My Thoughts on Spotify joining the Podcasting Arena in a Major Way
Spotify is creating a podcast directory for select podcasts!
It's a cash grab... not a big deal.
Spotify is opening their podcast directory to all podcasts!
Okay it's not a cash grab but a way to create a single application for Music/Podcasts. I don't subscribe to Spotify but this would definitely help with reach. I LIKE IT!
Spotify has acquired Gimlet and Anchor!
WTF! This is a problem! 🔥😠
Why the sudden change of opinion?
I take issue with large companies having Large control of multiple industries. When you have to be on a service, you start to get the issues that arise today.
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"If you are doing video, you MUST have a YouTube channel. Otherwise people won't find your videos."
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"If you are a photographer, you MUST have an Instagram account so people can see your awesome work!"
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"If you are a professional, you MUST have a LinkedIn page or you won't be taken seriously!"
All of the examples above are products that belong to companies that make money off of the information and content that you put in it. While an elite few are able to make a career selling their content for Ad-Dollars, many reduce themselves to "cheap and easy" tactics for likes and views.
But What Does that Have to Do with Spotify?
When you are creating a podcast on any major hosting service, you now have buttons that allow you to upload your podcast to Apple's Podcast directory and Spotify's. This makes things easy for podcasters to get their content out.
But what happens when you combine the easiest way for reach and the easiest way for creation?
You get a MUST statement!
My fear is that the world of podcasting will eventually be reduced to Anchor.fm podcasts with Spotify making money from the ads that they can inject in between (and during) your episodes without adequate compensation to the creators.
- People are not okay with the 70/30 split of the apple model.
- They are not okay with the content factories that are making hundreds of dollars for listicles and click-bait articles.
- They are definitely not okay with the Ad-Pocalypse and the paywalling of content!
So what can we do about it.
1 - Contribute Financially
Support creators you love so much with your direct dollars so they don't have to rely on Ad-revenue. Many bloggers and community leaders are now doing premium memberships. The JayandJay.Media Network of podcasts use Ko-fi as a tipping system that allows you to make one-time or regular donation based on your desire to support the projects.
2 - Become an Ambassador for Independent Creators
Sharing really is caring. When people are encouraged to try something new, it helps when that thing is endorsed by a third-party that they trust. Simply put, your friends will listen to YOU before they listen to the creators.
(BTW Don't forget to share this with your friends as well. 😉!)
3 - Strive to make content easily available in a variety of formats
Having multiple outlets for your content marketing strategy make it easier for you to get the word out to your existing and potential audience. It also gives you options.
We do not publish our content to Stitcher because we do not agree with their content policy, but you can still find our content on Spotify (for now) and the Apple Podcast Directory. We also have a public RSS feed for each of our podcasts. We are also hoping to promote ourselves on independent podcast directories like Podchaser.
4 - Create for the Sake of Creating (and not for money grabs)
This is a business or pleasure conversation here. Obviously if you are creating because it is your job to create then do what is best to keep you in your "dream" job. But if you are trying to make some money from your hobby, remember...
passion > money
I have been in the position of trying to turn a hobby into a profitable business (that is what this is!), but the times where burnout and poor decisions came fastest was when I started thinking more like a business person and less like a creator.
That is why we created the business around letting creators focus on creating while we provided affordable ways to help them market what they were making.
Our goal isn't to make the largest marketing firm. We don't want nor can we sustain becoming a MUST-statement. Our goal is to:
- (3) help make your content easy to find and discover so you can focus on creating content that your audience
- (2) will want to be an ambassador for and
- (1) support your work financially!
The Future for Podcasting is a Mystery
I don't think podcasting is going away anytime soon, but I do think we need to make sure that we are doing our part to help keep it independent.