Podcasts first gained mainstream popularity with the release of Apple’s iPod. However, users quickly realized that this old method of downloading and transferring podcasts was time consuming and confusing for non-tech users. Up until recently, podcasting has been thought of as an afterthought. Now, with smartphones, anyone can easily stream a podcast from the internet on their smartphones or with Bluetooth – making it much simpler to listen to your favorite programs on the go.
Apple reported last year that they reached 1 billion podcast subscriptions on iTunes, and RawVoice says that podcast listeners have tripled in the last five years.
A Washington Post article also claims that this new stage of podcasting will be much more profitable then it was before:
“[T]he connection that people can feel toward their favorite podcasts is exactly the sort of relationship that many media companies are trying to build with their users. At a time when people can easily skip TV ads, messages from sponsors on podcasts have a way of sinking in, especially when they’re read by the hosts of the show themselves, analysts say. As a result, this second wave of podcasts — unlike the first go-round — is promising to make more money.”
Radiotopia, a new web startup, wants to help bring the podcasting medium mainstream. On October 14th, 2014 PRX Inc. launched Radiotopia: A Storytelling Revolution on Kickstarter. With just over a day left of their campaign they have more than doubled their funding goal of $250,000, raising over $590,000.
Roman Mars from PRX Inc. has previously had two successful Kickstarter projects to raise money for the third and fourth seasons of his podcast, 99% Invisible, which he started writing and producing from his bedroom (and now has over 1.5 million downloads a month!).
Right now Radiotopia has several shows: 99% Invisible, Fugitive Waves, Love + Radio, Radio Diaries, Strangers, Theory of Everything, and The Truth. They have put together a diverse team of talented individuals from radio and podcasting, looking to create new shows and bring great content that reaches their listeners in a meaningful way. This is why they have turned to Kickstarter for help:
“To take it to the next level, we need you. Podcasts need about 50,000 downloads per episode for some measure of financial sustainability … That takes more gear, more staff, more travel, more branding and promotion. Our shows are not just two people chatting in front of microphone (not that there’s anything wrong with that – I love a lot of those shows); they are skillfully crafted, sound-rich productions. That commitment to craft requires a lot of time and resources.”
Some members of Radiotopia recently sat down with Kickstarter to discuss their project and their thoughts on the past and future of radio. They explained that podcasts are a hit because creators have more freedom to decide which stories they will cover, and listeners feel a close connection with the content. You can find the video below.
In a time where everyone is multitasking and busy, audio makes it easy to reach large numbers of people – which is exactly what Radiotopia is doing.
