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journal: toy · think
Is Apple really behind podcasting?
is Apple really behind podcasting if it won't put the type of podcast it's been going on about on iTunes?
Note: I am currently on holiday so I will not be able to respond to any comments or emails until I get back on August 9th.
When Apple introduced iTunes 4.9 it had one big new feature, podcast support. Within a week of it’s launch there were over 1 million subscriptions being served and Podcasts were being submitted right, left and centre. The problem is that these were your typical podcasts, either recordings from the radio or people saying what they had to eat that morning and that they were to tired to say anything else. There are very few professional quality podcasts out there.
But the thing is, there are. Not many of you may of heard of the Association of Music Podcasting (AMP) but they are doing big things. 44 podcasts all dedicated to finding legally available independent music for your listening pleasure. These aren’t your average podcast, these are what Apple was talking about. iTunes is the Tivo, these are the radio. Now, granted that they may not be as polished as your average radio show but the fact is that they’re new and different and you can listen to them whenever and where ever you want.
So Apple should be thrilled by this, these are the exact sort of Podcast that it’s looking for. I can hear you rushing to the iTMS already to subscribe to them. The problem is that most of them just aren’t there. Of the 44 AMP podcasts available only 10 have made it to the iTMS. And it’s not for lack of trying, all the podcasters submitted their feeds to iTunes within 24 hours of it’s release. And it’s not like it takes a long time to get put on the iTMS, it takes around 48 hours to get a new podcast on iTunes.
So why is it so hard for these indie music podcasters to get onto iTunes? Maybe Apple thinks that these shows could lead to a loss of profits from the iTMS. After all, why pay 79p for a song legally when you can get it free and just as legally? But people will still buy their music, all this could lead to is people finding out about newer bands. If Apple was to play their cards right they could push these podcasts and then get the rest of the albums available on the iTMS so that listeners can buy the albums later. This way the Podcasters win, the Bands win, Apple wins and music lovers win. But they haven’t done this.
All this begs the question, is Apple really behind podcasting if it won’t put the type of podcast it’s been going on about on iTunes?
More Info
Association of Music Podcasting
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thinkback
Nice conspiracy theory.
Also, you think there is a podcasting bandwagon already? Who are the big names? Microsoft? AOL? Google? A recent poll of Internet users (not the general public, just Internet users) showed that the vast majority do not even know what a podcast is.
One thing that Apple could do to “get behind podcasting” is to provide tools to .Mac members to jump through all of the hoops to create a podcast, like create RSS feeds and host the shows, and provide add-ons to GarageBand like sound effects, royalty-free bumper and background music. They already have provided teh chapter tool that I see some podscasters are using, but a more complete suite of tools and services would really indicate Apple’s seriousness about podcasting.
I haven’t been able to get my podcast approved, either, but I don’t think a conspiracy is as much to blame as good old overwhelming volume. The real problem I have is with your idea that the only podcasts worth listening to play music. I already own all the music I like, 6000 songs and counting. That’s why I bought the iPod, to get away from having to listen to the radio. I actually think the great thing about podcasts is that they don’t have to have any commercial appeal whatsoever. Free to make, free to distribute, free to listen to. What on earth is wrong with that?
“Who are the big names? Microsoft? AOL? Google? “
Media companies are hopping on (Disney/ESPN/ABC, for example).
| Nick | Jul. 29, 2005 | |
| 6:37 pm |
1.
Two things…
1) Apple isn’t behind podcasting at all. They see it as the Next Big Thing and are trying to jump on the bandwagon (or ride the horse pulling the wagon, maybe, since podcasting is just barely catching on).
2) Apple doesn’t run the Music Store for profit, at least not directly. I don’t think they’d care if they made no profit at all on it, since they make so little already. The Music Store is simply a digital accessory for the iPod.
In any case, I don’t know why Apple doesn’t promote the podcasts you’ve been talking about better. Maybe the people who approve podcasts don’t know what they’re doing, or have weird guidelines for approval. Or perhaps they can’t stream those podcasts about music for legal reasons. Knowing Apple, though, I’m sure there’s an explanation that makes sense, even if it’s a crappy one.