Lest I was tempted to comment on this piece by Frank Barnako (how shocking, a big media guy is gleeful that iTunes is focussing on big media podcasts), Steve Gillmor is already on the case. Thank you Steve, for removing that temptation and doing it far more entertainingly than I could.
Let me just add that it truly represents a glorious failure of imagination that these guys have no other way of looking at this phenomenon than through the lens of numbers obsessed bean-counters. Dear God, Al Franken has more listeners than me! Holy shit, the New York Times have more readers than this blog! Guess it is time to fold the tents of citizen media because what reason could there be to express oneself other than to be #1 in some ranking?
Well said, Dave. Big business is bound and determined not to be left behind on this one…and they jumped in with both feet. “I know, we’ll give the “masses” what we want them to have and they will pay $$$ for it.” Sounds like a Wal-Mart mentality. I guess that means all of the indie musicians will soon be signed with Apple, too.
Here, here Mr. Slusher. Very well put indeed. Which polling agency did you hire to determine times readership was larger than yours? 🙂
I understand your anger Dave, as you put it he missed the point. There is room for the big boys and the indies in podcasting and there will be millions of people downloading both. As they attract more listeners it will be that much easier to switch to whatever. People will figure out there are other sources and lists of podcasts. Personally I like some of the BBC podcasts and NPR too. If there is competition it’s going to be from the indies themselves because there are going to be so many podcasts as there are personal web pages.
When I go to a site and there are 3,000 podcasts I don’t know how to find a new podcast I am interested in. I can not download them all. I have a slow DSL. You ought to be able to download the first 2 minutes in low fi to see if you like it before downloading it and webmasters need to make it easier to find shows that listeners would be personally interested in.
It’s more difficult to make a podcast than a blog. I hope you never go below your minimum of 50 listeners. If you keep podcasting no matter what I will keep downloading it.
I’m so embarrased that I thought I could stand next to the pros… No I’m not!
Gawd! You mean to say someone else has come out with an observation contrary to the “citizen media” groupthink again?
The Next Big Thing does not like stinkers in the room, that’s for sure. When are these anti-populists going to get it that the Big Media message doesn’t count? When are they going to see that vanity casters can triangulate truth more adeptly by discouraging contrarian points of view?
Ya got Trouble right here in iRiver City!
Mothers of iRiver City!
Heed the warning before it’s too late!
Watch for the tell-tale sign of corruption!
The moment your son leaves the house,
Does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee?
Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger?
A dime novel hidden in the corn crib?
Is he starting to memorize jokes from Capt.
Billy’s Whiz Bang?
Are certain words creeping into his conversation?
Words like ‘CBS?”
And ‘Meet The Press?”
Well, if so my friends,
Ya got trouble,
Right here in iRiver City!
Trouble. And that starts with “T” and rhymes with “B” and that stands for Barnako!
I truely love the wringing of hands and the gnashing of teeth.
“While [iTunes]is the biggest and best-known podcast directory and one-stop subscription stop on the Web…”
Did Barnako bother to take his head out of his ass before writing this article? Regardless if he’s quoting another source or not, Barnako is apparently writing about something he knows NOTHING about, and is taking glee in watching smaller podcasters go down in flames.
iTunes is not a “make-or-break” podcast resource. It’s just another way of getting people to find your podcast, same as any other service. While I believe that iTunes will (eventually) be good for podcasting, it is currently becoming the worst thing to happen to podcasting since the invention of the popularity contest of Podcast Alley. Articles (and so-called journalists like Barnako)like this one aren’t helping. :^\
Tee, I don’t even agree with the “going down in flames” part. No one is reporting drops in subscriptions, they just aren’t represented on the front page of iTunes’ list. Who cares?
Devoe, at least now when you troll you are making the effort to be clever. I guess that’s something.
Hmmm…I think my “down in flames” bit came out wrong. Sincerest apologies, everyone. I meant to say that Barnako, in his article, seemed to take personal satisfaction in watching indie podcasts lose their spotlight to larger, corporate-sponsored podcasts.
What Barnako relishes in the “overshadowing of the indie podcast” just shows how he’s completely ignorant of the podcasting movement. iTunes is just another methods of distribution, not the “one and only way” or “deciding factor of success” that Barnako is making iTunes to be. I use iTunes, I love iTunes, but I prefer iPodderX as my podcasting client. I’m listed on iTunes, and for me, that is an accomplishment. That’s the way I regard it. Chances are I will never be featured alongside Curry, Dawn and Drew, and others…
…but as you said Dave, who cares? I’m proud to be on iTunes. I’m also proud to be on Podcast Alley and Podcast Pickle. Where I take satisfaction is not in my listings or rankings, but in 1) the product I create and 2) the feedback I get from listeners who genuinely enjoy my podcast. People listen,a nd they’re entertained. That’s all I can ask from my listeners.
Thanks for calling me on this, Dave. (Something I know you’ll be doing a lot of when you work with me and Evo!)
It doesn’t take cleverness to see which way the wind is blowing. If Podcasting can’t take a few shots across the bow without freaking out, it shouldn’t be in the game. Adam Curry has a great take on this on DCS 7-19.
I’m truly sorry you think I’m trolling your gig. Let me know when my posts challenge your intelligence, offend someone with disrespect or engage in unwarranted provocation. I’ll be the first to remove myself from the comments.