And I’m with Electric 6. Everything wrong in this world is Nickelback’s fault.

your “the amount of patience I have as a listener” comment really threw me, cause most people are not like that. not even close.

now, everyone should be encouraged to blog, vlog and podcast and contribute to the internets, that’s what they’re here for – they just shouldn’t expect anyone else to listen, or read, or watch.

that’s my point.

I get that it fills a niche. I get that Leo’s roundtables on TWiT don’t work on mainstream radio, but I am richer for having the opportunity to listen to them.

I am an advocate of MORE podcasting. I’m on industry message boards encouraging radio stations to branch out and give their audiences the opportunity to time shift programming on radio, just as TiVo does for tv viewers.

Hear2.0 has a post this week about how podcast advertising will stretch beyond $400M in the next 4 years. That’s FABULOUS!

My point is, simply, 99%+ of what is out there will stay niche because it is unlistenable.

I am saying most of this will stay in the underground and not branch into mainstream.

I know you’re fine with that, and more power to you. You’re doing it cause you love it, and because you want to and that’s what the spirit of the internet is all about.

Yes, people complain about the same 4 formats on 20 different radio dials, but if you take 1000 people in a room and do a survey with them, guess what?? They say they “want something different”, but when they’re presented with that different thing, they ultimately choose to go back to what they’re comfortable with.

I’m not saying it’s right, or wrong, it’s just a fact – people say they want change, but they ultimately choose the familiar. Case in point – Nickelback. All the backlash, all the hate, all the album sales, every.single.disc.

Believe it or not, there are people who like to have content that can actually fill a void that radio just can’t give them. Not a constant stream of afternoon drive time hosts that scream at them through over processed microphones, not to mention the ability to pause and fast forward.

It’s not about mainstream vs. the underground. I’ve fought that fight since the first day I stepped into college radio. It’s about filling a demand that isn’t being met. If the mainstream wants to do their thing, they will fail at everything else while staying the course and filling the demand of the “majority”. That’s where podcasting fills in.

Niche is true, but those numbers of downloads can give you a much better sense of who is actually listen to everything you have to generate in terms of content than those precious 5-15 minutes that you are desperately trying to lure in a listener on the radio so you can get them with that hit song and a commercial or five to pay the bills.

And if you mean Derrek Miller, who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting numerous times, this is a topic that I’m well aware of his opinions of. The thing is that I’m not in this to make money or be famous. Podcasting is a passion. It’s the wanting and needing of having a voice for something to share. I love music, and that’s where RadioZoom started. From that spawned an inspiration for The Crazy Canucks, also from a passion and love for the game of hockey.

Good is a matter of preference. Good depends on the realm for which you want to thrive. Ted Riecken at Island Podcasting. Scarborough Dude at Dick’s and Jane’s. Chub Creek. Geek.Farm.Life. Evil Genius Chronicles. Those people are at the top of their games. It’s not a format or a niche. It’s a passion. A community with unique, direct conversations. People doing what they want to do and being who they want to be, saying what they want to say, doing it when and how they want to do it.

Money is nice, but the last thing on my mind. I’d rather get the free, backstage pass to interview my favorite bands and share that conversation with the world, unedited, nothing held back. No programming directors telling me what I can or can’t say, no time restrictions for a shitty ten minute interview. That’s where wealth in podcasting comes for me.

You are the exception, son, not the rule. In the car, the radio is just 2 feet from your ear, within arms reach and easily changeable the moment something annoying happens, be it dj, song or commercial.

Same on the computer. I have 14 windows begging my attention, a lame podcast will be clicked off in seconds.

Same goes for the iPod, I have it stuffed with gigs and gigs of pleasure and if your podcast licks, there’s a video, an audio book, or chill tracks to take your place.

Since I’ve started to discover local people getting their podcast on, I’ve checked out as many as I know about. I have yet to find one that is listenable. Not a one.

The only listenable talk-based podcasts are from professionals. Currently on my roster, I have:
Leo’s TWiT Network (pick one)
No Agenda (Adam Curry and Dvorak)
NPR
CBC

But maybe I’m just a little too mainstream for you cool cats. The thing is, so is the majority of the population. While many lament the success of something like Nickelback, millions more buy the album and make it a best seller.

Want to satisfy you inner muse and target a niche? Go ahead, crank out whatever ‘cast you can. Want to do it for reals? Get good.

Oh, and read PenMachine’s thoughts on the topic if you think you’ll ever make real money doing this:
http://www.penmachine.com/2008/02/can-you-make-money-from-blogging-and