Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
This forum is in permanent archive mode. Our new active community can be found here.
The Realities of Podcasting.
Reality # 1. Almost no one listens to podcasts.
Podcasting offers a potential world wide audience yet even the best only have listeners in the 200 – 300k range. Extra Life Radio, a big one among the podcasters-with-jobs category hits about 10k a month. Another Scott Johnson podcast, The Instance, has about 50k a month.
Reality # 2. Almost no one makes money in podcasting.
Even Leo Laporte doesn't get rich from podcasting. Plus, he also has a traditional radio show. Podcasters with full time jobs have it worse. For example, ELR, The Instance and his website and art work don't provide Scott Johnson with enough money to support himself. He needs his full time job. Most people, Rym and Scott included, podcast for free.
Reality # 3. Listeners are fickle.
Recently some vocal folks here are upset because GN doesn't match their expectations anymore. The truth is that people come and go all the time. It is really the nature of how people consume content. Are you listening to all the same shows that you listened to when you first started consuming podcasts?
In the face of these realities, you might wonder why a person would bother podcasting. Why would a person put so much effort into generating content under these circumstances? I can only answer for myself when I say: “because it is fun.†The cool part about podcasting is that you can express yourself to an audience for a fairly small amount of money compared to what it costs to disseminate your creativity in other mediums. When it stops being fun, people stop doing it.
In the end, Rym and Scott are going to do what they want. It's their show. If people don't like it, well, they don't have to listen. Criticism is important as feedback to an artist, but ultimately the artist is going to pursue art as he or she prefers, especially if the artist isn't getting paid to do it. Listeners should express feedback to a podcaster, but then move on when the show stops being what the listener wants. In any event, it is just not a big deal.
Podcasting offers a potential world wide audience yet even the best only have listeners in the 200 – 300k range. Extra Life Radio, a big one among the podcasters-with-jobs category hits about 10k a month. Another Scott Johnson podcast, The Instance, has about 50k a month.
Reality # 2. Almost no one makes money in podcasting.
Even Leo Laporte doesn't get rich from podcasting. Plus, he also has a traditional radio show. Podcasters with full time jobs have it worse. For example, ELR, The Instance and his website and art work don't provide Scott Johnson with enough money to support himself. He needs his full time job. Most people, Rym and Scott included, podcast for free.
Reality # 3. Listeners are fickle.
Recently some vocal folks here are upset because GN doesn't match their expectations anymore. The truth is that people come and go all the time. It is really the nature of how people consume content. Are you listening to all the same shows that you listened to when you first started consuming podcasts?
In the face of these realities, you might wonder why a person would bother podcasting. Why would a person put so much effort into generating content under these circumstances? I can only answer for myself when I say: “because it is fun.†The cool part about podcasting is that you can express yourself to an audience for a fairly small amount of money compared to what it costs to disseminate your creativity in other mediums. When it stops being fun, people stop doing it.
In the end, Rym and Scott are going to do what they want. It's their show. If people don't like it, well, they don't have to listen. Criticism is important as feedback to an artist, but ultimately the artist is going to pursue art as he or she prefers, especially if the artist isn't getting paid to do it. Listeners should express feedback to a podcaster, but then move on when the show stops being what the listener wants. In any event, it is just not a big deal.
Comments
You know, it's a bit like web-comics. When I was in high school I drew comics for myself first and for my readers second. I just liked drawing my ideas, and got a kick out of it when other people liked them too. That's the best.
Can podcasts ever be more than just an extra or hobby for the people who make them?
Obligatory Link to Aforementioned Podcast