A new study by the British Market Research Association finds that 25% of internet users will listen to a podcast in the next six months.  The study, completed in the UK, found that 17% of internet users have already downloaded a podcast in the last six months, and that number is expected to grow to nearly a quarter of all internet users in the next six months.  Currently, according to the survey, over 10.8 million Brits own portable MP3 players, and that number is expected to grow by over 40% (or 4.3 million units) in the next six months.

Link:

BMRB Study: http://www.bmrb.co.uk/?component=news&action=show&id=252

Posted by Jason at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While traditional radio outlets are dealing with satellite radio's force and some personalities exit the traditional landscape for satellite is a new paradigm in radio programming brewing?  The traditional notion of syndication is to take content from one master outlet, and replay it on another either at the same or a later time – in the world of radio that means syndicating terrestrial radio content onto the satellite outlets.  For example, both XM and Sirius syndicated coverage of sporting events, and news content like CNN and Fox News Channel.  Now, the question is are the winds of change blowing and are the rules for satellite and terrestrial radio syndication about to become altered? Speculation is that long banished Opie and Anthony are in discussion to reverse syndicate their XM talk show onto terrestrial radio outlets owned by CBS.  Stay tuned to The Media Backpage.

Posted by Jason at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Apple is ticked off at the French government who created legislation that requires Apple to reveal their secret coding system that converts songs from iTunes to one's iPod.  By revealing their codes, patrons can download music from any music download-site (legally or illegally) and sync the songs to their iPod.  Lawmakers in the National Assembly (France's lower house) approved a bill by a vote of 296-193, which is now up for vote in the French Senate. 

Apple needless to say was not pleased with this legislation and likened it to "state-sponsored piracy" implying that the French consumers will backtrack from legal downloads of music back to the illegal market that Apple has worked so hard to diminish.

Apple released in a statement: "If this happens, legal music sales will plummet just when legitimate alternatives to piracy are winning over customers.  IPod sales will likely increase as users freely load their iPods with 'interoperable' music, which cannot be adequately protected. Free movies for iPods should not be far behind in what will rapidly become a state-sponsored culture of piracy."

The talk of the town this week predicts that if this legislation is approved, Apple will pull out iTunes out of France altogether.  French lawmakers argue that the law penalizes music piracy with a new range of fines, but realistically how many people would get caught?

This is a very significant story, because it impacts Apple's highly regarded and successful business plan of a "closed network."  If this legislation is passed and other governments follow, Apple can be in real danger of losing the stronghold it has carved for itself in the industry. 

The Media Backpage will continue to monitor this story.

Links:
Wall Street Journal
New York Times
Washington Post

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The podcasts have gone to the -- teachers!  As iPods and Podcasts continue to grow and become more and more prevalent various types of organizations are seeking to tap into these tools for disseminating information and reaching broader audiences.  Of those in the mix, education institutions that are seeking to reach students outside of the classroom.  One of the first to enter the fray, is Georgia College and State University, which has encouraged members of its campus to develop and use these tools in new and innovative ways beyond the classroom.  As a matter of fact, the University is so serious about integrating the iPod into it's curriculum and culture that it is holding a special event on April 18th called iPod iNnovation Day.  GCSU's approach to podcasting is not only a good example for other educational institutions, but for all communications professionals and organizations as they seek how to integrating podcasting into their communications strategies.

Links:

Yahoo News

Goergia College & State University

Posted by Jason at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

CMO Magazine ran a primer for marketing professionals about Podcasts and how they are a new and useful tool.  However, beyond the article reaction was mixed and there was a fair amount of debate about the usefulnes of podcats, so we responded.  Here is our reply, which is cross-posted with the article's site at http://www.cmomagazine.com/read/020106/whatis.html:

The New Communications Tools
Posted: MAR 15, 2006 08:30:49 AM
Podcasts and blogs are a necessary element for today’s communications campaigns. Mike Drake (GE VP who posted before us) makes the point that people may not know of podcasts yet, or if they are even necessary in today’s wired world. I would argue that in today’s wireless on-the-go world these new tools are increasingly important to reach audiences, which are becoming more and more fragmented. Look at the facts; in 2005 the first year of the podcasting technology being widely available, over 5 million podcasts were downloaded. Furthermore, that number was achieved without being integrated into major portals like iTunes for the majority of the year. With that in mind, podcasting will only experience massive growth over the next few years and increasingly become an important tool for communications professionals and their campaigns.

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So far this year we've seen XM set the tone by hiring Oprah Winfrey to create her own channel on satellite radio geared toward women.  Three weeks later NBC makes a large push to get a digital -hold on the world of the woman consumer by acquiring the popular website, iVillage,   "The Internet Home for Women."  Sirius chimed in with its own version today by launching Cosmo Radio.  The channel devoted to all things Women in the same style as the magazine, Cosmopolitan. 

Cosmo Radio is part of Sirius radio's Lifestyle package that already includes Martha Stewart's channel and the Lime channel, which addresses healthy living.  This is just the latest example of women being targeted as specific consumers and satellite radio's timeline for success.

Both XM and Sirius have made it clear to become and remain successful in this business, one must produce quality music programming covering all musical tastes.  After that is established, you first go after the tech-savvy "early adopters," then go after the men with incredible sports packages and aggressive radio personalities (Opie and Anthony, Howard Stern) and lastly the women with entertaining and enlightening programs with brand names and people you know and trust.

Links:
Radio Ink

Posted by Brett at 7:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The latest issue of PR Week finds that Podcasts are popular with both consumers and clients. 

"Podcasting has grown from a geek-culture pastime to a highly regarded brand-outreach tool."

In the past year, the Podcast has grown-up and in many regards it has changed the dynamics of media consumption, and allowed virtually anyone from their living room to the conference room to produce and distribute audio or video directly to audiences.  Now, in the latest issue of PR Week, as the quote above suggests, it looks like communications professionals are learning something we've been saying for a long time; Podcasting offers a unique opportunity for organizations to tell their story. 

Link: http://www.prweek.com/us/features/article/545854/ (Subscription Req'd)

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Apple's iTunes continues to delve into new territory.  The web's most popular destination for legally downloadable music, and now video content has taken a step further toward by offering new content on a daily basis.  Hot off of his Oscars' hosting debut, John Stewart's ever popular nightly Daily Show, will be available for download not only as individual episodes ($1.99), but through a new iTunes feature called "Multi-Pass" as a month long subscription services.  The package, which will retail for $9.99, includes a total of 16 episodes and is currently offered for Stewart's program, as well as The Colbert Report, of which he is also an executive producer.  This is probably just the first sign of Apple's foray into daily content and a subscription-based model.

Posted by Jason at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As the podcasting world continues to grow and develop, advertisers are also recognizing more and more the medium's ability to publicize and promote various initiatives to niche audiences.  The latest to join the podcast-marketing trend is HBO, which has signed a deal to advertise its new series "Big Love" on over thirty popular podcasts. 

Related Links:

http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=48173#

http://www.adrants.com/2006/03/hbo-promotes-big-love-with-podcasts.php

Posted by Jason at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tower Records, in an effort to breathe some life into their business will debut a website next week at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas called TowerPod.com devoted to podcasts created by Tower DJs.  The record shop that was once the one pushing out mom and pop stores out of business, has been slammed in recent years by the Best Buys and Wal-Mart's of the planet, leaving Tower to make a move to save their corporate lives.  The only problem is: they missed the boat. 

While I believe there is definitely room for more podcasts out there, people will right through Tower Records' plan.  Consumers remember paying $18 for a CD at good ole Tower Records when there weren't any options.  In some ways Tower's prices were responsible for the massive shift to the world of 99-cent mp3s at the Apple Store.  While hoping to recoup some costs by inserting commercials at the beginning and end of the free, downloadable half-hour programs, Tower's fighting to compete in a world that hates it.  Those who download podcasts do so because they can listen to their favorite radio shows or music for free.

I commend Tower for making the first real corporate move to podcasting, but it should have come in the summer of 2005, not Spring 2006 for the failing record company.  Trust me, nobody feels bad for Tower's hard fall from the top.  Podcasting might save the company, but I highly doubt it.

Links:
The Washington Post

Posted by Brett at 8:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NBC Universal made a huge push today to expand their brand to women by obtaining iVillage, "The Internet Home for Women" for $600 million.  General Electric, which owns NBC, made the move to digital following in an effort to grow its digital revenue a push other media giants have made in the past few years.  Following suit of the News Corp. aquisition of MySpace and the New York Times taking on About.com, NBC needs to have a preexisting outlet to push their advertisers too.  This trend only further proves the "digital shift" in how media corporations attract advertising dollars.  There will be more purchases like this in the next few months.  There has to be, for media giants like GE, to keep their brand on top.


Links:
The Wall Street Journal

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