in the podcasting industry. Todd notes concerns over a softening podcast advertising market and declining CPMs, while Rob suggests that this might influence future advertising strategies. They mention how engagement could be affected by shifts from audio to video formats and the importance of retaining a user-friendly experience in the podcasting landscape.

Todd shares insights from PodTrak regarding a decline in podcast rankings and engagement, indicating that advertisers must reevaluate their strategies in light of shifting audience behaviors. The hosts consider how competition from platforms like Spotify and YouTube may drive innovation in video podcasting and how the industry might adapt accordingly.

In discussing the aesthetics of podcasting setups, Todd mentions watching bourbon review channels on YouTube and how they reflect a shift towards more authentic settings. They deliberate on the evolving visual appeal in podcasting, suggesting that traditional studio setups may be on the decline in favor of more natural environments.

Returning to technical and content-related issues, they both express concern about the implications of AI-generated content in the podcasting space, debating the ethics and how misinformation could be flagged in audio content. Todd proposes a need for a system to delineate levels of AI involvement in content creation.

As the episode wraps up, Todd and Rob invite listeners to engage with them by sharing feedback on topics or insights they might wish to discuss about the podcasting industry, emphasizing their openness to candid discussions on advertising trends.

Both hosts conclude by encouraging their audience to subscribe to the podcast, highlighting its availability on various platforms and emphasizing the ongoing relevance of audio and video content creation within podcasting. They sign off, looking forward to reconnecting in the next episode.

The post Additional Video Podcast Format via RSS appeared first on New Media Show.

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In this episode of “The New Media Show,” hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee discuss various developments in the podcasting industry, including the surge of live festivals, the opening of awards voting, and Apple’s 20th anniversary of supporting podcasts.

The episode begins with Todd and Rob checking in with each other, with Todd sharing updates about his studio and the issues he’s experiencing with his podcasting gear. They quickly dive into topics set for discussion, mentioning the podcast awards and podcast festivals. Todd highlights the recent discussions surrounding Apple Podcasts and its 20-year support, reflecting on the nostalgia and excitement, but also expressing a desire for Apple to promote shows that have been around for that long.

Rob agrees, pointing out that newer audiences may not be interested in the legacy shows. They also discuss the growth of live podcasting events, referencing past successes and the potential for more live events, especially in major cities like New York.

As they delve deeper, they express concern about the future of podcast conferences in the U.S. Todd mentions a decline in interest in these events, contrasting it with the vibrant atmosphere at previous gatherings. They reflect on their past experiences at successful live events, speculating that the popularity of podcasting could lead to a resurgence in live, fan-focused events.

The conversation shifts to the upcoming Podcast Movement conference in Dallas, where both hosts will be attending. Todd voices concerns about attendance and the changing nature of these events, suggesting a strategic shift where they will focus more on promoting their new product.

The hosts then discuss the upcoming People’s Choice Podcast Awards, noting slightly lower registration numbers this year but emphasizing the significance of being included on the slate. They encourage podcasters to register and participate, comparing the awards to the increasing number of different award ceremonies emerging in the industry.

The latter part of the episode centers on the debate about video podcasting versus audio. There is a discussion about the merits and challenges of video podcasts, including resource demands, audience engagement, and technical aspects like HLS (HTTP Live Streaming). They touch on HLS technology and the current reluctance of various hosting platforms to adopt it, noting that while video has advantages, audio still holds significant value.

Finally, they conclude with a brief note about Audacy partnering with iHeartRadio to expand its podcast reach, before reiterating the mixed feelings surrounding the current state of the podcasting industry and the need to attract new creators. They emphasize the importance of delivering viable audio content, especially for new podcasters, encouraging a continued focus on growth and sustainability within the medium.

The hosts close the episode, thanking their audience and mentioning their respective contact information, inviting listeners to engage with them further.

The post Podcasting Pulse: Live Festivals Surge, Awards Voting Opens & Apple Turns 20 appeared first on New Media Show.

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