The Future of the Podcasting Industry | James Cridland

In this episode, James Cridland takes us on a journey into the past, present, and future of podcasting. Learn valuable insights and perspectives on the evolving podcasting landscape while gaining a deeper understanding of the trends, innovations, and potential opportunities. From emerging technologies to evolving listener behaviors, explore the exciting predictions to watch for in the future of podcasting and a few warnings of things to watch for. Get ready to better understand the ever-changing podcasting landscape and stay ahead of the curve!

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Key Moments:

00:00:15 - Introduction, 
00:01:16 - The Birth of Podnews
00:05:22 - James' First Speaking Experience
00:07:52 - Milestones in Podcasting
00:10:59 - The Essence of Podcasting
00:13:53 - The Strength of Podcasting
00:18:10 - Total Time Spent Listening
00:20:41 - The Importance of Transcripts
00:23:50 - Tight Editing and Audience Respect

Timestamped Summary:

00:00:15 - Introduction
Alex welcomes James Cridland to discuss the state of podcasting and expresses gratitude for James' contribution through Podnews.

00:01:16 - The Birth of Podnews
James shares the story of how he got the idea for Podnews during a conversation at a pub, realizing the lack of news resources for the podcasting industry. He explains the initial challenges and how Pod News has grown since its launch in May 2017.

00:05:22 - James' First Speaking Experience
James recounts his first time speaking at a podcast conference in 2005, representing Virgin Radio's involvement in podcasting. He reflects on the backlash he received from podcasters who resented radio stations entering the podcasting space.

00:07:52 - Milestones in Podcasting
James highlights the impact of Spotify's entry into podcasting, both in terms of increased listenership and the industry's overall growth. He also mentions Adam Curry's involvement in advancing podcasting through the podcast index and new podcast namespace.

00:10:59 - The Essence of Podcasting
James emphasizes the open nature of podcasting, allowing anyone to publish shows without gatekeepers. He expresses concern about potential threats to this open ecosystem, particularly from platforms like Spotify and YouTube not fully understanding the core values of podcasting.

00:13:53 - The Strength of Podcasting
Despite media companies facing economic difficulties, podcasting is thriving and outpacing other forms of online ad revenue. While legacy companies may be struggling, podcasting itself remains strong and poised for growth.

00:18:10 - Total Time Spent Listening
While the number of podcast listeners continues to grow, the focus should shift to increasing total consumption and time spent listening to shows. This metric is directly linked to revenue and the impact of advertising. Quality content that keeps listeners engaged and increases consumption is key.

00:20:41 - The Importance of Transcripts
Transcripts are crucial for accessibility, discoverability, and advertising. They benefit not only those with hearing impairments but also aid in content discovery and targeting relevant ads. More podcast hosting companies are making transcripts easily accessible, ensuring the medium becomes more inclusive and effective.

00:23:50 - Tight Editing and Audience Respect
Podcasters are realizing the value of tight editing to respect their audience's time. Good editing ensures every minute of the show is relevant and engaging. Consistency in delivering on the promise made to listeners is vital for maintaining subscribers.

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