New Media Show Todd Cochrane & Rob Greenlee

In this episode of the New Media Show, hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee dive deep into the significant news of Spotify, Megaphone, Chartabe, and Podbean pulling out from the IAB podcast measurement compliance. They discuss the various implications and reasons for these decisions, what they mean for the podcasting industry, particularly in advertising standards, and the broader consequences for podcast creators.

The episode begins with Todd discussing feeling overwhelmed with work demands, contemplating hiring an assistant, and the difficulty of finding someone who can handle the specialized tasks related to podcasting.

The conversation then shifts to the main topic: the departure of Spotify and Podbean from IAB certification compliance. They first examine the impact on Spotify, with Todd acknowledging Spotify’s significant internal metrics due to its app-based system allowing detailed listener tracking. Despite Spotify’s data advantages, Todd discusses the necessity and cost of IAB compliance, especially with changes to membership tier pricing affecting the company’s expenses.

Rob weighs in on the issue, surfacing concerns about the potential adverse effects that the removal of certification might bring about over time. However, he also notes that Spotify’s financial situation possibly contributed to their decision. The hosts delve into the nuances of IAB certification costs, compliance, and how these factors influence their decisions as service providers, drawing on personal experience and insights from the industry.

Todd shares news about Blubrry’s partnership with BackBeat Media for host-read advertising, emphasizing the importance of maintaining IAB certification to fulfill this partnership’s reporting and trust requirements for advertisers.

Rob plans to invite a CEO from the brand safety industry on the show to discuss these issues further, something they’re wary of due to its potential implications on content censorship.

They reflect on in-person studio trends and the movement towards more video content creation, balancing skepticism with acknowledgment of the potential personalization and authenticity such setups might offer specific high-profile creators.

As the episode progresses, they discuss the strategic importance of not putting all content into one platform’s basket, citing several instances where reliance on a single platform like Google or YouTube has proven risky for content creators.

Rob updates the upcoming New Media Show schedule, noting that he will be out of town for specific dates, and Todd shares his travel plans to the Philippines and the UK, making it necessary to shuffle their broadcast schedule.

The episode concludes with the hosts touching upon platforms such as TikTok’s tenuous status amidst government regulations, the importance of free speech, and the preservation of open RSS as a channel for independent creators to share their content without restrictions.

Listeners are encouraged to engage with the show via email, and Todd hints at developing a new mailing list for the show. They thank their audience and close with a reminder to follow or subscribe to the New Media Show on favored podcast apps, highlighting newer platforms featured at podcastapps.com.

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New Media Productions

365 N Willowbrook Rd

Suite: C

Coldwater, Mi, 49036

This episode of the New Media Show, hosted by Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee, delves into various aspects of new media, particularly the integration and impact of video with traditional podcasting audio media.

The conversation opens with Todd Cochrane welcoming listeners to the show and introducing his co-host, Rob Greenlee. They further discussed their involvement in recent media industry events, with Rob Greenlee recounting his experience at the Las Vegas National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) event. He mentions various aspects, like the Creators Lab and facilitating discussions about editing trends and AI integration in media production.

Todd Cochrane shifts the discussion towards technology advancements presented at NAB, prompting Rob to illustrate the shift towards genuine content production in video media, as content creator Mr. Beast suggested. They comment on changes in production styles and audience engagement strategies.

Later, Todd expresses his skepticism regarding podcasters transitioning to video, emphasizing the challenge of achieving success in this medium compared to audio podcasting. However, Rob suggests that the current trend demands a video-first strategy and that not embracing it might be risking growth opportunities. Nonetheless, they agree on the importance of being strategic about including video.

The hosts then touch upon the business aspects of content creation, with Todd sharing a conversation with a podcast producer concerned about the high costs of producing a branded podcast. This leads to a broader discussion about the economics of podcasting, brand deals, and platforms imposing restrictive conditions on content, and eventually transitions to talk about the importance of open RSS feeds and protecting free speech in podcasting.

Rob later introduces a new topic detailing the growth of platforms offering premium memberships for content creators, using ‘UScreen’ as an example. Todd is critical of the service’s pricing model and the cost implications for creators who monetize their content.

Wrapping up, Todd and Rob delve into the controversial topic of brand safety and suitability in the media and the potential negative implications such measures could entail for content creators. They debate issues like self-censorship, freedom of expression, and the impact of algorithmic content moderation. They briefly explore the differences between the agency and platform levels of content control and foreshadow an in-depth future discussion on this subject matter with industry experts on brand safety.

The show concludes after a two-hour conversation, encompassing many themes around the new media landscape, video and audio content convergence, the future of content monetization, and the enduring significance of protecting free and open platforms for podcast creators and consumers.

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New Media Productions

365 N Willowbrook Rd

Suite: C

Coldwater, Mi, 49036

In this episode of the New Media Show, hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee dive deep into the challenges and realities faced by podcast content creators, particularly regarding YouTube’s algorithms and discoverability. The conversation spans from the practicalities of podcast production to the philosophical aspects of content creation and distribution.

Todd begins the show with a warm welcome, and after some playful banter, the discussion shifts to the necessity for good podcast equipment, especially boom arms, as Rob’s recently broke. Todd vouches for the quality of Heil boom arms, recounting his favorable experience and offering Rob a spare if needed.

They transition to talk about internet infrastructure, including router replacements and internet speed upgrades. Todd recounts his experience with a cable provider and how he negotiated a better deal for faster internet.

Rob shares his observations on the friction between Podnews and Sounds Profitable, mainly sparked by a tweet from Tom Webster about his keynote at Podcast Movement Evolutions not being covered by Podnews.

The hosts debate the role of YouTube in podcast content distribution. Todd is critical of YouTube, arguing that it mainly benefits a select few shows and fails to provide sufficient discoverability for most content creators. At the same time, Rob contends that success on YouTube is possible but requires considerable effort and is based on algorithmic promotion.

They discuss the importance of engaging artwork for episode promotion. Rob shares his success using customized thumbnail art on YouTube, emphasizing that even minor details can enhance discoverability and audience growth. Todd questions the practicality of such efforts, pointing out the time constraints most podcasters face.

Rob notes the importance of adapting content for multimedia consumption, considering how the audience increasingly watches videos on mobile devices. Todd maintains his stance, emphasizing that audio content remains his preference and doesn’t engage in video content to the same extent.

Rob touches on the opportunities of video podcasting outside of YouTube, suggesting alternatives like Kajabi or community platforms might gain significance. They conclude with a discussion on the future of video podcast publishing and the importance of open RSS feeds.

The episode ends with Rob mentioning his upcoming activities at the NAB Show as a panel moderator for the Creators Lab Conference and as a workshop presenter for StreamYard. Todd shares his contact information, encouraging listeners to get in touch via email or follow him on Mastodon.

The title of this episode, “Reality Check: Podcast Content Creators vs YouTube,” aptly reflects the central theme of the episode, where both hosts confront the challenges podcasters face with content creation, promotion, and platform dependence, specifically dissecting the dynamics between podcast content creators and the YouTube ecosystem.

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New Media Productions

365 N Willowbrook Rd

Suite: C

Coldwater, Mi, 49036

In this episode of the new media show, hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee discuss a range of topics related to the podcasting industry, including their experiences at Podcast Movement Evolutions, the Google Podcast shutdown, YouTube’s presence at Podcast Movement, and other industry news

Todd discusses his observations at Podcast Movement, describing it as business-oriented and sharing his uncertainty about the value of having a booth at future events. They both agree that despite making some connections, they could have possibly done the same without a booth.

Rob then shifts the conversation to ask why the event was moved to Chicago, to which Todd doesn’t have a definitive answer but comments on the booth pricing for future events, mentioning that it’s an early-bird special.

They move onto the topic of YouTube’s presentation at Podcast Movement, with Todd expressing his disappointment. He criticizes YouTube for coming off as condescending and ignoring feedback from podcast creators. Despite their claims, Rob laments YouTube’s focus on video instead of genuinely embracing podcasting.

The conversation proceeds to Google Podcasts, with Todd articulating his displeasure at Google’s decision to shut it down in the US. Todd and Rob speculate about the reasoning behind Google’s choices and discuss the implications for podcasters and listeners, particularly the loss of a native Android podcasting app. Todd voices his concerns about how the shutdown signals Google’s preference for monetization through YouTube.

Todd mentions the decline of trustworthiness in Google and the changes in its strategy that undermine podcasters and the industry. Rob shares insight into Libsyn’s strategy regarding YouTube and the broader context of ad sales within the industry.

Moving on, they critique the presentation by YouTube at Podcast Movement, calling it a missed opportunity to engage relevantly with podcast creators. They also note that YouTube failed to address the core podcasting community effectively.

Todd continues the discussion, pointing out the general lack of traffic to booths on the final day of the podcast movement and reflecting on the potential waste of resources. Todd and Rob then discuss the broader challenges the podcasting industry faces, including the decline in new podcasts, layoffs, and the potential need to raise hosting prices due to inflation.

The episode wraps up with Rob and Todd hoping for industry apps to gain users following the demise of Google Podcasts, emphasizing their commitment to supporting podcasters with new features and revenue opportunities.

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New Media Productions

365 N Willowbrook Rd

Suite: C

Coldwater, Mi, 49036

In this podcast episode, hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee discuss the latest in podcasting news, innovations, and industry insights, featuring a discussion on Todd’s Vid2Pod service and an interview with Mike Kadin from RedCircle.

The episode begins with the hosts, Todd and Rob, discussing an AI-generated music track, which leads to a conversation about AI and copyright. Todd  Cochrane then talks about launching Vid2Pod and AI tools for podcasters.

Rob then asks Todd about his newly announced product, Vid2Pod, which Todd explains in great detail. Vid2Pod is a feature that converts video content from YouTube into a podcast format. Todd goes through the process and features of this service, including how it automates video-to podcast conversion, channel integration, terms of service implications, and licensing considerations.

Mike Kadin from RedCircle then joins the show to discuss their new product offering, OpenRap. Mike provides an overview of RedCircle’s emphasis on host-read advertising automation and explains how OpenRap extends its ad automation services to podcasts hosted on other platforms that are VAST compatible without RedCircle having to manage the hosting. They discuss dynamic ad insertion, VAST integration, and how RedCircle’s software aims to streamline the ad process for podcasters and advertisers.

Todd questions the practicality and monetization aspects from both a hosting platform’s and a podcaster’s perspectives. Mike emphasizes RedCircle’s commitment to serving the oft-underserved mid-tier podcast content creators by streamlining the ad management and insertion process.

The conversation shifts to the ongoing issues with podcast analytics and measurement, focusing on recent iOS changes impacting download numbers, podcasters’ need for clarity when picking measurement platforms, and the advertisers’ pursuit of additional tracking and attribution methods.

Rob mentions a post by Lisa LaPorte, CEO of Twit TV, about challenges in the podcast advertising market, emphasizing the demand by podcast agencies for more complicated ad tech. Mike shares his perspective on the need for more transparent and dynamic pricing in the podcast advertising market and its implications on host-read ads.

Finally, Rob concludes by asking Mike where listeners can find more information about RedCircle’s OpenRap, to which Mike suggests visiting RedCircle’s website.

The episode closes with the hosts discussing their availability for the next episode due to Todd’s travel plans and concluding remarks. Todd and Rob shared their contact information so listeners would want to reach out to them.

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New Media Productions

365 N Willowbrook Rd

Suite: C

Coldwater, Mi, 49036

In this episode of the new media show, hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee discuss a range of topics related to podcasting, leveraging their extensive experience in the industry.

They start by experimenting with streaming on a new platform, Rumble, and share their excitement about opening up new audiences. Todd teases an upcoming announcement about a new feature they’re beta testing without revealing too much detail. Rob cautiously probes for more information, and Todd hints that other companies may copy this feature once it’s revealed. The announcement is scheduled for release on Monday, and a live event will showcase it at Podcast Movement.

They touch on the live streaming schedule at Podcast Movement, with Todd discussing plans to stream from the booth. They discuss the challenge of ensuring good audio quality during live streams and consider potential issues with internet connectivity at the event.

Todd mentions working hard on Blueberry’s AI features, focusing on perfecting an automatic email promotion for podcast episodes. Rob talks about the potential positive impact of AI on the podcasting industry by saving time and money. Todd shares his experience using AI to create documentation efficiently and emphasizes the importance of quality assurance.

They then talk about industry news: Joe Rogan is having full episodes back on YouTube, layoffs at Rooster Teeth, Spotify unions are reaching tentative agreements, and Libsyn is finally adding transcript support. Todd gleefully digs into Libsyn for being behind the curve with their recent update, which enables users to upload transcripts to their episodes when competitors already provide this service.

Rob reads from a KSNR report that suggests podcasts are replacing traditional media, especially among certain age groups, and that future trends may include augmented reality and virtual reality. Both hosts reflect on the change in media consumption habits and predict a continuation of the trend toward interactive and immersive content.

In response to a listener’s comments, they address radio’s decline due to a lack of local programming and how podcasting offers a personalized alternative. They also speculate on the future integration of AR/VR in podcasts and the importance of building community around podcast content.

Before signing off, Todd shares the improvements he’s seen with transcriptions in podcast apps, like Apple’s accurate syncing despite pre-roll ads, which could be a sign of evolving podcast technology. They wrap up by teasing listeners with more details about the upcoming announcement and reminding them where they can find them and their work online. Todd and Rob emphasize the importance of innovation and staying ahead in podcasting technology before ending the show on a note of anticipation for their next big reveal.

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New Media Productions

365 N Willowbrook Rd

Suite: C

Coldwater, Mi, 49036