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thing I've created called an iPodder, which is the name I came up with, and I built it. And it was built on all these existing technologies, and people started to get excited about it, particularly software developers, of which Dave Winer usually doesn't get along with very well. And, they started building their own versions and I started creating a show, specifically for these developers called the "Daily Source Code," thinking that would probably appeal to them.
And we were having a lot of fun, and people started showing up in my e-mail saying, "Hey, I'm also doing a show," and so I started promoting their show. And then a guy named Danny Gregoire came up with the name podcasting, and it stuck.
Can people make money podcasting?
Curry: Why, sure. That's what I intend to do is commercialize podcasting.
How?
Curry: There are many different ways. The most obvious is advertising. What's nice about it is it's different from Web logs. First of all, you can take them with you. So you're not in front of a computer when you're doing this; it's not a banner you're clicking on. You're listening, and it may be a podcast about bicycles--we have a couple--and then maybe, a promotion or a sponsorship by a bicycle manufacturer.
Are any major advertisers signing on to podcasts?
Curry: Yeah, Warner Films just did a big sponsorship through our network. And, infamously, Durex did a sponsorship on the "Dawn and Drew" show.
I understand you actually have a company, BoKu Communications, that's set up to invest and, as you said, commercialize podcasting. How much money do you guys have to put into this thing?
Curry: We hope enough to make it happen.
What's enough?
Curry: It's a private company, so I'm not going to talk about that.
Do you see more broadcast professionals, like yourself, getting involved in podcasting?
Curry: Yeah, and we welcome them. We welcome them with open arms. I'm delighted when I see people like Peter Day, who's been at the BBC Radio 4 for 35 years; he's going to start podcasting. And some of it will be what they've already broadcast on the radio, which is great because I still like some NPR programs. I still like BBC shows. It's just that I don't want to have to tune into it when they're ready for it...I'd rather have it downloadable so I can take it on my MP3 player when it's convenient to me.
Who will be hurt by podcasting? Will it be radio stations? The recording industry? Who stands to lose?
Curry: I think everybody can win. Nobody has to lose.
What about the recording industry? How do you keep listeners from keeping permanent copies of podcast songs instead of buying CDs or iTunes songs?
Curry: Well, you're talking about music radio to start off. Currently, the way the rules are set up, only broadcast radio has the means to obtain the rights to use those songs. Those means are not available for podcasters at the current time. So what has happened is a very organic and natural thing. Podcasters have said, "Well, if we can use the music that is already signed to a record label, we're just going to play music that is out on the Internet by artists who do allow us to play that on our podcasts."
Copyright law hasn't stopped people from trading music over the Web. It seems like, as a podcaster, you'd be so tempted to play the forbidden stuff.
Curry: People aren't. We've gotten the message. People have gotten the message that you can't do that. The RIAA suing college kids for hundreds of thousands of dollars a pop--the message is clear. We can't do that. So we're not.
Of course there are people out there who are. I'm sure there's always someone who's going to do that. But that's not what's happening. What's happening is this community is a step further than the file traders. Look, it's one thing to be swapping music supposedly anonymously amongst each other on a peer-to-peer network. Making a podcast, identifying your personality and playing licensed music illegally there is going to be pretty stupid.
Are you concerned that you could be held liable for any illegal podcasting that goes on? I mean, you can't control what people do with the tools you've created.
Curry: I could be held liable? No. No, no, no, no, no, no.
So the podcasting scene is wholly separate from mainstream radio and what the mainstream recording industry is producing.
Curry: Yeah, without all the B.S. More control, more choice, no lock-in, no horrible contracts. You determine your own destiny. You have a direct relationship with your customers.
For an aspiring podcaster, what makes a podcast good? What are some of your pet peeves? What should people avoid doing?
Curry: I don't think I have any pointers on what to avoid, only what to do, and that's--whatever it is--just be passionate about it. That will shine through. It doesn't matter what it is. If you're passionate about what you want to communicate, you'll come across. People will understand and they'll like it.
Do you own an iPod?
Curry: Yeah.
What's on it?
Curry: I probably have 3,000 songs on my iPod. And continuously I have about 10 audio books. I like listening to audio books.
Which audio books are on there now?
Curry: Let me see what I have. I have "Snow Crash," the unabridged version. I have Bill Clinton's "My Life." Dennis Miller's "I Rant, Therefore I Am." I have "Brain Droppings," George Carlin. Gene Wilder, "Kiss Me Like A Stranger."
What was working for MTV like in its early days?
Curry: One of the guys who worked there longer than I did, Ken Clark, and I have done three podcasts now called the "MTV Chronicles." We actually just get on Skype and talk for about an hour about the old days of MTV. You really should listen to that. We talk about all the memos that came down from the office, all the crazy (stuff) we had to do, the un-hipness of MTV compared to the aura of it being an extremely hip place. Also, you can look at MTV.curry.com. I've written a whole bunch of stories about this.
See more CNET content tagged:
Adam Curry, podcasting, radio, station, America
managers said to me (I was an early Internet geek back then) in a
very condescending manner "David do you honestly believe that
people are really going to access the Internet in any meaningful
numbers ever?" My reply was, YOU DON'T? It was obvious to me
at least.
There is a similar tone from the Interviewer in this article.... and
it's so obvious to Adam and all in the Podcast community!
So anyway I left that company very shortly after that and helped
start the first Internet Advertising Network - DoubleClick. 12
months later everybody from my old company wanted jobs at
DC....and today I guess there are a few folks using the WWW....
Adam...." do you honestly believe that people are really going to
download little mp3 radio shows to their iPods in any
meaningful numbers ever?"
Answer: YOU DON'T? Here we go again! Go Adam go...
Blogs, Podcasts, Podsafe music, Video Podcasts, Podsafe
videos... The content creation tools are now in the hands of the
viewers, readers and listeners. Media oligopolies beware and
marketers looking for upscale, highly educated, influencers and
early adopters, 18 to 34.... they're ain't watching TV no mo!
The Internet was about communication, community and content
distribution(old media content), the next wave is about personal
content creation, personal content distribution and community
around personal content creation and consumption..... stay
tuned!
As an aging markup geek and musician, these are the days I've been waiting for. "Free at last, thank God Almighty!"
len
almost given up on. Remember early Star Trek:TNG, and the first
time you saw the holodeck. Picard commenting how TV and the
passivity of people to 'receive' their entertainment as opposed to
actively claiming and participating in life? Giant leaps begin with
small steps.
We haven't even really looked much in this country at Digital Radio Mundiale. We really can cancel our subscriptions to the pig (cable tv) and pretty much ditch AM/FM commercial radio.
- Correction on name of podcast coiner
- by taylor71 April 10, 2006 11:45 PM PDT
- It should be Dannie Gregoire. Not Danny. Thanks.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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