Why Is Podcasting So Popular?
There are currently more than 700k podcasts and more than 29 million episodes. Almost a quarter of the US population (22%) listens to podcasts on a weekly basis, and the most avid podcast listeners subscribe to an average of 6 shows per week.
With Podcast ad revenue expecting to reach $1.6 billion by 2022, podcasting has become one of the fastest-growing mediums in recent years.
So why have podcasts suddenly become so popular? Here are five reasons why:
1. Podcasts are conversational and Personal.
A dialogue about a given topic is much more interesting than monologues or lectures. Personally, I would prefer to listen to a conversation about ‘climate change’ rather than an academic presentation.
Even if the podcast isn’t specifically a dialogue between multiple people, the overall tone tends to be more intimate and personal, as if the podcaster is speaking directly to you.
2. Podcasts are topic-based.
You can subscribe to podcasts based on genres of interest, and there are many topics available to choose from. Want to listen to a podcast about single moms raising young children? or maybe bird watching?, how about living a Vegan lifestyle?… Like other forms of media, you can personalize your library of podcasts based on your preference.
3. Podcasts are OnDemand.
Unlike audiobooks that require more ‘listening’ attention to detail, podcasts are much more suitable for multi-tasking. I often listen to podcasts while commuting or taking long trips.
Since podcasts are tailored and easily accessible from smartphones, they are always a click away from being available.
4. Podcasts don’t have time constraints.
Unlike radio shows, a podcast can be as long as the podcaster likes them to be without any need to rush for ad interruptions. Podcasts can range from 10 minutes to 2 hrs long, which makes it extremely flexible for both the podcaster and the listener to adapt to a schedule.
5. Anyone can start a podcast.
One of the more attractive aspects of blogs during their popularity was that they had a personal flair about them. Anyone was able to start a blog and make it their own.
With podcasting, anyone with a microphone and basic audio mixing skills can publish podcasts and gain a following. The medium is so new, that we are still experimenting with the medium.
