I learned from TechCrunch yesterday that Yahoo! Podcasts is shutting down. There’s a notice at the top of their site that says, "Yahoo! apologizes deeply, but we will be closing down the Podcasts site on Oct. 31, 2007." Read/WriteWeb also did an article recently questioning whether or not podcasting will survive. Makes me wonder…is podcasting dead?
I have to admit, it’s been months since I’ve listened to a podcast other than the one Perry and I did for Catalyst. I have a number of subscriptions to podcasts, and iTunes has stopped updating all of them.
I know there are a couple of guys on my team that listen to several different podcasts on a regular basis. There are also a lot of folks that download NewSpring’s messages each week through podcasts. Maybe my experience is unusual.
Here are some challenges I find with the technology:
- You can’t scan podcasts. Unlike blog posts, I can’t scan through a podcast and decide whether or not I’d like to listen to more. I’m sure there are nuggets of great information out there. I’m just not catching them because there’s not a way for me to preview the content and then skip to the section that might capture my attention.
- They’re not designed for my lifestyle. I just can’t find time to sit down and listen to a podcast, and my life doesn’t really allow me opportunities to listen to a podcast while I’m doing something else.
- I’d rather read or watch a video than listen to something. That could be an indication of my learning style. And, probably explains why I’ve struggled in the past with connecting with some speakers.
- The quality of a lot of podcasts is very poor. That includes the audio quality, production and content. A lot of podcasters don’t seem to be prepared. They end up rambling. Then, in my opinion, the podcast ends up being too long.
- They aren’t viral. Because podcasts are typically much longer than blog posts or video clips, they don’t naturally lend themselves to viral distribution. Some podcasts develop a steady audience, but I can’t remember the last time I ever read on someone’s blog, "You need to go listen to so-and-so’s podcast on such-and-such topic."
So, what’s your experience? Have you ever tried subscribing to podcasts? Are you still listening to podcasts as much as you did before? Or, have you opted out of this technology?
I don’t listen to them as often either. I have plenty of time while driving to listen to podcasts, BUT! I feel like I should pray or something. I feel guilty for being constantly plugged in.
Therefore, although I enjoy the RELEVANT Podcast (and, of course, the Catalyst Podcast where I learned about this blog), I just haven’t taken time to listen to it.
I agree with you. The only podcasts I bother to listen to anymore are sermons. So there must be a way to make podcasts viral. Maybe a way to start is to make them no longer than 10-15 minutes if its not a sermon
I never could get into podcasts. The ones that might be interesting require that I can actually pay attention to them and that requires some free time to listen. I tried listening while working and was either distracted from work or kept “rewinding” to try to catch a snippet that caught my attention as I was working.
I can read or skim through a blog post quickly to see if there’s something important. I can sort of set a podcast to play at a faster speed, but just can’t get that information out of a podcast other than by listening to the entire thing.
I tend to avoid video posts as well – same reason that I can’t easily get to a point where something is of interest to me and they’re worse than podcasts because I typically have to watch as well as listen in order to benefit.
I don’t have problems with quality as I’ll listen to low bitrate tracks for other types of audio (radio dramas come to mind). I don’t know how popular podcasting was to start with so I really can’t say if it’s dead or not. For me, it never really was.
Tony,
I have wondered similar thoughts myself. I surveyed my Church Relevance readers in June and discovered that on average they subscribe to 6 podcasts but read 28 blogs.
Blogs are far more user-friendly.
I still listen to and love podcasts. However, my “podcast digestion” over the past few years has changed. My favorite ones are KCRW’s Martini Shot, 43folders.com’s, and the Echoes interviews podcast.
What do these have in common? They’re updated 1-2 times a week, and they’re all about 2 to 10 minutes in length. Also, they are (nearly) all high quality studio podcasts.
I either listen to them before bed, while I run, or (and this is my favorite) while I grocery shop. I’ll spend that hour in a distraction free place. Of course, I often laugh out loud and get some strange looks.
PS – I forgot to mention Ira Glass’s “This American Life” is now podcasting. It’s an hour which is a bit long, but the production is excellent and the stories compelling.
For a while there I was much like what Tony is describing. Tons of podcast subscriptions that were going unlistened to.
I started getting up an hour earlier in the mornings and going for a bike ride and using that time to exercise while listening to one podcast a day. I’ve pretty much narrowed my subscriptions down to a few things and stay pretty on top of listening to them now.
For me personally, I would have to disagree. I love podcasts. I listen to them in my car on my iPod. They are super practical cause I just subscribe, sync my iPod and hit the road. I listen to lots of different churches, ministries, interviews. I love podcasting.
I would definitely be on the other end of the spectrum.
I have about 25-30 podcasts that I listen to regularly, from radio shows, sermons, instructional podcasts to the long-since abandoned Simply Strategic Show.
I have seen myself become more intentional about which podcasts I subscribe to. So in regards to QUALITY – I whole-heartedly agree.
But having the shows available on your own schedule (similar to what TiVO is doing for television)is what will keep podcasts going for quite some time.
I doubt it’s that no one’s listening… it’s that no one’s paying. I just think Yahoo can’t figure out how to make more in advertising through podcasts.
I tend to agree w/ the previous commenters. The only podcasts I listen to are pastors’ sermons. They serve to inspire my preaching and make sure that I’m being fed as I feed those the Lord’s entrusted to my care. But I could go back to CDs of these same resources just as well. In fact, getting a CD in the mail, I immediately pop it in next time I’m in the car. With a podcast I have to make sure that the battery is charged, the subscription has been updated, and that the ipod is in the car w/ me.
I must be an oddball because I love podcasts.
I’m not really into the formatted talk show style like the Catalyst podcast or Get Ready, Get Set, Spaghetti.
But I dig listening to live messages from favorite leaders, teachers, and speakers.
If I couldn’t listen to people like Perry say things like, “punch you in the throat” on my iPod I would be very sad.
I listen to tons of podcasts, but not in the conventional way (using an iPod through iTunes). I use Google Reader to listen to them, tag them, and post them to my blog just like I do with blog posts. Now, my job permits me to listen to these while I work on other things at my computer – NOT everyone’s situation. However, I think this may be a glimpse to the future of podcasting – 1) easier to access through better applications (e.g. Google Reader); 2) web-based rather than desktop or appliance-based (iPod); and 3) based on RSS technology for syndication.
Think “Google Radio”…
In this case, I think it’s Yahoo that is dying. I used to use their bill pay. That shut down. Photos. Shut down. Now this…
I’m still pretty consistent on my podcasts. But there have only always been a couple…it makes my iPod happy and my travel time learning time.
Tony -
Sheez, I hope not. Both my “Worship Interludes” and “Highest Praise Worship” podcast are just increasing in # of subscribers, and one of the reasons I recently SOLD my web hosting biz is to have more time to devote to writing, being creative, and you guessed it … producing more podcasts.
I’ve got 3-4x more podcast subscribers than blog subscribers, although the blog subscriptions are rising daily.
I think the key is content, and niche. Much like a blog, I suppose. I actually just got notified by podtrac.com that I had our first official “paying sponsor” for the podcast as well for the next episode. All that was really encouraging me … ’til I read your post, haha!
So, I’m holding out and hoping for the best. Many times, I’ve had more-than-enough with “christian radio” (doesn’t take much), and I’d much rather here a podcast. Heck, that’s how I keep up with my buds in Pensacola, with NewSpring, and Elevation!
Fred McKinnon
Worship Director, St. Simons Commmunity Church, GA
I still listen to a lot of Podcasts, mostly because I not have a radio in my car and I would rather listen to a podcast of good Bible teaching while cooking or grocery shopping so I have something to chew on.
My podcasts are all church related in some form or another. They are kind of like books on tape for me. I still read but they allow me to chew on some tough issues throughout my day rather than get Toni Basil stuck in my head.
Podcasts are a hassle for me. Keeping up with what’s current; file size is big; you have to listen to EVERYTHING to know if it’s worthwhile, etc. I agree with Tony about all the issues. Great concept, problematic for ME.
I love them. I love them long for drives and time at the gym, I love them short for something when I’m going to bed.
I think it’s a great medium, but should be there in conjunction with video and blogging as a complimentary feature. You can’t (shouldn’t) watch video when driving, and so many people have tons of commute time.
Keep them coming!
I love listening to podcasts. I prefer audio only actually. I listen to them in the car and at work while doing other work since I am on the computer most of the time. I am more auditory than visual. I guess that is a natural tendency as I am a Ham Radio operator too. :) I mostly listen to tech podcasts and sermons only when I miss a Sunday at my church.
I wouldn’t say podcasts are dying, but simply evolving. Podcasts are just web audio that you can subscribe to. Web audio has been out there long time.. nothing new.
Yahoo! does a lot of things right, but it is hard to compete with Apple iTunes when they have the majority of podcasts in their directory and the iPod dominates the portable music player world.
Since I began reading blogs, I’ve cut way back on my usage of podcasts. It could be that I’ve become significantly busier in the past few months…but I find that podcasts don’t hold my attention nearly as much.
They may not be dead, but they are definitely endangered. I was thinking of doing a podcast for youth ministry so last week I asked a group of 20 teenagers what podcast’s they listened to and none of them even knew what a podcast was. I do think it’s good to have teaching on line for the congregation and other church leaders.
I’ve only recently started listen to podcasts, but just one, from Dave Ramsey. I use my iTunes on my laptop, but have started saving for a iPod so I can take it with me and listen to when I have time to fill.
I am still a podcast fan. I have a 20 minute commute to church and it is a perfect opportunity to listen. Mostly listen to sermons and absolutely love This American Life.
Great post that seems to have provoked a ton of comments. It seems to be a subject that polarises opinion.
As for me, I would love to listen to podcasts, but I never do. I have an iTunes subscription to several, but never get around to listening.
Here’s the problems: I have a short commute, so don’t listen to anything while cycling to work (I need to hear the Cairo traffic!), I share an office, so don’t like to make too much noise there. I feel cut-off from my colleagues when wearing headphones, and when I listen to something I like to give it my full attention, so find it hard to multitask.
They just don’t work for me. I’m a musician who likes silence!
Funny you should post about this. Last week I listened to a podcast for the first time in months. Listening to podcasts was once a daily event. Not so much anymore.
I usually listen to podcasts while mowing my lawn. It’s a 2.5hr ordeal so it’s a great time to grab the ipod and catch up of the handfull of podcasts I subscribe to. Like many others I don’t listen with the frequency that I once did.
Yes, I listen to podcasts while I clean the kitchen, do laundry, mow the lawn, etc. In fact, I’m still listening to old episodes of The Simply Strategic Show!
I used to produce what I considered a well thought out and produced podcast. Problem is that it took to much time in order to make it well produced with a staff of one. So no longer am i podcasting. At least not until i figure out how to make them shorter and more pointed and viral. I did not want to contribute to the mess of information out there.
I also went from 9 regular subscriptions I listened to to only one. But now that i have to sit in atl traffic I might start listening again.
Carlos
I’m sorta like you on podcasts – doesn’t fit my lifestyle/learning style or something. I’m not sitting around enough or in my car enough on a regular basis to have time to listen to a podcast. Not to mention it’s a pain to constantly retrieve fresh podcasts – which explains why I don’t even have any updated music.
The only time I listen to a podcast is when I am on a long run or traveling. There is NO WAY I can sit still and pay attention to a speaker when I have the option to read blogs, write, counsel, or leave the office!
I can’t do two things at once. So on the off-chance that I even attempt to listen to a podcast in the office, I miss 10 – 15 minute sections of it simply because I am not paying attention.
I listen to a ton of sermon podcasts but only one other (ESPN College Football).
But it’s all about redeeming time that would otherwise be throw-away.
I’m listening to Noble, Furtick or Groeschel (or maybe Ivan Maisel) when I’m in Menard’s or Jewel, when I’m mowing or exercising, or if I have to drive around for longer than my normal 5 minute commute.
But I almost never listen to a podcast at work or when I’m having do accomplish anything that requires much concentration.
I am a big Podcast fan… actaully, I am subscribed to the Catalyst podcast and I DID enjoy the podcast of you and Perry!
I listen to podcast on my car daily.
J
I get all of the Resurgence and Mars Hill (Seattle) stuff via both Podcast and Vodcast. I drive roughly 50 minutes a day to work, so that means most of a sermon can be listened to each day (if it is Driscoll preaching that is). I love watching them, but it is harder to find that length of time uninterrupted in my life to sit at the computer and watch sermons. I also podcast guys like Steven Furtick, your boss, John Piper, Erwan McManus and Andy Stanley to name just a few. This keeps me well stocked for days on the road to work. Would I rather read or watch – certainly – but time constraints from life make those two options less than ideal. Until cars can drive themselves, I’ll be a fan of Podcasts.
Big Chris
http://mrclm.blogspot.com
I would go into convulsions if I could not listen to Rob Bell or Rick McKinley on a weekly basis thru their podcasts on I Tunes.
Because I do some mindless work at the computer during the day, my podcasts allow me to digest the speakers I like while not devoting any separate time to it. I’ll have them playing in the background. Plus then I spend 15-20 minutes a day reading blogs.
I have posted a similar post in my blog in connection with your post:
http://arnold.gamboa.ph/2007/10/is-podcasting-dead/
Over the years I’ve subscribed to 30-40 different podcasts. Now I only have around 5. I don’t have nearly as much time as I used to and find that they were just starting to become background noise when I would listen to them while trying to do other work…
So I keep one for each hobby and a couple of ministry leadership ones… that’s about it.
Death of a Podcast?
Tony Morgan, over at his blog, discussed the end of Yahoo! podcasts a while back. The service shut down, and it begs the question: Is podcast listenership in decline? He lists a few barriers to the success of podcasts: You can’t scan through a podcast …