In late 2014, podcasting had its first huge hit. Serial, the wildly popular spin-off of the notable This American Life podcast, had the entire nation hypnotized. Over twelve episodes, host Sarah Koenig looked into a long-closed murder investigation and asked the question, “What if they put away an innocent man?” The podcast was the fasted podcast to reach 5 million downloads, and it reached well over 40 million downloads before Christmas.
For many Americans, this was their first podcast, and it’s likely that they downloaded additional podcasts in 2015 and will continue to do so in 2016. In fact, podcast downloads are rising 25 percent year-over-year, according to the New York Times. And 39 million people say they’ve listened to a podcast in the last past month? What does all this mean? That podcasting is more than a trend—it’s a form of media that’s worth paying close attention to.
But what if you are not that into podcasting? you can pick your favorite music and audio app right here
Serial isn’t the only out podcast out there that has captured the attention of the masses. Reality stars, scientists, writers, and even professional wrestlers have regular podcasts that have rabid fans and the download statistics to prove that they’re definitely on to something.
So is podcasting the future of storytelling and music? There’s reason to believe that it is.
The great thing about podcasts is that they are relatively easy to make. While a video series takes time and talent to get right, a podcast is often just a conversation. Someone like author Bret Easton Ellis or Marc Maron can easily find people to interview. With a bit of sound editing, they’ll have an episode ready to go in no time.
The good thing about podcasts is that they’re easy to consume. It’s almost impossible to watch a video will jogging through the park or driving to work, but a podcast is easy to listen to and follow almost anywhere. And because they are so easy to make, it’s easy to find podcasts that cover specific interests, from quilting to screenwriting.
When it comes to music, podcasts offer something that old school rock magazines like Rolling Stone and Spin never could—the chance to actually listen to the music being discussed or reviewed. While the web versions of these publications often offer audio snippets of the songs they’re discussing, music podcasts are essentially radio version of these kinds of publications, offering both new music and conversations about trends and news.
Podcasts are something that a small business owner or freelancer can use to their benefit to find new customers and expand their network. For instance, if you’re a graphic designer who has an interesting perspective on your craft, why not start a podcast? It’s more modern than a blog and has the potential to connect you with an entirely new audience. It’s also a great forum for people to get to know you and your personality. Think about it—podcasting gives you the opportunity to let people hear your voice and what you want to do.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/18/showbiz/feat-serial-podcast-btn/
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/10/whats-behind-the-great-podcast-renaissance.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/business/media/serial-podcastings-first-breakout-hit-sets-stage-for-more.html?_r=0