Agreed - media organisations, with top-down attitudes and old-media thinking continue to invest in podcasting as part of their new media landgrab, without adopting new models for monetization, and without investing time and energy into the relationships that will make podcasting work outside its place as an adjunct to their existing broadcast or publishing output.

Meanwhile, many small to medium-sized businesses and institutions, unhampered by large overheads and “old media” attitudes, continue to find enterprising ways to employ podcasting and to generate revenue from podcasting, using both B2B and B2C models, dosed liberally with the old fashioned “let’s try things out and see what works” methodology.

“According to the survey, 6 million people in the UK have now downloaded a podcast - up from 4.3 million in November 2007. And 3.7 million now say they listen to a podcast each week, up from 1.87 million in last year’s survey.

The average podcast user subscribes to 3.6 podcasts and spends just over an hour a week listening to them. Comedy and music continue to be the two favourite genres.

iTunes remains the preferred software for almost three-quarters of users who subscribe to podcasts, while a fifth simply download directly from the website via their browser.

According to the survey, 79% of people listen to podcasts on their home computer and 66% listen via a portable audio/mp3 player.

Podcasting appears to also have a marginally positive effect on live radio listening. Almost 15% said they listened to more live radio since they began downloading podcasts.

While 10% stated they listened to less live radio after starting to download podcasts, 39% said they were now listening to radio programmes they did not listen to previously.” (Guardian)

Download the research PDF here.

Here’s an embedded player which uses content from Phreadz (a threaded multi-media social network currently in closed beta) and Qik (live mobile streaming) which contains the presentation from two different angles - plus replies to the thread as they come in on video.

Many thanks to Philip from Viacom for his impromptu camera work…

As promised to the attendees, here are the links to the websites mentioned:

Our Man Inside - Tony Benn interview

Blogger Advocacy - Creative Choices

Skitch - use of Seesmic by Christian Payne

UK Podcasters Association

John Cleese’s Spanking New Headcast

Seesmic

Phreadz (closed beta site)

Rise and Shine - interactive show by Daily Song Ltd.

Brian Greene and Sinéad Murnane from doop in Dublin, have been making a great success of Talking Voices Ireland. Both join the board of Directors.

Michael Franklin, formerly of TalkSPORT and The Wireless Group joins the board as Financial Director and corporate strategist.

One of the best-known podcasters in the world, Ewan Spence, the man behind the BAFTA-nominated Edinburgh Fringe podcast, presenter of TPN Rock podcast and radio station Leith FM joins Talking Voices. Ewan gives us a UK focus on conference coverage, a sector which has been thriving for us in Ireland.

Janet Parkinson who did so much hard work in establishing Talking Voices has stepped down as Managing Director but remains a stakeholder in the business.

Senior Producer Mark Hunter earlier this year was made an offer he could not refuse - running a Scotland-based company, Podcast Matters, where he takes on the role of MD, and we wish him good luck in his new venture.

And finally, we’re pleased to announce that the company is now operating from fully specified studio premises in Denmark Street, London.

The studio runs a Myriad radio playout system, and has ISDN, internet streaming, audio and video post-production, and very nice views of London’s West End.

Key players from many sides of the podcasting industry, including Apple Inc., BlogTalkRadio, Kiptronic, Wizzard Media/LibSyn, NPR, Nielsen Online, Personal Life Media, Inc., Podbridge, PodTech, PodShow, Podtrac, Porter Novelli, Rev3 and Vogele & Associates have taken on the task of standardising podcasting, along the lines of “related industry organizations, publishers and agencies such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA).”

Five initial committees will be formed immediately to address: advertising standards, measurement, outreach/education, terminology and membership. Membership application is now open on the ADM Web site at www.downloadablemedia.org.

Nominations for the executive seats, advisory board and committee chairs will take place this summer.

“This is a big move towards the establishment of podcast metrics, which interestingly doesn’t include Google, Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo but which is backed by Apple and Wizzard,” said Dean Whitbread, Talking Voices.

On current estimates, Wizzard via LibSyn control about 30% of RSS internet traffic. RSS derived traffic - blogs, podcasts, etc. - now accounts for an estimated 10% of total internet activity.

Still wearing the “just bought by Google” tshirt, popular rival Feedburner’s system controls around 60% of all RSS traffic.

If significant numbers of independent publishers join ADM, it’s more likely that its influence in determining exactly what measurements to apply to podcasting could extend further, with the rest of the industry converging on shared standards.

Based just outside Manchester in the north west of England, John is extremely well placed to serve the needs of companies and brands who prefer to work with a local resource. His location furthers Talking Voices aim of geographical diversity, which has worked so well already in Scotland and Ireland.

“John is a welcome addition to the team, bringing with him a great deal of intelligence, enthusiasm, and professional media experience,” said Talking Voices Managing Director Janet Parkinson.

John’s next commission is to produce for BBC Radio 5 Live’s “Pods and Blogs” segment of the “Up All Night” programme.

This article is an overview of how corporates are embracing the new medium, including Reuters, C|Net, Adidas, Reebok, Toyota, Nissan, Sun Computers and IBM.

Here’s Talking Voice’s Egg Desoto putting his feet up in the new office he designed for Cheeze.

We will be attending PodCamp Europe, June 12th - 13th in Stockholm, Sweden. Hope to see you there.

With plenty of chances to ask questions and the opportunity to discuss social media in depth with experienced producers and active business users, these seminars are a priceless addition to your fund of knowledge, offering you insight and a putting an expert team at your disposal for an afternoon.

Talking Voices Social Media seminars are half-day events held for small groups, designed for the corporations, institutions, and enterprises, dealing with the popular social media phenomenon, with an emphasis on podcasting and its practical application.

We give detailed background information for the curious to grow their understanding of RSS-driven Web 2.0 mechanisms, as well as in-depth analysis for would-be practitioners. We give advice on production, with demonstrations and practical hands-on experience; we look at establishing editorial policy, communications, feedback loops, and community building; and we deal with the technical, legal and commercial knowledge you need to run a podcast successfully, including how to tell whether your podcast IS successful.

Sessions cost from £295 per person per 4 hours for early birds, £345 standard rate and contain no more than 25 people per session to ensure the benefit to attendees.

Our next seminar is planned for Central London in late July and we have 15 spaces left.

Email us to be notified of our next seminar in your area.

TESTIMONIALS

“Just to say how much I enjoyed my intro to podcasting yesterday. It was great to hear about what’s hot and how it all happens. I know how much work goes into setting up a seminar like that – so thanks for pulling it off with such flair. Great line up of speakers and lots of inspiration.” - Louise Dalziel, Matchless Content

“Thanks again for hosting the seminar yesterday - events like this are really useful to raise awareness and get people thinking about the potential for social media.” - Andy Hyde, Consultant.

There are two types of Internet users, those that use RSS and those that don’t. This video is for the people who could save time using RSS, but don’t know where to start.

Jamie Riddell’s well received Web 2.0 keynote speech covered podcasting, social bookmarks, UGC, CRM, Second Life and Twitter.

What I really like about this compilation is that everyone seems to find something different to say, not only about their own podcast and reasons for doing it, but about the wonderful world of podcasting and potential for the medium.

In my own 2 minutes at the end, I give a strong shout out for PodcampUK and a direct appeal for sponsorship and involvement. Let’s hope this succeeds in boosting this excellent cross-community grassroots project in the UK.

Let’s also hope that the CD, with it’s nod towards user-friendly convenience in a conventional format, succeeds in presenting UK podcasters as the gifted, hardworking and eminently sponsorable bunch we truly are.

http://podcastnation.co.uk/tasters/