4 ms·

>Podcasts are enjoying a renaissance possibly due to the legitimization of the medium by semi-famous people, and due to some proper distribution outlets finally

by clubm8 8y ago

>Podcasts are enjoying a renaissance possibly due to the legitimization of the medium by semi-famous people, and due to some proper distribution outlets finally appearing. Or it could be a simpler explanation: people are commuting more. It's something that you can "fire and forget" if driving, and doesn't rely on the data plan if you go through a tunnel.

jonknee 8y ago
Are people commuting more? If anything there has been a revival of urban areas and millenials have prioritized cities over things like owning a car. Podcasts are easier than radio for mass transit commutes, so maybe that's part of it?
sonnyblarney 8y ago
Radio is actually more accessible on the commute than podcasts; in fact, it's the only place many people even have a radio! I think the commute may be the last bastion of radio.
- ghaff 8y ago
  I listen to podcasts in the car but there's definitely some friction involved. You have to add episodes you want to listen to to a playlist and skipping to the end of an episode or picking a different one is all sort of fiddly when you're driving. In my experience, trying to control the whole thing by voice just doesn't work. So there's something to be said for just leaving the radio on your station of choice and listening to that.
mercer 8y ago
anecdotally, at least, I've seen a huge increase in podcast listening, and conversations about podcasts, by people who don't drive or commute much (in The Netherlands). It's become an actual thing, I'd say, and among people who aren't typical 'techies'. I think it's basically Netflix/Spotify for radio. Most of these people moved away from television to Netflix, spend most of their time listening to Spotify or, less and less, Soundcloud, and may or may not have gotten into YouTube, but clearly want something audio-only to put on in the background, listen to before bed, and definitely commute with, just not by car (because on the tram/train/bus you need to be able to pause, just as you now expect to be able to with shows and music).

by clubm8 8y ago

jonknee 8y ago

Are people commuting more? If anything there has been a revival of urban areas and millenials have prioritized cities over things like owning a car. Podcasts are easier than radio for mass transit commutes, so maybe that's part of it?

sonnyblarney 8y ago

Radio is actually more accessible on the commute than podcasts; in fact, it's the only place many people even have a radio! I think the commute may be the last bastion of radio.

ghaff 8y ago
I listen to podcasts in the car but there's definitely some friction involved. You have to add episodes you want to listen to to a playlist and skipping to the end of an episode or picking a different one is all sort of fiddly when you're driving. In my experience, trying to control the whole thing by voice just doesn't work. So there's something to be said for just leaving the radio on your station of choice and listening to that.

mercer 8y ago

anecdotally, at least, I've seen a huge increase in podcast listening, and conversations about podcasts, by people who don't drive or commute much (in The Netherlands). It's become an actual thing, I'd say, and among people who aren't typical 'techies'. I think it's basically Netflix/Spotify for radio. Most of these people moved away from television to Netflix, spend most of their time listening to Spotify or, less and less, Soundcloud, and may or may not have gotten into YouTube, but clearly want something audio-only to put on in the background, listen to before bed, and definitely commute with, just not by car (because on the tram/train/bus you need to be able to pause, just as you now expect to be able to with shows and music).