Our time is precious. So, we shouldn’t waste our time with substandard stuff. You know. Stuff like podcasts.
I’ll admit… that was hard to even get my fingers to type! Even the thought of podcasts being a waste of time is nonsensical to a person like myself. Considering I’ve spent a considerable about of money and time to produce a podcast. I’ve even delved into the video side of the podcast production.
But, at its core, podcasts are nothing more than old-timey radio 2.0. Argue that fact all you wish, but it’s true.
Just as the radio did to newspapers – You remember when newspapers said the radio would flop? Sure, I have no idea as I’m too young to have been around, but I did read it on the interwebs so it must have some merit. – and the television killed the radio star. Times change. Some people, however, don’t.
They get stuck thinking that their little world of how they see and experience things is the only way it should be. Case in point was a post I read that caught my attention titled: “Are podcasts killing music or just wasting our time?“
If you have enough time to take out of your day to read something this long – when I printed it out it came out on five sheets of paper – you’ll quickly come to the understanding that this author, not only likes the sound of his own words, but that he likes to write.
Don’t get me wrong. I can enjoy a person who has their way with words and in their ability to craft those words into sentences and structure it in such a way that captures a reader. But where I get lost? I get lost when the writer drones on and on with the hopes of dragging the reader down into a pit with them hoping on all hopes that they will finally give in and accept their argument.
Now, before I lose you, I want to touch on this post I read about if podcasts are killing music or if they are just wasting our time. Let’s dig in. Shall we?
I completely understand the author wondering if music is in a death spiral. But, it’s NOT due to podcasts. It’s because of the interwebs. It’s much easier for people to post their music today than it was in the glory years of arena rock. Today, you don’t need a record label to get your music heard. You just need access to the interwebs.
Much like writing, and music… podcasts are, dare I say, subjective. If you don’t like one, it doesn’t mean that all podcasts are a waste of time. It just means you didn’t like that one. I do NOT like AC/DC. So, if we accept this concept, then we can assume that all music is bad. But that just isn’t so! As the author suggests, there is just so much music out there to comb through and listen to and explore.
The same can be said about podcasts. If you have an interest in politics. There’s a podcast for that. If you like powerlifting. There’s a podcast for that. If you enjoy writing. You guessed it. There’s a podcast for it. Heck, there’s even podcasts about high-level astrophysics.
I think what the author is missing is that podcasts aren’t really different that words on paper or a screen. As a writer takes their reader on a journey with their carefully crafted words and phrases, so does a podcaster as they carefully control their speech cadence and intonation.
I think if I wanted to sum up my answer to the author’s post on whether podcasts are killing music or wasting our time is this: No. Only if you let it.
Now, I’ll admit I am struggling with one thing as I conclude this… Do I turn this post/response into a podcast episode or just leave it be?