Closing out the C-Realm Podcast

[kmo]

I don't remember exactly when I first heard the word "podcast." It was some time in early 2006. At a guess, I'd say late February. I don't remember where I first encountered the term, but once I understood what it meant, I did a search for "cannabis podcast" and found The Dopecast. I then did a search for "psychedelic podcast" and found The

Comments

[peristaltor]

I'm surprised you lasted this long.

You could easily get an income from the C-Realm, but you and I both know it would involve a compromise too egregious to consider. Advertising is creeping into podcasting with no positive effect.

The problem is a simple one. The advertisers know their traditional outlets-radio and television, to say nothing of print periodicals-are dying as media. The younger audience simply does not tolerate ad delivery, choosing instead to eschew clock slavery (timed broadcasts) and print subscriptions.

So advertisers are forcing their way into public, well, consciousness by whatever means available. At the same time, though, there has been precious little development in processes and technologies that would allow podcasters a non-commercial income.

Micropayments? Can't do 'er, they're manure. If you could net a penny per show from each C-Realm listener, you would keep the show going, right? There is right now no way to send someone a one-time penny payment without incurring 25¢ of processing fees.

And I believe that micropayment status quo is being maintained simply to prevent the rise of non-commercial media that would compete for eyes and ears.

This same conflict arose during the rise of radio. Seriously, I encourage you to read Tim Wu's The Master Switch. Monied forces did everything they could to suppress non-commercial radio. (Television was not nearly as much of a challenge, since it took too much capital investment to build a station for mere amateurs to attempt.) But radio was largely amateur in the early days.



A cartoon from 1922.

This was not a fringe view. Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover weighed in with: "It is inconceivable that we should allow so great a possibility for service to be drowned in advertising chatter."

The rest is history. Public radio is now too commercial (for my taste, at least).

No matter. The important thing for me to do is not to rail against the forces that minimize divergent voices with interesting things to say. It is, rather, to thank one such voice for the excellent service he has provided over the years.

So Thank You, KMO. I look forward to whatever you deliver next.

[Sorry for all the edits.]

Thanks, Jim

[kmo]

A penny a listener wouldn't make the venture sustainable. That would only bring in thirty five to forty bucks a week. A dime each plus the income I derive from the Vault would do the trick.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to getting into video production, so I'm not "giving up" or "throwing in the towel" or anything like that. I'm stepping down from 8 shows a month to 5 and branching out into another medium with it's own demands and stylistic strictures.

Thank you for your very generous support over the years.