When The Artists Podcast Better Than Radio Does

A lesson in creativity from Lady Antebellum:

Lee Brice’s Top 10 hit “Love Like Crazy” got the star treatment from Lady A today in the band’s Wednesday Webisode. Thanks to Lady A’s clever way with a lyric, the title track to Brice’s debut CD is now a love song to…biscuits and gravy and the gastronomic marvels of the Waffle House menu.

"This is really funny, and I am honored that Lady A decided to tackle my song," Brice said. "I understand that mine is the second song they've spoofed and only two songs in, they've perfected the craft. Hey guys, how about a writing session in the next few weeks?”

“Love Like Crazy” spends its 48th week on the charts this week, making it one of only four titles to spend at least 48 weeks on the Billboard Country Songs chart in the magazine’s 66-year history. On the flip side, Brice co-wrote Garth Brooks’ smash hit “More Than a Memory,” the only song in the chart’s history to debut at the #1 position.

A quick consulting tip from Jaye, for what it's worth, Lady A: yes, "television" is a mass medium and so saying to the audience "some of you" as if you're talking to a group of people is the way most folks have traditionally done things on old media, web video (and radio!) is at best experienced one to one.

Improve your impact and level of engagement by talking to one person. Drop the editorial "we" and stop reminding me that you're talking to a camera, a microphone and a world-wide web.

Talk to ME, never "us."

Don't say "we," say "you."

Podcast Popularity Grows

Nearly one-fifth (19%) of US internet users say they have downloaded a podcast so they can view it or listen to it later - up from 12% in August 2006 and 7% in February/April 2006 - according to (pdf) the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

That percentage continues to increase as devices with digital audio capability, such as iPods and MP3 players, gain wider use and a larger selection of podcasts becomes available, Pew said.

Though podcast downloading is on the rise, it remains relatively uncommon on a daily basis. Among those who say they download podcasts, just 17% do so on a typical day. Men, people under age 50, and more experienced internet users are most likely to have downloaded a podcast.

Among the key findings of the Pew study:

• 22% of male internet users (vs. 16% of online women) report ever having downloaded a podcast.

• Men and women are equally likely (3%) to download podcasts on a typical day.
• 23% of those under 50 say they have downloaded a podcast and 4% “downloaded one yesterday,” compared with 13% and 1% of their older counterparts.
• The percentage of younger generations downloading podcasts has nearly doubled since 2006.
• Internet users with six or more years of internet experience are significantly more likely than those with less experience to have downloaded a podcast, and they are more likely to download podcasts on a typical day.
• Internet users with broadband access are more likely to download podcasts. Those who subscribe to premium home broadband services are even more likely to download podcasts.

Are You Podcasting? When Will You Start? (Now?)

eMarketer estimates that there was a 285% increase in size of the US podcast audience in 2007, a growth to 18.5 million.

Furthermore, that audience will increase to 65 million in 2012. Of those listeners, 25 million will be “active” users who tune in at least once a week.

With numbers like that, advertisers are starting to take notice.

Podcast: You HAVE TO Work Outside.. How Do You Keep Cool?

I admit it, I used that headline from a WSOC-FM podcast by Catherine Lane because if I had used the headline "Making Money With Podcasts, Here's How CBS Radio Does It In Charlotte" would YOU have have clicked on this item?