Research
Podcasting
What is a podcast?
According to the podcasthost "A podcast is talk radio on demand"(Gray,2015) [1] It's a series of spoken audio episodes which often focus on an idea or theme. Unlike radio, podcasts are accessible through apps, websites and subscription services. Podcasting is also discussed as walk away content, which describes the ability to be able to walk away from the material at any time, unlike a radio broadcast which the listener must listen to live. Radio and podcasting have very distinct differences as shown below:
Audiences:
Commercial radio broadcasting usually aims to reach mass appeal, by covering mass appeal topics such as celebrities, sports, news and the weather which is generally followed by a chart track. Commercial radio broadcasting also limits itself geographically. Usually focusing on the news and events in a particular city such as the radio station Kiss or Radio X which focuses its news and weather in London. Often there is a range of hosts from all walks of life, so the audience has people they can relate to, Podcasts usually has a very niche audience. This is done through the topic that is being discussed in the podcast, and the person who is presenting the podcast
Geographical constraints:
Commercial radio broadcasting also limits itself geographically. Usually focusing on the news and events in a particular city such as the radio station Kiss or Radio X which focuses its news and weather in London. However, podcasting isn't limited by geographical restraints. When uploading a podcast to sound cloud or iTunes, it can be accessed by anyone who's interested in the topic at hand. For example, you could create a podcast about healthy living in London, but gain a following in LA because the content would apply to anyone who wanted to live a healthier life.
Time constraints:
Radios usually have a schedule of programmes that change throughout the day, so you only have one opportunity to listen to them. (Unless they have an active website like Radio X or Kiss which record the shows and edit them down to the best bits and post them on a website.)There are also immediately successful (if they're commercial). Podcasts, on the other hand, are uploaded to a website or podcasting site so can be accessed whenever someone wants to listen to it. Which also allows for a podcast to have a long shelf life, as it isn't directly given to its audience.
Audiences:
Commercial radio broadcasting usually aims to reach mass appeal, by covering mass appeal topics such as celebrities, sports, news and the weather which is generally followed by a chart track. Commercial radio broadcasting also limits itself geographically. Usually focusing on the news and events in a particular city such as the radio station Kiss or Radio X which focuses its news and weather in London. Often there is a range of hosts from all walks of life, so the audience has people they can relate to, Podcasts usually has a very niche audience. This is done through the topic that is being discussed in the podcast, and the person who is presenting the podcast
Geographical constraints:
Commercial radio broadcasting also limits itself geographically. Usually focusing on the news and events in a particular city such as the radio station Kiss or Radio X which focuses its news and weather in London. However, podcasting isn't limited by geographical restraints. When uploading a podcast to sound cloud or iTunes, it can be accessed by anyone who's interested in the topic at hand. For example, you could create a podcast about healthy living in London, but gain a following in LA because the content would apply to anyone who wanted to live a healthier life.
Time constraints:
Radios usually have a schedule of programmes that change throughout the day, so you only have one opportunity to listen to them. (Unless they have an active website like Radio X or Kiss which record the shows and edit them down to the best bits and post them on a website.)There are also immediately successful (if they're commercial). Podcasts, on the other hand, are uploaded to a website or podcasting site so can be accessed whenever someone wants to listen to it. Which also allows for a podcast to have a long shelf life, as it isn't directly given to its audience.
My role as a podcast producer and podcast host.
My role as a podcast producer and podcast host. I will be the producer and host of my podcast. In my role as a podcast producer, I will be in charge of managing, recording, editing and transmitting the podcast. In this role I will also be gathering guests to feature on the various episodes I will be creating. I will also be the host, which consists of me entertaining the guests and discussing the relevant themes of each episode.
History of podcasting
The word "podcast" has been traced back to a 2004 article written by Ben Hammersley for the Guardian, “All the ingredients are there for a new boom in amateur radio. But what to call it? Audio blogging? Podcasting? GuerillaMedia?”[2] Before the term podcast was widely accepted podcasting was known as "audio-blogging". Before wide access to the internet RCS (Radio Computing Services) provided music and talk related software to radio stations in a digital format [3]. In 1993, Carl Malamud launched Talk Radio which was the first podcast to be broadcasted. His Podcast focused on interviewing a computer expert. It was distributed as “audio files that computer users fetch one by one”. [4]
In 2000 a service called MyAudio2Go.com enabled users to download episodic news, sports, entertainment weather and music in audio format to listen to on PCs and portable audio players such as the eGo.[5] 2003, became the first year of bloggercon. Bloggercon was a user-focused conference that ran for three years. At his event, they handed out CD versions of Christopher Lyndon interviews to make them accessible to people that weren’t running the programme enclosure. [6] Over the next three years podcasting would steadily grow in popularity, with publications such as the USA today [7] profiling podcasters on topics such as sending and receiving podcasts and a top ten list of up and coming podcasters.
In 2005, Apple added a podcast subsection to its streaming service iTunes; this allowed for podcasters to upload content to one place. iTunes allowed users to build a directory of podcasts, subscribe to them, download and organise the products. In the same year Podcasting was added to people’s choice awards.
In the UK there was widespread acceptance that podcasting had considerable commercial potential. Notable podcasters who influenced this opinion includes Ricky Gervais, He created the podcast series The Ricky Gervais show, which has the most successful podcast to date with over 4.5million downloads in two months (in 2007) [8]. It was later adapted to an E4 animation TV series.
Podcasting has continued to grow into a multimillion download system and will continue to grow. With more public figures willing to become involved in one-off episodes for podcasters it’s creating another platform for people to become more intimate with celebrities and politicians such as Barack Obama who featured in a 2015 episode of “WTF”[9]created and hosted by Marc Maroon.
How to make a podcast
I decided I would make a very simple break down of how to make a podcast. To breakdown the process and what I'll need to do over the next few months in regards to pre-production and production. I will also have more tasks to do in the pre production section because I will have to do location scouting to find the best place for me to record the podcast.
Podcasting Networks vs Independent podcasting
According to PodcastOne “A podcast network is a collection of podcasts that are produced, distributed or made available to advertisers through a single company, or network.” [10] Notable podcast networks include Rooster teeth and Wondery. Independent podcasting is content created, distributed and advertised by a single person. There are benefits and disadvantages for both, which I will explore by looking at two examples of independently produced podcasts and podcasts created by a network.
Rooster Teeth: (Podcasting network)
Rooster Teeth is a subsidiary of the media production company Fullscreen [11]. Rooster Teeth experiments with video creating, merch, meetups and podcasting. Rooster Teeth according to Worth of Web, Rooster Teeth.com is worth “$ 66,500,000” [12], This achieved through their hybrid business model which uses onsite pre-roll ads, YouTube pre-roll ads, licensed studio productions, branded merch and annual live events. RT Podcast is a section of the company which allows for the audience to hear and see the thoughts of content creators and special guests directly.
It is directed by Patrick Salazar and produced by Rooster Teeth. RT Podcast has 480 episodes [13] on its YouTube channel with a total of 10,719,703 views [14]. The episodes usually run for an hour and a half, on occasions, it is recorded in front of a live studio audience, for example, in episode 480 “We’re starting a fight club”.
Wondery:(Podcasting Network)
Wondery is a podcasting network created by Hernan Lopez which was launched in 2016. Hernan Lopez began the podcasting network after leaving fox internationals. Fox backed the creation of Wondery. Wondery currently showcases a range of podcast shows however it seems as though they focus on crime and murder shows, I’m assuming the success of the show Serial drove this. Serial is a crime podcast which had gained recognition in the podcasting community as it gained Number 1 on iTunes before it was even debuted in 2014. Wondery is currently worth “$23k” [15], there is a range of podcasts on Wondery, but there seems to be no direct data available about the revenue of a particular podcast or of the website itself.
Kevin Cryptids: Independent
Kevin Cryptids is an immersive adventure audio drama that follows Kevin Weathers and Taylor Hunt as they travel across America in search of creatures like Bigfoot and Chupacabra. I found the podcast distributed across four platforms those being YouTube, iTunes, starburns and player.fm. I couldn’t source any data on how much the website or podcast is worth; there is also no firm information about subscribers to the podcast itself other than what is available on the different platforms. According to player.fm the show has 59 subscribers on the platform [16], however, on YouTube, there are 48 subscribers. [17] The podcast has only been active for a year so will pick up more revenue in likes eventually. With knowledge of how YouTube works, I can only presume that the YouTube channel is making no money as it has little to no subscribers and practically no views, with the highest amount being 180.
The Blunder Years: Independent
The Blunder years is a podcast about a life experience that the host and its co-host had experienced. I found the podcast distributed five platforms those being, iTunes, Digital podcast, Speaker, Stitcher and Player.FM. There was no real revenue data with regards to audience subscriptions however on the website platforms themselves, according to the speaker the podcast show has had 23 plays [18]. As far as I’m concerned, this podcast will gain no revenue or popularity due to its lack of social media sites, also the lack of YouTube videos.
In conclusion, according to the data above an obvious benefit of joining a podcasting company is audience revenue, millions of subscribers could have access to your content through association with the notable company such as Wondery. Independent podcasts are known to have a long shelf life this has been displayed by The Blunder Years, the podcast has been available for a year, yet there are barely any views which show a disadvantage of independent podcasting.
Another advantage of working with a podcasting company is the team you have available instead of being in control of all aspects of the production, distribution and advertising. You’ll have a team, which allows you to focus on your role.
However, being involved with a production company usually means you do not have ownership of the content you're creating. Also, a percentage of the show is held by the network as their intellectual property, so when leaving the company, you lose the right your work. That also means the company's guidelines, and they'll usually restrict you.
Within regards to my product, if I wanted to capitalise on podcasting, I would peruse working for a podcasting company or podcasting division of a media company, but I would want to start as an independent podcaster since it would allow me to have experience in podcasting. It also is essential for me to have creative control and ownership of the content I create, which leads me to believe that I would prefer to be an independent podcaster.
Rooster Teeth: (Podcasting network)
Rooster Teeth is a subsidiary of the media production company Fullscreen [11]. Rooster Teeth experiments with video creating, merch, meetups and podcasting. Rooster Teeth according to Worth of Web, Rooster Teeth.com is worth “$ 66,500,000” [12], This achieved through their hybrid business model which uses onsite pre-roll ads, YouTube pre-roll ads, licensed studio productions, branded merch and annual live events. RT Podcast is a section of the company which allows for the audience to hear and see the thoughts of content creators and special guests directly.
It is directed by Patrick Salazar and produced by Rooster Teeth. RT Podcast has 480 episodes [13] on its YouTube channel with a total of 10,719,703 views [14]. The episodes usually run for an hour and a half, on occasions, it is recorded in front of a live studio audience, for example, in episode 480 “We’re starting a fight club”.
Wondery:(Podcasting Network)
Wondery is a podcasting network created by Hernan Lopez which was launched in 2016. Hernan Lopez began the podcasting network after leaving fox internationals. Fox backed the creation of Wondery. Wondery currently showcases a range of podcast shows however it seems as though they focus on crime and murder shows, I’m assuming the success of the show Serial drove this. Serial is a crime podcast which had gained recognition in the podcasting community as it gained Number 1 on iTunes before it was even debuted in 2014. Wondery is currently worth “$23k” [15], there is a range of podcasts on Wondery, but there seems to be no direct data available about the revenue of a particular podcast or of the website itself.
Kevin Cryptids: Independent
Kevin Cryptids is an immersive adventure audio drama that follows Kevin Weathers and Taylor Hunt as they travel across America in search of creatures like Bigfoot and Chupacabra. I found the podcast distributed across four platforms those being YouTube, iTunes, starburns and player.fm. I couldn’t source any data on how much the website or podcast is worth; there is also no firm information about subscribers to the podcast itself other than what is available on the different platforms. According to player.fm the show has 59 subscribers on the platform [16], however, on YouTube, there are 48 subscribers. [17] The podcast has only been active for a year so will pick up more revenue in likes eventually. With knowledge of how YouTube works, I can only presume that the YouTube channel is making no money as it has little to no subscribers and practically no views, with the highest amount being 180.
The Blunder Years: Independent
The Blunder years is a podcast about a life experience that the host and its co-host had experienced. I found the podcast distributed five platforms those being, iTunes, Digital podcast, Speaker, Stitcher and Player.FM. There was no real revenue data with regards to audience subscriptions however on the website platforms themselves, according to the speaker the podcast show has had 23 plays [18]. As far as I’m concerned, this podcast will gain no revenue or popularity due to its lack of social media sites, also the lack of YouTube videos.
In conclusion, according to the data above an obvious benefit of joining a podcasting company is audience revenue, millions of subscribers could have access to your content through association with the notable company such as Wondery. Independent podcasts are known to have a long shelf life this has been displayed by The Blunder Years, the podcast has been available for a year, yet there are barely any views which show a disadvantage of independent podcasting.
Another advantage of working with a podcasting company is the team you have available instead of being in control of all aspects of the production, distribution and advertising. You’ll have a team, which allows you to focus on your role.
However, being involved with a production company usually means you do not have ownership of the content you're creating. Also, a percentage of the show is held by the network as their intellectual property, so when leaving the company, you lose the right your work. That also means the company's guidelines, and they'll usually restrict you.
Within regards to my product, if I wanted to capitalise on podcasting, I would peruse working for a podcasting company or podcasting division of a media company, but I would want to start as an independent podcaster since it would allow me to have experience in podcasting. It also is essential for me to have creative control and ownership of the content I create, which leads me to believe that I would prefer to be an independent podcaster.
Call your girlfriend podcast: institution graphic.
Podcasting Variants
A Podcast variant explains the broadcasting style of podcasting. It is recognised in the podcasting community that there are six main variants. Enhanced podcasts, Podcast novels, Video podcast, Oggcast, Political podcast and pod guide.
Enhanced podcasts are a combination of graphic images and audio; the images are usually appropriate to the theme of the podcast. They also contain hyperlinks, chapter markers and artwork. [19]
A podcast novel is a format which combines podcasts and audiobooks. It usually is a long literary fiction; however, the story is recorded in episodes that are delivered online over a period. This form of podcasting can also be used as a form of promotion for independent writers and their new books, it allows for a novelist to gain an audience for the book before production, for example, Cory Doctorow who offered his book "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" as a free download in 2003.[20]
Video podcasts are podcasts which include video clips. Dead End Days is widely considered to be the first video podcast. It was broadcasted from 31st October 2003 through 2004.[21] Video podcasting is a way to interact with an audience visually. A video recording can accompany audio podcasts this is usually uploaded to YouTube. For example, H2 which can be found both on Spotify and Youtube.
OggCast is a podcast which is recorded and distributed exclusively in Ogg Vorbis audio codec. Ogg Vorbis is a form of audio compression used for mid to high quality. [22]
Political podcasting is a podcast which focuses on current events and politics. The presenters use other forms of media such as magazines and newsletters for examples BBC Business Daily.
Pod Guide is an audio podcast; it's a file which displays a picture and a number on a corresponding map. The listener can pick a chapter in the series and follow along with an interactive map which allows them to have an immersive experience. [23]
Podcasting formats
According to Colin Gray, founder of the podcast host. There are seven standard formats of podcasting. The solo podcast, The Co-Hosted podcast, The interview, The Round Table, The start-up podcast, UK Business start-up and Quick-Umentary. I will be focusing on the solo podcast, The Co-Hosted podcast, the interview, and The Round Table, as these are the podcasting formats I am considering to use in my podcast, by the end of this essay I will conclude what format I’ll be using.
The solo podcast is considered to be the easiest of the podcast formats because you’re just discussing a topic by yourself and recording it. It is believed that it is mostly an ad-lib podcast however it can be scripted. The characteristics of this podcast format are hearing one person speaks. For example, “Congratulations with Chris D’Elia”, this podcast focuses on stories about his time travelling around the world for his various comedy shows. There are also mentions of his own experiences and opinions outside of the show.
From listening to “Congratulations with Chris D’Elia” podcast I have identified advantages and disadvantages of the show.
Advantages:
The way it is presented is easy to follow, as there is only one voice.
When listening to the podcast, it doesn't feel as though there is any competition for anyone to be heard more than anyone else.
You can schedule the episodes around your schedule.
Disadvantages:
I found the show boring; this could be because of the content. I generally find solo podcasts boring.
The show is carried by one person; there isn’t anyone to bounce of off
The Co-Hosted podcast, is a podcast which has two hosts instead of one. The two hosts are always consistent; they usually consist of the two-people speaking about a topic they feel passionately about to an audience who cares about the same subject. These shows are generally not scripted, because the two hosts will usually work on the podcast pre-production together. For example, “Reasons to be cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Llyod”. The show is “A podcast about ideas” [24] From listening to “Reasons to be cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd” I’ve been able to identify advantages and disadvantages of this podcast format.
Advantages:
It is an excellent way to showcase the personality and relationship of the two hosts.
The hosts can build a healthy relationship with their audience, through their relationship.
Two people carry the show, so the workload is split.
You can share the highs and lows of creating a podcast show.
Disadvantage:
If you fall out with the co-host, the show will have to end or will change.
You have to work on another schedule other than your own.
The co-host’s personality may not bounce off the hosts.
The interview podcast is a podcast which focuses on a host interviewing a range of people over a series. The interview participants are usually being picked by the topic of conversation planned or the theme of the podcast show itself. For Example, “The Adam Buxton Podcast”, The show focuses on people he knows and their adventures in show business. He’s had guests on his show such as Louis Theroux, Mae Martin and Edgar Wright. Since listening to this podcast, I learn advantages and disadvantages of this style of podcast.
Advantage:
The shows are usually standalone shows which mean they're always different and allows for you to flick around the podcast series.
They’re usually not scripted, but they have trigger points in the show, so it flows smoothly.
The host usually has a personal relationship with the participant so you know how they’ll react to certain things being said.
Disadvantage:
You have to work on someone else's schedule, which usually leads to pre-recordings months before the release of the podcast episode.
You might have to make a makeshift studio if the person can’t make it to the studio.
The RoundTable podcasting usually has more than three people speaking on the topic of discussion. There are traditionally trigger points for the conversation, so the team have consistency in the podcast. An excellent example of this is “The Jim Jefferies Show”. “The Jim Jefferies Show” is a podcast which is used as a continuation of “The Jim Jefferies Show” tv show which is broadcasted on comedy central. The episodes focus on what’s been spoken about in the show. I like that you can listen to the podcast without watching the tv episode, from listening to a few episodes of the “The Jim Jefferies Show” I’ve decided on the advantages and disadvantages of doing this style of the show.
Advantages:
A lot is going on in the podcast in regards to the opinions we hear, so it is consistently entertaining.
The personalities bounce off each other which keeps it entertaining.
There are many opinions, which means the topic of conversation can appeal to a wider audience in their niche audience.
The workload can be split between the people in the group.
If you fall out with one person in the group, there are enough people to carry the project.
Disadvantages:
You can quickly move the narrative in the podcast because the group tend to go on tangents.
Not only do you have to work on another person schedule, but you have to work on four or more programs to make the podcast.
Overview:
For my podcast, I will be making an interview shows. I plan on making a series of stand-alone interview podcasts. I feel standalone podcasts, are more interesting because you can listen to the episode and not have to follow through with the rest of the series, so the listener does not commit to the show. It also means that my guests won’t have to commit to various recording sessions. I even believe because of the topics I’ll be speaking about such as applying to university and health, it’ll be more beneficial for the audience to be able to listen to stand-alone.
The solo podcast is considered to be the easiest of the podcast formats because you’re just discussing a topic by yourself and recording it. It is believed that it is mostly an ad-lib podcast however it can be scripted. The characteristics of this podcast format are hearing one person speaks. For example, “Congratulations with Chris D’Elia”, this podcast focuses on stories about his time travelling around the world for his various comedy shows. There are also mentions of his own experiences and opinions outside of the show.
From listening to “Congratulations with Chris D’Elia” podcast I have identified advantages and disadvantages of the show.
Advantages:
The way it is presented is easy to follow, as there is only one voice.
When listening to the podcast, it doesn't feel as though there is any competition for anyone to be heard more than anyone else.
You can schedule the episodes around your schedule.
Disadvantages:
I found the show boring; this could be because of the content. I generally find solo podcasts boring.
The show is carried by one person; there isn’t anyone to bounce of off
The Co-Hosted podcast, is a podcast which has two hosts instead of one. The two hosts are always consistent; they usually consist of the two-people speaking about a topic they feel passionately about to an audience who cares about the same subject. These shows are generally not scripted, because the two hosts will usually work on the podcast pre-production together. For example, “Reasons to be cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Llyod”. The show is “A podcast about ideas” [24] From listening to “Reasons to be cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd” I’ve been able to identify advantages and disadvantages of this podcast format.
Advantages:
It is an excellent way to showcase the personality and relationship of the two hosts.
The hosts can build a healthy relationship with their audience, through their relationship.
Two people carry the show, so the workload is split.
You can share the highs and lows of creating a podcast show.
Disadvantage:
If you fall out with the co-host, the show will have to end or will change.
You have to work on another schedule other than your own.
The co-host’s personality may not bounce off the hosts.
The interview podcast is a podcast which focuses on a host interviewing a range of people over a series. The interview participants are usually being picked by the topic of conversation planned or the theme of the podcast show itself. For Example, “The Adam Buxton Podcast”, The show focuses on people he knows and their adventures in show business. He’s had guests on his show such as Louis Theroux, Mae Martin and Edgar Wright. Since listening to this podcast, I learn advantages and disadvantages of this style of podcast.
Advantage:
The shows are usually standalone shows which mean they're always different and allows for you to flick around the podcast series.
They’re usually not scripted, but they have trigger points in the show, so it flows smoothly.
The host usually has a personal relationship with the participant so you know how they’ll react to certain things being said.
Disadvantage:
You have to work on someone else's schedule, which usually leads to pre-recordings months before the release of the podcast episode.
You might have to make a makeshift studio if the person can’t make it to the studio.
The RoundTable podcasting usually has more than three people speaking on the topic of discussion. There are traditionally trigger points for the conversation, so the team have consistency in the podcast. An excellent example of this is “The Jim Jefferies Show”. “The Jim Jefferies Show” is a podcast which is used as a continuation of “The Jim Jefferies Show” tv show which is broadcasted on comedy central. The episodes focus on what’s been spoken about in the show. I like that you can listen to the podcast without watching the tv episode, from listening to a few episodes of the “The Jim Jefferies Show” I’ve decided on the advantages and disadvantages of doing this style of the show.
Advantages:
A lot is going on in the podcast in regards to the opinions we hear, so it is consistently entertaining.
The personalities bounce off each other which keeps it entertaining.
There are many opinions, which means the topic of conversation can appeal to a wider audience in their niche audience.
The workload can be split between the people in the group.
If you fall out with one person in the group, there are enough people to carry the project.
Disadvantages:
You can quickly move the narrative in the podcast because the group tend to go on tangents.
Not only do you have to work on another person schedule, but you have to work on four or more programs to make the podcast.
Overview:
For my podcast, I will be making an interview shows. I plan on making a series of stand-alone interview podcasts. I feel standalone podcasts, are more interesting because you can listen to the episode and not have to follow through with the rest of the series, so the listener does not commit to the show. It also means that my guests won’t have to commit to various recording sessions. I even believe because of the topics I’ll be speaking about such as applying to university and health, it’ll be more beneficial for the audience to be able to listen to stand-alone.
Podcasting Hosting Sites
Finding a site to host a podcast on can be very hard to find. Podcasts usually take years before they're made into a central stream hosting platform such as Spotify or iTunes When looking at hosting platforms I've decided to focus on independent and free hosting platforms. Personally, when looking for new podcasts to listen to I use SoundCloud, YouTube and Player. FM.
The advantages of streaming on an independent podcast hosting site are, it's free. If the podcast doesn't take off, you won't lose any money nor would you feel cheated. However, if you use a free hosting site, there are usually limitations in regards to what you can post it'll also probably not get noticed unless it has a strong following before the release of the series. There are a few sites which I am considering hosting my podcast on those being: Sound Cloud, PodOmatic and Speaker.
Soundcloud is an online audio distribution platform [25], which enables for people to upload their content for free. Sound cloud also has forums for getting started with podcasting, which would be helpful if I was to hit a stump when uploading my podcast to a site. The site is primarily a music website, so the podcast would probably get brushed under the SoundCloud carpet. When looking for podcasts on SoundCloud, I noticed that the ones you are shown first are between two and five years old. So as a user looking for new content, you'd assume there is no new content and find it elsewhere.
PodOmatic is a free service which also offers paid membership for podcasters to upload their content. They have three different annually paid plans and their free subscription (As seen below). I decided to experiment with the uploading process, and it seems straightforward. The hosting site is also dedicated to podcasting, so the products can't become overpowered by other forms of media. However, there appears to be no way to know how widespread the show gets on a free subscription which is essential if the show is going to be successful.
Picture
The advantages of streaming on an independent podcast hosting site are, it's free. If the podcast doesn't take off, you won't lose any money nor would you feel cheated. However, if you use a free hosting site, there are usually limitations in regards to what you can post it'll also probably not get noticed unless it has a strong following before the release of the series. There are a few sites which I am considering hosting my podcast on those being: Sound Cloud, PodOmatic and Speaker.
Soundcloud is an online audio distribution platform [25], which enables for people to upload their content for free. Sound cloud also has forums for getting started with podcasting, which would be helpful if I was to hit a stump when uploading my podcast to a site. The site is primarily a music website, so the podcast would probably get brushed under the SoundCloud carpet. When looking for podcasts on SoundCloud, I noticed that the ones you are shown first are between two and five years old. So as a user looking for new content, you'd assume there is no new content and find it elsewhere.
PodOmatic is a free service which also offers paid membership for podcasters to upload their content. They have three different annually paid plans and their free subscription (As seen below). I decided to experiment with the uploading process, and it seems straightforward. The hosting site is also dedicated to podcasting, so the products can't become overpowered by other forms of media. However, there appears to be no way to know how widespread the show gets on a free subscription which is essential if the show is going to be successful.
Picture
Speaker is a podcasting site, which allows users to upload content for free but also has a paid service, just like the three above. I experimented with uploading files, and it seems very simple and user-friendly. I also found out that the site has subscription analytics'. Which would be very helpful to learn about user activity which would enable me to keep track of my audience's activity per post, which would help narrow down what the audience finds most interesting.
I've decided that I will post my product on two hosting sites sound cloud and Speaker. I will, however, priorities Speaker because of its audience analytics which would allow for me to make the podcast a hit by creating specific content which is preferred by my audience. I would calculate this by the number of likes and the total number of downloads per show.
Copyright Research
While planning my podcast, I decided I would probably need intro and outro music. Possibly music to divide the conversation into sections. This made me consider the legal restrictions of using favourite ‘chart’ music, and what I can and can’t use. According to the BBC, copyright protected your work and was enforced through the “Copyright Design and patent act 1988”[38]
According to CopyrightUser.Org, if you’re using it for educational purposes, you can use a person's work without asking for permission.[39] I would consider my podcast informative, but they will be on public platforms with there own copyright laws. To avoid any issues I’ll find copyright free music through websites such as beyond. I have instead decided to make my music to prevent any problems with copyrights on my podcast series.
According to CopyrightUser.Org, if you’re using it for educational purposes, you can use a person's work without asking for permission.[39] I would consider my podcast informative, but they will be on public platforms with there own copyright laws. To avoid any issues I’ll find copyright free music through websites such as beyond. I have instead decided to make my music to prevent any problems with copyrights on my podcast series.
Primary research
Podcast's Codes Essay
After listening to “Adam Buxton Podcast” by Adam Buxton, “Happy” by Fearne Cotton and “The Guilty Feminist” by Debra Francis white. I concluded that the genres of podcasting are yet to emerge to a standardised set of conventions due to its relatively new format, which in turn means that there are no set conventions of a podcast. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t identify the conventions of other formats within podcasting. The following essay examines four of its related predecessors - radio broadcasting, film, theatre and advertising - and explores which of these conventions podcasting has inherited.
Radio Broadcasting
Podcasting takes two main conventions from radio broadcasting. -Words & Voice and Music- from radio broadcasting.
Mainstream radio interviews require hosts to have polite, formal and light-hearted mannerisms: this can be regarded as a standard convention. Awareness of tone and interactions with interviewees or co-host(s) is crucial as audience attention depends on the host’s likability: if listeners feel intimidated or undermined they will tune out, negatively impacting listening figures and subsequent profit.
Podcasting takes on a similar relationship between the host and audience-to-be an efficient and charismatic host the podcasting host must keep the following in mind: Be polite, Consistent, Lighthearted and formal (if the podcasting show requires that tone) unlike radio, podcasting appeals to a very niche audience depending on the topic or who's on the show. So if the show calls for the host to speak consistently in slang it would be expected for the host to do so, this isn’t the case with radio broadcasting because they have to appeal to a mass audience.
Like radio, music is used within podcasts to pause conversations and provide entertainment among listeners, preventing boredom among audiences - a tactic frequently used by radio hosts. Their balance between dialogue and music characterises programmes such as "The Frank Skinner Show" on Absolute Radio. Jingles, a short burst of music, serve as an introduction to new topics. ‘The Adam Buxton Podcast’ utilises four jingles per show: an intro promoting the sponsor, another to introduce the show itself, a third to break up the length of a 45-minute podcast and finally an outro. In turn, online listeners can skip sections of the show depending on the jingles they hear. Listeners who would instead fast-forward to their preferred areas of content can use the jingles as spots, which as an active audience member I find myself doing on occasions. This is consequently a tactic I might borrow for my media text.
Film
Upon listening to my three podcasts of choice, there is a distinctly structured format which I believe follows the three-act structure among film narratives. This term refers to linear film plots containing three defining points: Setup, Confrontation and Resolution. The setup of each podcast incorporates either a spoken introduction to what can be expected from the episode or an entertaining introductory game. ‘The Guilty Feminist’ features the latter, in which the hosts of the show humorously explain what they’ve done that week that made them a ‘bad feminist’. In the case of ‘The Adam Buxton Show’ and ‘Happy’, their hosts introduce shows via an overview of discussion topics. Most mainstream films abide by the three-act structure; large franchises such as Marvel utilise it for a sense of continuity and foreshadowing for future releases.
Films and podcasts share auditory technical codes, namely relating to dialogue and diegetic sound. Throughout each exemplary podcast, we can hear a variety of diegetic ambient sound; such as a guest drinking from a glass of water and ice hitting the side of the glass, as heard in Michael Lewis’ episode of ‘The Adam Buxton Show’ and Paloma Faith in ‘Happy’.
Podcasts’ editing process features the choice to either cut away from the conversation or gradually fade away from it - the host determines this transition. Adam Buxton chooses to cut away by playing a jingle: while audiences may find this sudden and uncomfortable, they are inclined to listen to the rest of the conversation and receive a sense of closure, whether by skipping the jingle or listening to it. ‘Happy’, on the other hand, favours a slower fade for easy listening, seamlessly transitioning to new content.
Theatre
In some cases, podcasts are recorded in front of live audiences. The Guilty feminist being a prominent example; this allows for the streamings audiences to have a more immersive experience. Instead then laughing at segments on their own they are accompanied by a large audience who interact with hosts directly.
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Like all non-Royal Chartered institutions, there needs to be sponsoring the show to progress and get more popular this, in turn, can also support the host financially. Sponsoring has to be carefully thought out to appeal to a very niche audience.
I’ve noticed with podcasts the advertisements usually last around 2 minutes, such as the beginning of ‘Happy’ in which Fearne speaks about Garnier skin care (a brand that Feran has had a very long relationship with for many years).
Because Fearne Cotton is in association with Garnier, it would make sense for her to promote them, but if we look at it further Fearne herself is a woman in her 30’s who would dye her hair and use skin products and so are her guests. (examples being the highly well-known Paloma Faith and Dawn French). Fans of these figures will bring in a similar following, cultivating a broad audience and maximising potential revenue for sponsors.
Overall, we can conclude that podcasts are a byproduct of the long-established media formats that have come before it. Due to podcasting still being an emerging format, it appears to contain possible codes that consumers of mainstream media are familiar with, therefore able to fit in alongside their typical media consumption. As a millennial who witnessed the birth of the genre, I am very excited by the yet-unexplored territories of podcasting and how shows will develop in the future. In regards to my podcast, I plan on implementing the three-act structure, so my podcast has a clear narrative structure for the audience to follow. I will also be performing the charm and charisma of the host, through my performance on the show and I will also be using jingles. I will do this, so my podcast makes for easy listening for my audience.
Podcast episode length.
Podcasts do not have a strict episode length. They can run anything between 5 minutes - to an hour plus. It all depends on the interviewee and how good they are at responding to the host. I aim for my podcasts (uncut) to run to 20 minutes. After post it'll probably run to 25 minutes, because I plan on including an overview and music to separate the conversations. Ideally
Kevin Cryptids interview
According to the Kevin Crytids Bio on iTunes it is "An immersive adventure audio drama that follows self-proclaimed Cryptid hunter Kevin Weathers and esteemed journalist Taylor Hunt as they travel across the United States in search of proof that creatures like Bigfoot and Chupacabra walk among us" [45]
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1. Do you listen to podcasts other than your own?
I do not, but the other creators and voices on the show do. One of the creators Mat Edgar is on another podcast about pro wrestling called The Storehorsemen. and the voice of Taylor, Chris Laxamana has his hand in quite a few podcasts with the Podcast One network.
2. In your opinion what makes a podcast stand out?
The idea for the podcast and the passion the creators have for it. I love when you can tell a podcast comes from the heart.
3. What is your podcast about and how long has it been running?
Our podcast is an immersive audio adventure about a reporter and a man's quest to expose the truth about the North American Cryptid aka creatures like Bigfoot.
4. What influenced you to make to podcasts?
We all wanted to make something together, I had been maintaining a blog as the character Kevin, and we thought making it into a podcast would be a fresh idea.
5. How long does it take for you to produce a podcast, what is your process?
It takes about a year for us to write, get guest stars, record lines and then produce all the sounds to make it an immersive adventure. We are complete armatures to the audio drama format, so the first season took us about 2 to 3 years to complete, the second season will be finished within a year.
6. What advice would you give a non-podcaster if they want to start producing podcasts?
Find an idea you are passionate about then don't stop pursuing it, it's hard, and it might feel like no one is listening at first, but if you keep pushing forward you'll end up somewhere you are happy with.
7. Is podcasting your primary source of income?
No, it is not our primary source of income we make 0 dollars from doing it. One day we hope to get paid.
In response, I was not surprised by what Kevin Cryptids told me in the interview. I feel as though his process of creating a podcast is a lot longer than mine but this is because of the process of fantasy podcasts. It'll take me three weeks in full to create the five episode podcast series; this is due to the format and genre of the podcast.I'm also very grateful for his advice.
The Experimentation
On the 8th March, I and my mother recorded a podcast together in Big Boss Studios. When we arrived, the engineer had to fix a wire that was broken from the night before; he did this by tearing off a jack and taping it back together. The cable from that point was fixed, but he sent the runner to buy a new one. We only had an hour in the studio, so we continued to record with the slightly broken wire.
We decided to use the RODE NT2 mic because I wanted to use a mic which had the polar pattern of figure 8. I wanted the mic to prioritise the front and rear, to pick up both myself and my mother. In my final product though I plan on using the Clyde Broadcast STM9 condenser microphone, which is used for radio broadcasting. The RODE NT2 mic is usually used for singing and recording instruments. However, for the experimentation, we used the RODE for convince. I know what the Clyde sounds like, and I know from a technical sound point that it is better for what I want to do.
The experimentation was done so I could learn what it's like to host a podcast and also to get used to the environment itself.
I am proud of this podcast, considering it's the first one I've ever done I feel as though it went well. I am aware that there are errors in it and the format needs some cleaning up. For the actual products, I plan on having a sheet with me when recording which breaks down each episode, so I can plan the product in my head to avoid breaks of silence which appear at 0:53, and the section which was quite straight after. If I had planned more, I would've been able to avoid the break in the podcast.
Also, the slight buzzing sound in the background which was encouraged by the wire breaking as mentioned before, after the podcast was done the engineer did a mic test, and it was clear. While in the studio I edited the podcast, I look at the floor noise with the assistance of the equaliser on logic x pro, and then I bounced the track. I didn't feel as though the track needed any work done. However, for the FMP I will keep in consideration intro and outro music, my preference when listening to podcasts is just to hear the conversation, but it was suggested to me to have intro and outro music possibly. I'm delighted with the length of the podcast; most mainstream podcasts range from 30 minutes to 1 hour. So the distance is a code of podcasting. Hopefully, I can replicate this length in the FMP. |
https://www.spreaker.com/user/10441323/episode-one-experimentation-with-ma
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I asked a classmate to listen to the podcast and give me feedback, which can be seen on the right.
"I would personally prefer if the audio was more crispy as it would feel like someone is talking to me then listening to a podcast. You want to make sure that the person listening is in the conversation (Creating that atmosphere) and not listening to one" I was considering how I could achieve this, and I decided it was through planning the topics of conversation, so they have some credible consideration. Even if they're just written on paper. |
Target audience
Target Audience
I assumed that podcasting generally has a younger audience (people aged 18-35) due to the platforms that they can be found on, Podcasts can usually be found on the internet, audio streaming sites and mobile streaming sites such as iTunes, Spotify and SoundCloud. I also assumed that the most common genre of podcasting was comedy, due to the top chart on Spotify. Three of the top shows are comedy shows, and the other two are entertainment. I decided to research it. Further, I decided to look at the data by Edison Research from a document called “The Infinite Dial 2017”. According to Edison research, 27% [28] of people aged 12-24 listened to podcasts in 2017. However, 31% [29] of people aged 25-54 listened to podcasts. Which surprised me because I assumed younger people would listen to more podcasts because they are technology literate, which in hindsight was wrong to assume. I also researched the most popular genre of podcasting, according to Statista” 44% of respondents stated that they listened to comedy podcasts”. I believe this is because comedy is an easy listen, after a long day you can enjoy some light humour without putting too much thought into it.
I published a questionnaire through Google forms; I was able to obtain 74 answers to my questionnaire. As you can see below 63.5% of the people who answered, do listen to podcasts and 36.5% do not listen to podcasts. Those who do listen to podcasts listen to them on Spotify (31.4%), YouTube (33.3%) and iTunes (41.2%), other options include Soundcloud (41.2%) and Player. FM (9.8%). As you can see iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube and Spotify have a high level of podcasting listeners using their platforms to gain access to their content.
iTunes, Spotify and Player.FM is all private platforms (or platforms you have to pay over the odds to use), but YouTube and Soundcloud are free to use and upload content to. With the data above in mind, I will be using SoundCloud and YouTube to upload my podcasting content. So, I can upload directly to my audience demographic, which is people aged 18-25 63.5% of people who answered my questionnaire fall within that demographic. I also asked what kind of podcasts they listened to: you can see the results below.
I published a questionnaire through Google forms; I was able to obtain 74 answers to my questionnaire. As you can see below 63.5% of the people who answered, do listen to podcasts and 36.5% do not listen to podcasts. Those who do listen to podcasts listen to them on Spotify (31.4%), YouTube (33.3%) and iTunes (41.2%), other options include Soundcloud (41.2%) and Player. FM (9.8%). As you can see iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube and Spotify have a high level of podcasting listeners using their platforms to gain access to their content.
iTunes, Spotify and Player.FM is all private platforms (or platforms you have to pay over the odds to use), but YouTube and Soundcloud are free to use and upload content to. With the data above in mind, I will be using SoundCloud and YouTube to upload my podcasting content. So, I can upload directly to my audience demographic, which is people aged 18-25 63.5% of people who answered my questionnaire fall within that demographic. I also asked what kind of podcasts they listened to: you can see the results below.
As you can see looking at the data it would suggest that 57.7% of people listened to comedy podcasts, 46.2% hear to arts and entertainment, and 42.3% of people listen to healthy living. This is similar to the data captured by Statista which shows that 44% of respondents listened to comedy, their favourable response is probably smaller than mine because I assume they had a more significant sample of people that participated in the survey.
In regards to my podcast project, I plan on making a comedy/interview style podcast, which I will upload to SoundCloud, Speaker (due to my previous research) and YouTube.
I do not want to appeal to mass audiences, but I will call to a niche audience of people who are aged 18-25, either gender and from a working-class- middle-class background.
My data collected through the survey influences the age, I won't be picking a gender because I would like the podcast to be accessible to anyone my age, I also won't be creating content which is mainly feminine topics and the class is dictated by the issues I'll cover. Such as religion, university, healthy living, growing up and being your best self.
In regards to my podcast project, I plan on making a comedy/interview style podcast, which I will upload to SoundCloud, Speaker (due to my previous research) and YouTube.
I do not want to appeal to mass audiences, but I will call to a niche audience of people who are aged 18-25, either gender and from a working-class- middle-class background.
My data collected through the survey influences the age, I won't be picking a gender because I would like the podcast to be accessible to anyone my age, I also won't be creating content which is mainly feminine topics and the class is dictated by the issues I'll cover. Such as religion, university, healthy living, growing up and being your best self.
Social media campaigns
To go along with the podcasting and logo project, I decided to find some information about Social media campaigns because I appreciate that personal and professional accounts are different.
After reading Social Media Campaigns: Strategies for public relations and marketing written by Carolyn Mae Kim. The book is very lengthy and covers a range of topics, so I decided to narrow down the relevant content into a diagram. I also interpreted the information and made it relevant to my project, for instance, the mood board for gathering information.
After reading Social Media Campaigns: Strategies for public relations and marketing written by Carolyn Mae Kim. The book is very lengthy and covers a range of topics, so I decided to narrow down the relevant content into a diagram. I also interpreted the information and made it relevant to my project, for instance, the mood board for gathering information.
After having a look at the book, I noticed that planning and scheduling is the most crucial aspect of having an effective plan for your social media content. When planning the social media account, I will have to make a chart using excel scheduling the release of my material.
Twitter Analysis
I decided I would analyse the characteristics of various podcasters to see what I should have in various places and general content I should post.
Social Media Icon Sizes
Over View: Now that I know the sizes for different icon sizes and content sizes, so I can avoid having any issues with uploading. It is also helpful to know when creating original graphics for the various websites in Photoshop I can set the pixels and i'll know how much space I have to work with.
Logos and HashTags
When deciding if I would make a logo, I wanted to research the characteristics of podcasting logos. I looked at the podcasting logos of the podcasts I'm analysing for my codes and conventions essay. All of the podcasts have a comedy and interviewing format, which is the same genre and format of my own podcast.
The Jim Jefferies log gives you all the information you need about the podcast at first glance. Without analysing it, the logo already informs us of the name of the show, who hosts it and what genre it is. This is done through, the host is the central icon in the logo, the name of the show itself which is a bold san serif, looks layered and sleek. The genre is evident because of the network sponsoring which is right next to the hosts the first name. In yellow, to divide it away from the logo and name.
The logo priorities the name by making it the most significant and boldest object in the picture, this is done so we are immediately informed of the name of the show/brand of the show, this is emphasised by the use of the thick red line under the logo name.
The use of Jim Jefferies as the central figure in the picture gives the impression that he's the primary person in the podcast because he's centre of the image and facing the audience. It also provides the idea that the podcast will have a focus on dark humour content.
I've concluded that the target audience for this podcast are people aged are 18-29. The Jim Jeffries show podcast is a subsidiary of "The Jim Jeffries Show" which is broadcasted on comedy central. To conclude the target audience, I decided to look at the viewer's rates on IMDB of the show, which shows that 18-29-year-olds rate the show with an 8.2[28] with men in that category rating the show 8.2[29] and women rating it 7.1[30].
From this logo, I have taken that using a real photo of a person besides a cartoon can work well if that person is instantly recognisable to the public. I also like the use of dark colours on a poping white, but I will avoid using actual photos of myself due to the range of people I'll have on the show, and I wouldn't want it to be exclusive about me.
The logo priorities the name by making it the most significant and boldest object in the picture, this is done so we are immediately informed of the name of the show/brand of the show, this is emphasised by the use of the thick red line under the logo name.
The use of Jim Jefferies as the central figure in the picture gives the impression that he's the primary person in the podcast because he's centre of the image and facing the audience. It also provides the idea that the podcast will have a focus on dark humour content.
I've concluded that the target audience for this podcast are people aged are 18-29. The Jim Jeffries show podcast is a subsidiary of "The Jim Jeffries Show" which is broadcasted on comedy central. To conclude the target audience, I decided to look at the viewer's rates on IMDB of the show, which shows that 18-29-year-olds rate the show with an 8.2[28] with men in that category rating the show 8.2[29] and women rating it 7.1[30].
From this logo, I have taken that using a real photo of a person besides a cartoon can work well if that person is instantly recognisable to the public. I also like the use of dark colours on a poping white, but I will avoid using actual photos of myself due to the range of people I'll have on the show, and I wouldn't want it to be exclusive about me.
Adam Buxton is well known for his stand up comedy, his collaboration with Joe Cornish and his appearances in films like "Hot Fuzz" in which he plays an annoying journalist. Adam is known for his quirky upbeat style of performing which is illustrated through the use of bright colours and bold outlines.
When looking at the logo, the structure immediately draws you to the central figure, which is a realistic cartoon style of Adam Buxton face which makes up of the logo space. The face is a massive grin suggesting that the content will be very family friendly.
The use of Sketchy bold lettering gives the impression that the show won't take itself to seriously and is created and intended to be a form of comedy. I also believe that the use of the thick white lines surrounding him, to implicate further that he is the primary host involved in the project, which may need to be reinforced because he's most famous for his work with Joe Cornish.
The logo is very simplistic but effective as it tells the audience all the information it needs to know immediately. I also like the clash of bright red on bright blue; I feel it divides the texts nicely without a conflict of colours. I believe "The Adam Buxton" part of the logo is read and separate because Adam Buxton the name in itself is a brand, its been made to stand out so we can first identify what the podcast is and secondly so we can identify a famous person creates this.
I've concluded that the target audience for this podcast is people aged between 25-55, Adam Buxton was on tv in the late 90's so older people would recognise his figure. The text would suggest that he is aiming for a younger audience because it isn't what I would consider sophisticated it's playful. I also believe that his podcast is designed for the middle-class. When looking at his podcast playlist, people who he invites on his show are people such as Lousie Theroux (Journalist, documentary filmmaker and broadcaster), Michael Lewis (Novelist on economics and theorist) and Diane Morgan (Obscure comedian).
From this logo I will take the use of a minimalistic character to indicate the person who hosts the show, I also like the use of bright colours opposed from darker tones as demonstrated in the Jim Jeffries Logo. I feel as though this logo is a better representative of the genre it's representing.
When looking at the logo, the structure immediately draws you to the central figure, which is a realistic cartoon style of Adam Buxton face which makes up of the logo space. The face is a massive grin suggesting that the content will be very family friendly.
The use of Sketchy bold lettering gives the impression that the show won't take itself to seriously and is created and intended to be a form of comedy. I also believe that the use of the thick white lines surrounding him, to implicate further that he is the primary host involved in the project, which may need to be reinforced because he's most famous for his work with Joe Cornish.
The logo is very simplistic but effective as it tells the audience all the information it needs to know immediately. I also like the clash of bright red on bright blue; I feel it divides the texts nicely without a conflict of colours. I believe "The Adam Buxton" part of the logo is read and separate because Adam Buxton the name in itself is a brand, its been made to stand out so we can first identify what the podcast is and secondly so we can identify a famous person creates this.
I've concluded that the target audience for this podcast is people aged between 25-55, Adam Buxton was on tv in the late 90's so older people would recognise his figure. The text would suggest that he is aiming for a younger audience because it isn't what I would consider sophisticated it's playful. I also believe that his podcast is designed for the middle-class. When looking at his podcast playlist, people who he invites on his show are people such as Lousie Theroux (Journalist, documentary filmmaker and broadcaster), Michael Lewis (Novelist on economics and theorist) and Diane Morgan (Obscure comedian).
From this logo I will take the use of a minimalistic character to indicate the person who hosts the show, I also like the use of bright colours opposed from darker tones as demonstrated in the Jim Jeffries Logo. I feel as though this logo is a better representative of the genre it's representing.
The guilty feminist is a podcast which focuses on feminism and the things that feminists do which is considered to be anti-feminist. Debra Frances-White is the primary host of the show, as illustrated by her being the central figure in the logo.
The structured of this logo is very interesting because it brings two styles together, the use of a real image of the person and the use of graphics surrounding her, so she is the only figure in the logo. The purpose of the handwritten san-serif title gives the logo a personal touch which makes the audience feel more in contact with the host and its content. The "GF" is given a 3D effect by the use of two layers in yellow and white the colour pallet of the logo, the "GF" pops and is the second thing I'm drawn to. The use of the black speech bubble layer to divide the yellow from the logo is in the shape of a speech bubble which suggests the guilty feminists will have a lot to say.
I believe the target audience for this podcast will be middle-class females aged 25-55, this is because of a few reasons. Firstly the host isn't a young woman (18-25), so she won't be able to speak to a younger generation also the content of her podcasts things such as Getting older, Motherhood and Ethical clothing. The title suggests it'll be for women, even though men can be feminists too the content of the podcast still suggests it'll be for women.
What I've taken away from analysing the logo, that a leading figure as a person can work as long as that's all it is. With too much visual information, it could be distracting, but with this logo, all the information you need to know about the podcast is laid out in front of us.
The structured of this logo is very interesting because it brings two styles together, the use of a real image of the person and the use of graphics surrounding her, so she is the only figure in the logo. The purpose of the handwritten san-serif title gives the logo a personal touch which makes the audience feel more in contact with the host and its content. The "GF" is given a 3D effect by the use of two layers in yellow and white the colour pallet of the logo, the "GF" pops and is the second thing I'm drawn to. The use of the black speech bubble layer to divide the yellow from the logo is in the shape of a speech bubble which suggests the guilty feminists will have a lot to say.
I believe the target audience for this podcast will be middle-class females aged 25-55, this is because of a few reasons. Firstly the host isn't a young woman (18-25), so she won't be able to speak to a younger generation also the content of her podcasts things such as Getting older, Motherhood and Ethical clothing. The title suggests it'll be for women, even though men can be feminists too the content of the podcast still suggests it'll be for women.
What I've taken away from analysing the logo, that a leading figure as a person can work as long as that's all it is. With too much visual information, it could be distracting, but with this logo, all the information you need to know about the podcast is laid out in front of us.
Russel Brand is a comedian, documentary maker, writer, advisor and a recovering drug addict. My first impression of his podcast logo is that it'll be very serious and mature. This is suggested through the use of a dark blue tinted colour with his title and name dominating the logo with his actual figure off to the side. When looking at this logo I get a sense of importance, this is suggested through the structure of the logo with the title being the centre of the image with Russell himself being taken to the side. There's a lot of blank space to the right of the photo, but this is done to empathises the title. The title is a Bright san serif white, with a dark tinted blue. I find the use of "With Russell Brand" appealing because it further enforced that Russell Brand the name in itself is a brand.
I believe the target audience for this podcast is middle-aged and middle-aged of either gender. I assume this because of the use of dark colours which I consider mature tones, not something I'd pick for my generation and I believes middle class because of the content of his podcasts. He often has doctors, politicians and financial advisors on his podcasts discussing the latest revelations in their fields.
I've taken from this logo that using bold text to cover the whole logo can be useful, but I believe it can also be limiting for people who are inticed visually. I think this logo is boring, so I wouldn't click on it to listen to it.
In conclusion, logos can have a variety of looks and styles which can influence a person to listen to the podcast. I like the simple graphic form of "The Adam Buxton Podcast", the colours and cartoon style match either well, so I'm leaning towards making a logo in a similar style to his. Rather than something like "Under the skin with Russell brand" I feel as though the style is too serious for a comedy show, so I am steering away from dark colours and bold centre text.
Logo primary research
I decided to have a better understanding of what my logo should look like, so I made a questioner about typography and logo design. As you can see below. I was only able to obtain 16 responses which were somewhat disappointing because I can usually get more than 50 responses, this could've been because of how I advertised the questioner, and it's possible others paid attention to the podcasting questioner. I'm still not sure.
I decided I would ask questions about colour combinations and typography. I decided early on that my podcasts logo that it would be a graphic design instead of a jpg and I also decided that I would keep it to a handwritten font because I believe it is more appropriate for my product and gives it a personal touch.
I decided I would ask questions about colour combinations and typography. I decided early on that my podcasts logo that it would be a graphic design instead of a jpg and I also decided that I would keep it to a handwritten font because I believe it is more appropriate for my product and gives it a personal touch.
As you can see: 87.5% of people prefer to look at a graphic design logo instead of a realistic/photo of the host. Which I was initially planning to do, I've proposed the design concept and wanted to see how people would be responded to it, as you can see 31.3% of people did not like the design, and I was given feedback appropriately. (As you can see above). My biggest concern was typography, as you can see 68.8% of people liked font option 5. This is the highest response on this question so I'll be using option 5 (which is my personal preference).
Podcasting Merchandise
Promotional merchandise is the development of products with the logo or slogan on them that represent a company, brand or an image.[] These products are either given away or sold cheaply at exhibitions, tradeshows and conferences. This style of promotional marketing is often referred to as guerrilla marketing. Guerrilla marketing is an advertising strategy that focuses on low-cost unconventional marketing tactics. It is often a tactic taken on by smaller business but in recent years established multi-million dollar companies such as Coca-cola and Redbull have also taken on guerrilla marketing, for example, a 2010 video that was realised by coca cola which showed students buying drinks from a vending machine, but instead getting unlimited drinks or flowers. The reactions were recorded with secret cameras and then pieced together to make a video which was distributed on youtube.
To give my project more intensity, I decided I would conceptualise some promotional products, before doing this I decided I would look at other podcast creators and the content they've developed for there audience. Usually, merchandise is something that would be generated by a commercial podcast series, but I don't see why it shouldn't be applied to independent podcasters.
To give my project more intensity, I decided I would conceptualise some promotional products, before doing this I decided I would look at other podcast creators and the content they've developed for there audience. Usually, merchandise is something that would be generated by a commercial podcast series, but I don't see why it shouldn't be applied to independent podcasters.
Podcasting episode annotations:
A glance at how research has influenced me:
Over the last few weeks, I've spent hours working on research. I dedicated my time to tasks such as learning about the difference between podcasting and radio broadcasting to actually, making a podcast episode. My research has also included learning about social media campaigns and logo primary research. All the research I've done has influenced my final product in one way or another, I now have a better understanding of the production of podcasts and the struggles a podcaster can have in regards to audience knowledge and whether or not to pursue independent podcasting. If we look at the in-depth essay in regards to independent and commercial podcasting we can see that not only do I now have an understanding of the financial benefits of commercial podcasting but that I now have a better understanding of the shelf life of a podcast due to its distribution with all of this in mind I still decided to distribute my podcast independently (which can be read above under Podcasting Networks vs Independent podcasting)
Over the last few weeks, I've spent hours working on research. I dedicated my time to tasks such as learning about the difference between podcasting and radio broadcasting to actually, making a podcast episode. My research has also included learning about social media campaigns and logo primary research. All the research I've done has influenced my final product in one way or another, I now have a better understanding of the production of podcasts and the struggles a podcaster can have in regards to audience knowledge and whether or not to pursue independent podcasting. If we look at the in-depth essay in regards to independent and commercial podcasting we can see that not only do I now have an understanding of the financial benefits of commercial podcasting but that I now have a better understanding of the shelf life of a podcast due to its distribution with all of this in mind I still decided to distribute my podcast independently (which can be read above under Podcasting Networks vs Independent podcasting)