Just a thought that now I have this loverly blog that would fit better here than in my cast…
It’s struck me recently that podcasting is splitting into two halves – ones that want to be in radio and see podcasting as a way in to the industry, want sponsorship or to do this as a full-time job, or have been doing online radio for a while and see it as an extension (crap label #1:the wannasoundlikes) and the hobbyists, pirates, artists and don’t cares who are attracted to podcasting because it doesn’t sound like radio (crap silly label #2:the dontwannasoundlikes).
I mean it’s fun to play with idents, station names, mixes and get listeners…just as it’s fun to play being DJ or fun to play making videos or being in a band…we all did something like that as kids right?
But it interesting that the shows that are purely replicating existing radio formats (I’ll name no names – as Morrissey says, ‘Why waste time arguing with people you like?’ is a personal mantra) are the ones that seem to be the most popular. I wonder if it is because they sound like existing radio…they have that instant appeal. Some I susbscribe to, they’re good shows, but personally I’d rather people messed with the format more that replicated Live105 ROCK FM.
Not sour grapes as Radio Clash will never go the fashionable route, or as John at Radio Zoom said in his recent podcast, as soon as you create a label or are button-holed you break out of it…a good ethos and one I subscribe to…as soon as someone gets a handle on me I want to immediately do the opposite too! Yes I’m a contrary bastard…
My take is that Podcasting’s strength is NOT being radio – having voices, people, silliness, swearing, music, shows that never in a million years would be on radio, and it’s accessibility and lo-fi nature appeals to the artist and DIY ethos I have. Professional sheen is actually quite easy to do – it’s a matter of time, techique and hardware, but usually covers lack of content. As a multimedia designer – a content producer and creative – I know the power and danger of things sounding ‘slick’. I’d much rather hear something new and interesting than have people stressing out about what compression ratios and idents they should use.
Do we as a podcasting community want to go there? Just a few thoughts…
Hey there,
This a good topic to discuss. I’ve been watching the whole podcasting scene unfurl with great interest. I agree with the way you categorise the scene at the moment – #1′s vs #2′s but what I find more interesting is the way some of the supposedly ‘alternative’ and ‘independent’ radio shows actually follow a very commercial format (as you suggested). I’ll admit myself that my show is not breaking any new ground when it comes to presentation but I like to think that I put some thought into it rather than filling up my show with music from bands where my mates play in. I was very surprised when I started listening to these podcasts and found out that most of it is merely **unsigned** mainstream commercial rock. That’s not what I believe ‘alternative’ or ‘independent’ music is about. Maybe it’s a cultural thing – most of these shows are from the US and I was brought up on a good staple diet of UK indie. Anyway’s – keep up the good work. I like the podcast and hopefully UK podcasts can hold their own.
MK