Culture Study Podcast Is the Golden Age of Podcasts Over?
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Oct 23, 2024 Nicholas Quah, a prominent staff writer at Vulture and expert in the podcasting landscape, dives into the current state of the medium. He discusses the rise and fall of podcasting, analyzing shifts since the pandemic. The conversation explores contrasting advertising strategies between large networks and independent creators, as well as the nuances of monetization through platforms like Patreon. Quah also addresses the delicate balance of authenticity versus polish in content creation, emphasizing how editing shapes audience engagement.
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Early Podcast Memory From 2003
- Anne Helen Peterson first heard 'podcast' via a 2003 radio show offering content on iPods.
- That early moment framed podcasting as portable radio and foreshadowed later cycles.
Podcasting's Four Eras
- Podcasting passed through distinct eras: prehistory, a golden age, pandemic boom, and a post-burst contraction.
- Easy money and experimentation produced growth but also unsustainable business models, says Nicholas Quah.
Pandemic Fueled Growth, Then Contraction
- Pandemic conditions accelerated both production and listening, expanding the market unexpectedly.
- Rising interest rates and tighter investment later forced discipline and contraction across the industry.