According to Future Tense columnist John Gordon, two different organizations have formed to represent podcasters in situations dealing with issues including royalties, advertising, collecting listener stats, and monitoring professional conduct.
His post reads as follows:
Podcasts, or more generically, downloaded media, run the gamut from network TV shows to grade school class projects. In most instances, no one knows for sure how many people listen to any particular podcast. There are also issues like royalties, advertising, ratings and professional conduct that are cropping up as the relatively new medium finds its legs. Now, to help chart the new territory, two associations of podcasters are forming. One, the Association of Downloadable Media requires individual dues of $150 and corporate dues of $1,000. It’s guided by people from Apple and National Public Radio, among others. Another group formed as an answer to ADM under the working name, the Association of Podcasters and Online Media Producers and hopes to charge no annual dues.
Scott Bourne, president of Podango Productions in California is on the steering committee to build the APOMP according to members’ ideas. Organizers plan to conduct an online survey to gauge members’ interests and priorities.
Now I’m sorry. Did I catch that right? Apple and National Public Radio teaming up to protect the interest of podcasters? Some pretty big guns from this listener’s point of view. Will be interesting to see how the APOMP folks stand up against the ADM group.
Some issues to ponder: One: Podcasting stands today as one of the last bastions of audio broadcasting delivered to mass audiences via free or nearly free channels. How will podcasters who hold true to this ideal react to these two groups and their calls for representation?
Two: Assume for an instant that one, if not both of these organizations attracts podcasters to represent. I would have to assume that from a basic monetary basis, some folks are going to side with the Apple/NPR group (ADM) and others with the APOMP folks. Will money be the only deciding factor in their selection? What other issues may come into play?
Three: To those of you who function primarily as ‘educational podcasters’ - that is, the majority if not all of your podcasts deal with topics in education: Would you consider collecting advertising dollars and royalties for your podcasts, or do you consider them to be more valuable as freely accessed educational tools? Is there a fine line one might walk between these two camps?
I have yet to record a podcast, so I cannot speak to these issues from experience. If you are an active podcaster, please consider responding to these issues. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Technorati Tags: podcast, NPR, Apple, representation
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Who would pay that amount of money? I guess those who want to protect their rights.
Recording a podcast with kids is easy!
I never seek to protect my own interests - that’s a waste of time…
Thanks for the note, Durff,
That’s sort of where I’m at with this. I can see where corporate radio station owners (Clear Channel) and those outside of education - who normally operate for profit would be interested in making sure that their interests are protected. And to some degree, I can see where perhaps educational consultants or gurus may seek financial compensation for their work. Though, in the spirit of keeping knowledge freely available to all who seek it (students) or seek to deliver it (educators), I would hope that those in our little Web 2.0 circle would opt to keep their information freely available under say, Creative Commons licensing.