Melrose Podcasts’ Post

Podcasts have become rather special 🎧 💭 Imagine a world in which you download a podcast episode and it’s just an audio file that you can save anywhere and play at any time. You can collect your favorite episodes and listen to them even without internet, long after any Spotify or Apple are gone. 💭 In this world, some ads may be read by the podcast host, ads that are not tracking you but simply resemble the subject of the podcast. You can skip them. You can also regularly give some money to the podcast and get access to a feed without ads. 💭 Podcasts in this world can work with all kinds of apps on phones and desktops since they are based on common standards that offer value to audiences. Namely, they can have chapter markers with titles and images giving you a nice overview of an episode and allowing you to skip around it. Surprisingly, this world is still our world in a time when people may even prefer getting tracked by ads and not owning any of their media. It’s come to a point where you can pay a subscription, still get ads, and have nothing to keep at the end. Then how do the classic podcasts still exist today? 🔍 People who are aware of the open standards that can support podcasting get real value from them. It’s like radio but it works offline and you’re in full control of what you’re listening to. And it’s easy to use. 🔍 Content demands stay mostly the same as the tech gets better. Most independent surviving podcasts stick to audio because video still makes everything more expensive while tech advancements have actually made audio easier to edit, process, and host. 🔍 Monetization outside of ads kind of works. Bitcoin hasn’t yet fulfilled the promise of censorship-resistant micro-transactions, but there’s still progress and real cases where it works. On the frontier of what’s possible, there are podcasts where everyone who contributes gets paid in real-time as people listen. Or people just use Patreon. In this value-for-value relationship between creators and their audiences, podcasting is like an old medium that is made new again, it’s newspapers for the people. You own that piece of media, you can give it away, scratch on it, add it to your collection... But now the production is also decentralized, podcasting is easy enough for anyone who listens to also try and record some of their own. That’s how the old way of the internet still happens through podcasts. Looking for some starting recommendations? Check out the rest of this article on my blog (link in my profile). There I can link you to some of the best podcast players and some podcasts that leverage all the latest standards. You can also just subscribe to my blog and skip all of this closed social media fluff 👍

As a pretty staunch audio purist podcaster, this is a really interesting read from James Cridland It’s good to know the downsides, from a technical POV, of going all in on video podcasts. As a voice coach, I also know the downsides from a voice perspective for the hosts, too. The camera, and additional technical stuff that goes with capturing video, makes a lot of speakers much more physically tense. And tension is a right fecker when it comes to voice! Less expression, more word trip ups, less free flowing breath… Basically talking freely is harder when you’re tense. It can be hard enough to find your vocal flow as a podcast host with audio only, let alone when you add the layer of also being an in-vision presenter too. Funnily enough, I did an in-person video podcast as a guest last week. And even in that beautiful studio, with lovely team and generous host, there was a part of me that was thinking about how I looked, what camera was on me, my posture didn’t feel right for speech, was I sipping too much water?! I definitely found it harder to be fully present. And I’m an experienced speaker both in audio only and via live/pre-recorded video online. And I coach people to be better on mic presenters in all kinds of situations. So know all the tricks… Imagine what that’s like for a newbie indie who wants to share their amazing ideas or business via a podcast but now has to also be a video editor?! Or a corporate podcast host who is stepping up to host their company podcast and has to overnight go from being exceptional at their job to exceptional at their job whilst also presenting a TV show… Surely the most important thing is connecting to your message, reaching and impacting your listener? For many, audio is the easiest way to do this from a voice POV. PLUS, it feels like another thing that might just create a barrier for people wanting to get started which is another step for podcasting moving away from this epic, grassroots, anyone can have a go…, to the huge commercially driven machine it’s become. Which makes me a wee bit sad. A tiny bit of what’s in my head at the moment anyway… Feels like this conversation is gonna be around for a while! I’m all here for chats about it. What do you think? Audio or video? Or what do you DO?! Audio or video… Let me know.

Audio and Podcasts: Lessons from Behind the Mic After years in media and entertainment, I've discovered the unique power of podcasting to build authentic connections. There's something special about being in your listeners' ears that creates an intimacy you can't replicate in other mediums. Here are key lessons from my podcasting experience at Paramount: - The biggest surprise? You can't just repurpose TV content. I learned this firsthand when early attempts to simply record show audio fell flat. Podcasts demand their own creative approach – something I didn't fully grasp until I started working with the amazing Paramount podcast team. - My most valuable lesson was acknowledging what I didn't know. While I brought the brand vision and business strategy, our audio producers and engineers taught me the craft of audio storytelling. Their expertise transformed how I thought about sound as a medium. For those considering podcasting, here's what I wish I'd known: - Niche is powerful: Some of the most successful series aren’t broad-appeal shows, but focused deep-dives into specific topics. I've seen small, dedicated audiences drive more engagement than larger, passive ones. - Production integration is key: We found success by planning audio capture alongside video production. This approach created assets for multiple platforms without ballooning costs – a strategy that proved especially valuable for our limited series. - Build for your audience, not your ego: Working with our podcast team taught me that successful shows start with a clear understanding of who's listening and why. The metrics will follow if you serve your audience well. What I'm most proud of is how we've used podcasting to extend our storytelling capabilities. Whether it's leaning into celebrity interviews or exploring behind-the-scenes stories, audio has allowed us to connect with our audience in ways traditional media never could. Looking ahead, I'm excited about the potential of niche, limited-run series. The intimate nature of podcasting makes it perfect for exploring focused topics with passionate audiences. I’m also interested in elevating podcasts to streaming platforms by adding video to existing productions and tapping into new audiences. 🎧 From my experience: Focus less on chasing download numbers and more on creating content that serves your specific audience. The metrics (like that crucial 5-10K downloads per episode to attract advertisers and sponsors) come naturally when you nail the fundamentals. What podcasts are you currently enjoying? What niche podcast would you launch if you had a podcast support team behind you? #AudioContent #MediaStrategy #PodcastingTips #EntertainmentIndustry

Google Podcasts, the once popular app for on-demand audio content, officially shut down on April 2nd, 2024! Google Podcasts launched in 2016, capitalizing on the burgeoning podcasting scene. The initial idea behind the platform was to provide an open and accessible way for users to discover and listen to podcasts. Google, already a leader in search and content discovery, aimed to leverage its strengths to become a central hub for podcasts. This aligned perfectly with Google's strategy at the time, which focused on organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible. Google Podcasts offered a user-friendly platform that aggregated podcasts from various sources, making it easier for users to find and listen to their favorites. Over 500 million installs globally later, Google Podcasts undeniably achieved its goal of becoming a popular platform for podcast consumption. However, the landscape of audio entertainment continued to evolve. Google's decision to shut down Google Podcasts and merge it with YouTube Music in April 2024 reflects a strategic shift in their approach to the audio entertainment market and providing a more unified audio experience. It capitalizes on YouTube's existing strengths and aims to create a more competitive offering in the growing podcasting market. However, successful execution requires addressing user concerns and ensuring a smooth transition for Google Podcasts users. As a Product Manager, what would be your key takeaways from the Google Podcast merger with YouTube Music? 1. Evolving User Needs: Catering to evolving user behaviors is crucial. The rise of video podcasts might have indicated a shift in how users consume audio content. 2. Streamlined User Experience: Simplifying user journeys is key. Merging services can potentially enhance user experience by offering everything in one place. 3. Adaptability is Essential: The market is dynamic, and product offerings need to adapt. Google recognized an opportunity to leverage YouTube's existing infrastructure and user base. While some users might miss the dedicated experience of Google Podcasts, the future of audio entertainment seems to be converging. This decision highlights the importance of constant evaluation, user-centricity, and the ability to adapt to a changing landscape. What do you think of this decision of Google? #productmanagement #GooglePodcasts #YouTubeMusic

Apple Podcasts vs. Spotify: Benefits for Entrepreneurs?! 🍏The choice between Apple Podcasts and Spotify can significantly impact an entrepreneur's podcasting journey. While Spotify has made significant strides in the podcasting world, Apple Podcasts still holds a strong position with unique advantages. Benefits of Staying on Apple Podcasts 🍎 Dedicated Podcast Audience: Apple users are typically more engaged with podcasts, making it a platform with a highly dedicated listenership. This can translate to better engagement and loyalty for your show. 🍏 Discoverability: Despite Spotify's efforts, Apple Podcasts still boasts a robust discovery algorithm. This can help your podcast get found by new listeners who are actively searching for content. 🍎 Strong Brand Association: Apple is synonymous with quality and innovation. Being on Apple Podcasts can enhance your podcast's perceived value and credibility. 🍏 Seamless Integration: For entrepreneurs with other Apple products, integration with Apple Podcasts can be smoother, making it easier for listeners to subscribe and consume your content. 🍎 Potential for Higher Earnings: While monetization models vary, some podcasters report higher earnings on Apple Podcasts compared to other platforms. Key Considerations 🍏 Target Audience: If your target audience is primarily younger and tech-savvy, Spotify might be a better fit. However, if you're targeting a broader audience, Apple Podcasts could be the way to go. 🍎 Platform Evolution: Both platforms are constantly evolving. It's essential to stay updated on the latest features and benefits offered by each. 🍏 Diversification: Ultimately, the best strategy might be to distribute your podcast on both platforms to reach a wider audience. While Spotify has made significant inroads, Apple Podcasts remains a strong contender for entrepreneurs looking to build a successful podcast. By understanding the unique advantages of each platform, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your podcasting goals. My name is Stephane M. I help busy entrepreneurs to make it. Would you like to explore specific monetization strategies or audience targeting on Apple Podcasts?

Google Podcasts is dead. It has been dying for months, since Google announced last fall that it was killing its dedicated podcast app in order to focus all its podcasting efforts on YouTube Music. This is a bad idea and a big downgrade, and I’d be more mad if only I were more surprised.  The Podcasts app is just the latest product to go through a process I’ve come to call The Google Cycle. It always goes the same way: the company launches a new service with grandiose language about how this fits its mission of organizing and making accessible the world’s information, quickly updates it with a couple of neat features, immediately seems to forget it exists, eventually launches a competitor out of some other part of the company, obviously begins to deprecate it and shift focus to the new competitor, and then, years later, finally shuts it down for real. The Google Graveyard is full of apps like Reader, Duo, Inbox, Allo, Wallet, and countless others that have been through The Google Cycle, and it feels just as bad every time. Google says it’s simply responding to the market and that YouTube is a much more popular place for people to find podcasts than Google Podcasts. There is certainly evidence to support that: in its shutdown notice in September, Google cited a statistic from Edison Research that said about 23 percent of podcast listeners in the US say YouTube is their primary podcast platform, compared to 4 percent for Google Podcasts. What’s most frustrating in this case, though, is that Google had an opportunity to do something genuinely great in podcasts. Podcast discovery is a problem, and so is finding information buried inside hours of audio. What Google should have done was find ways to actually connect its services. When you discover a podcast you love in YouTube Shorts, it should have offered you a one-tap way to subscribe to that podcast in Google Podcasts. It should have made transcripts searchable in Google so you can find the moments and insights you’re looking for right in the audio.  Google had an opportunity to do something genuinely great in podcasts Google could have owned that whole experience, helping turn a bunch of casual scrollers into listening obsessives — and maybe figured out how to monetize it for everyone. But that would involve the kind of cross-platform, coordinated work that you can’t really expect from the company behind Google’s Many Competing Messaging Apps and Convoluted Reminders Systems. Google has been working on podcasts in various shapes and forms since 2016 and has never even come close to putting all the pieces together. There’s a very simple, short-sighted logic at work in the move to YouTube Music. YouTube is a video platform; video ads make YouTube lots of money; Google Podcasts doesn’t have video ads. So you can imagine the meeting where someone’s like if we can get everyone to watch podcasts on YouTube, they’ll watch more videos, and we can show more

Being a top 10 podcast has always been a tough game, but some podcasters are quite literally gaming the system. Nine of America’s top 50 podcasts, including Call Her Daddy, gave mobile game users points for interacting with their content, according to a Bloomberg report Friday. Rebecca Hall on Filming Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Marketing company MowPod, used by several top podcasts, promises a “significantly elevated position in the Apple Podcasts Charts” through a tool it doesn’t disclose publicly. The tool advertises to mobile game users, telling them to “Follow Call Her Daddy on Apple Podcasts” to earn tokens. If users click through, they’re directed to a landing page for the show, where they can subscribe or listen to recent episodes. MowPod CEO Mike Wiston told Bloomberg that users just have to reach the landing page to receive tokens, not actually follow. However, the tool is proving very effective at boosting follower counts, downloads, and listening time. Wiston says customers pay $5 per new follower, with a required minimum spend of $5,000. In podcasting, top charts are everything. Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy just launched on Apple Podcasts in January and is now the number two show on the platform as of Friday. Cooper was recently profiled in The New York Times about building a media company around her brand. The profile noted that Cooper’s podcast recently slipped in Spotify’s top charts, falling from two to 23. Call Her Daddy had even fallen behind a show Alex Cooper helped create with her new media company, Hot Mess With Alix Earle. In the profile, Cooper simply brushed it off, explaining that “charts fluctuate.” Bloomberg identified nine podcasts on America’s Top 50 list using MowPod’s secret service recently, including Call Her Daddy, as well as podcasts from Netflix, iHeartMedia, Wondery, and Lemonada. The report noted 37 podcasts in total using the boosting service. So top podcasters are essentially buying gamer rewards for following and engaging with their shows, and it comes at a premium price. However, Winston noted that 60-80% of people who become followers through its in-game ads stay on after a campaign. At least 25% of them stick around as a long-term listener. The Top Podcast charts are an incredibly exclusive group that’s very hard to break into. Many of the top 10 shows on Apple Podcasts and Spotify have been there for the last 5 years. There are rarely new podcasts breaking the list, and when they do, it’s likely because they have a lot of funding. MowPod’s tactics are not unique. There are plenty of marketing tools that allow rich podcasters to buy their way to followers. However, it’s a particularly egregious example of why podcasting is such a stagnant industry, with success highly concentrated at the top. Source link By Nakisisa George

The Future of Audio Content: Spotify Presents Global Podcast Trends 💡📈 Spotify presents the future of podcasting with the latest global Podcast Trends Tour report. This interactive exploration of current trends in podcasting provides exciting insights and shows how people around the world are consuming podcasts. Some interesting results at a glance: 🤩 Podfluencers - Podcast hosts build trust with their listeners and have a big influence on purchasing decisions. - 55 percent of Gen Z said they like podcast content more when they follow someone on social media and listen to their podcast. - Nearly half (over 45 percent) of Generation Z and Millennials are more likely to be interested in ads and products if they are promoted by their favorite podcast hosts. 📺 Video podcasts - Podcasts are no longer just for listening. The average daily streams of video podcasts on Spotify have increased by more than 35 percent worldwide. - Worldwide, over 60 percent more video episodes and over 75 percent more video shows (podcasts with at least one video episode) were published on Spotify compared to the previous year. 🤯 Podcast Ads are booming - Podcast advertising is growing in popularity and has become a proven and effective format for driving business results. More than 60 percent of study participants have taken an action after listening to a commercial during a podcast broadcast, such as searching for and purchasing the product. - Podcast advertising grew faster than music advertising revenue last year, and the Spotify Audience Network continues to see positive growth in participating publishers and shows in 2024. Take the full tour through the results here: https://lnkd.in/dqvG43qq

There's a lot to be said about audio only podcasts vs. video podcasts. This is how I see it. You’re either video-focused and you happen to be releasing audio. Or you are audio-focused and you happen to be releasing video. In my opinion, the companies that want to leverage the benefits of podcasting are better off if they focus on audio first and make a video component from that. Why? Because when you take video and try to turn it into an audio-only podcast, it's somewhat disconnected from the audience. You miss out on the biggest difference between podcasting and other mediums: intimacy. For example, imagine you’re hosting a video podcast, and you pick up your water bottle and start talking about it. The people watching the video will instantly understand, while the people only listening to the audio all of a sudden are slightly removed. This type of interaction often happens on video podcasts, and it starts to negate that relationship and intimacy that audio podcasts are known for. At my agency, Come Alive, we lean heavily into audio-first podcasting. And this might seem counterintuitive for some people who think video is the future. I’m ok with that. I think there is still room to grow, expand, and play with an audio-only medium. These are two different games, and the clients that we work with reach out to us because they are looking for the specific benefits of building trust and intimacy that come with audio-only formats. What’s your take on video vs. audio-only podcasts? Drop your comments below.

PodKastr Commercial-Create POWERFUL PODCASTS In 5 MIN using World's A.I-Powered 6 in 1 Engine ## PodKastr: Craft Powerful Podcasts in Minutes with AI Struggling to create high-quality podcasts? PodKastr offers a revolutionary solution with its world's first A.I-powered 6-in-1 engine. This commercial highlights how PodKastr can help you: • Generate Podcast Ideas & Script: Brainstorm captivating topics and craft compelling scripts using AI assistance. • Record Intros & Outros: Leverage AI to create professional-sounding intros and outros, adding polish to your podcast. • Edit & Enhance Audio: Eliminate background noise, adjust sound levels, and enhance your podcast's overall audio quality with AI tools. • Find Royalty-Free Music & Sound Effects: Access a library of royalty-free music and sound effects to elevate your podcast's atmosphere. • Distribute to Platforms: Simplify distribution by publishing your podcast directly to major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Benefits of PodKastr: • Fast & Efficient Podcast Creation: Go from concept to publication in minutes with AI assistance. • Professional Polish: Enhance your podcast's production value with AI-powered editing and audio tools. • Simplified Workflow: Streamline the entire podcast creation process under one roof. • Ideal for Beginners & Professionals: No prior experience needed, yet powerful enough for seasoned podcasters. Consider These Points: • Pricing: The commercial doesn't mention pricing, so research potential subscription fees. • AI Capabilities: While AI helps in various aspects, explore the level of creative control you have over the script and audio editing. • Learning Curve: Mastering the software might take some practice, even with an intuitive interface. Overall, PodKastr appears to be a promising tool for creating podcasts efficiently. If you're a podcaster looking to streamline your workflow and leverage AI for content creation and editing, PodKastr is worth considering. However, be sure to research pricing and explore the software's capabilities to determine if it aligns with your needs. Content Link: https://lnkd.in/dEjPeb-c