How the smaller podcasters can unite
I have a fear for 2007 that I really do hope does not come true. Podcasting was all about bringing the ability of braodcasting to the masses, it is about niche areas, “amateur” set ups, ordinary people living an extraordinary dream. What I think would be sad, would be if the corporations and the big names dominate the directories. This way it becomes a self fulfulling prophecy of success as it gets harder for new or smaller podcasts to be found, to grow. I don’t subscibe to any larger ones with a couple of exceptions…I like to find the gems out there…the raw, unadultered passion for their subject. So how do we ensure that the essence of podcasting remains..accessibility to producing, and accessibility to new podcasts. So how can we do it?
1) Subscribe to one new podcast a week and support the smaller podcasters.
2) Blog about the great ones you find.
3) When giving an MP3 player, mobile as a present preload with some smaller great podcasts.
4) Ring in with comments to the smaller players so they don’t pod fade.
5) Digg them, or vote at Podcast Alley…the larger ones will always be top - why not vote for some of the smaller ones?
Seth Godin said small is the next big……and I firmly believe in that. I love the smaller shows because you can tell that they don’t do it for the money, don’t do it for celebrity just pure passion for their subject.
Finally, I am not against the bigger ones, not against celebrity…not at all, podcasting need stars. I have so much respect for them. I just want to ensure that as consumers we don’t lose the sight of the gems out there.
January 7th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Maybe podcasters should also take a look at what’s happened with other “smaller” forms of media. As the publisher of a web anthology, I joined the Council for Literary Magazines and Presses and other organizations which cater to the needs of the small press (who have similar problems in competing with the Big Dog publishers) and the unity and leadership of that group has been phenomenal. Perhaps small podcasting might need its own umbrella org or cooperative to keep resources accessible, provide support to new podcasters and strengthen the union of small podcasters that already exists?
Also, taking a look at other forms of smaller media can be a good lesson in what not to do. Food for thought,
TKS
January 9th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I agree - if you look at my post today, I have joined with another podcaster to carry on bringing podcasters to the masses under a smaller umbrella. Great comment