FEATURE:
Sound Investment
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The Difficulty of Launching Your Own Podcast
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ONE need only do a bit of basic searching…
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to see how many podcasts are out in the world! There is pretty much a podcast for every taste, and the market is growing by the day. Music is an area of the podcast empire that I do not think is that overly-exploited and hectic. One can research what podcasts are out there but, in terms of gaps, there are a few. Of course, that may be because there is not a demand, or someone has not thought of it yet. Podcasts are great, as they allow people to express their opinions and air their ideas without having to go via radio. I am currently pitching an idea for a radio commission, and there is so much competition and procedures. The advantage of going down this route is that you are in the hands of professionals and do not have to stump up a lot of money. The podcast can be made whenever you like and you do not need approval for an idea – you can, as I say, do anything you want to do. It is great to have that freedom now, so anyone can be heard around the world. Whilst the podcast list is exhaustive and confusing, you can find some great ones if you look through search engines; there are others you stumble upon by luck. I wonder whether there is a website that brings together all podcasts available; so one can search through and find the one they want and other like it.
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It is no revelation when I say I have wanted to get a Kate Bush podcast up and running. There are a couple of great Bush podcast available, but mine would be a more forensic look at her albums, bringing in guests – musicians, journalists and fan – who would discuss her work and there would be a combination of musical clips and interviews. In terms of concept and intent, there is no more work needed; the stumbling blocks seem to revolve around financing, studio space and getting things off the ground. I have talked about podcasts and my idea before, and I have got some great advice regarding equipment needed and websites to consult regarding set-up. Although the basic equipment is not a massive overhead, things get more complex when it comes to recording. Many people record from their houses but, owing to the fact I am in a small house, sound quality would be poor and I do not have the room or privacy to record a podcast – and I would not feel comfortable having guests ferry themselves across London – it does get more costly. I know money is an unavoidable barrier when it comes to any project, but one is not always lucky to have the space and right environment to record a podcast free of charge. There are facilities in London such as Outset Studio, which offer great facilities. Even so, the cost of hiring a studio for an hour is £35; similar studios have the same sort of quote.
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Although the equipment purchase is a single cost that, hopefully, will not need to be repeated, there are running costs and ongoing expenses that, for people with very little savings, is a nightmare. My podcast would not be live but, even for each one-hour episode, it would take longer than an hour to record. I want to put together a series of twelve episodes so, if each took just over an hour to record, I’d be looking at a cost of £420+. Guests also need to be booked, and there are other considerations. Great articles like this give a guide regarding price, depending on the sort of sound quality you want. There are a few steps to carry out when launching a podcast, including finding a good hosting site, but cost is an issue that might limit aspirations and scope. I have heard a few good podcasts that have had quite poor sound quality and, although it gives it a nice homemade feel, one looks for something crisp, clear, and professional – or has a professional feel. When it comes to a musician and playing tracks, sound quality is paramount. I have found an article that provides guidance regarding song clearance and cost, and there is that drawback when making a music-related podcast. Of course, artists and labels deserve payment to have their songs used but, even if you include a few songs per episode, that comes to another big cost!
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I can understand that even a relatively unambitious podcast runs in at quite a price, but what of those people who want to produce something that is a bit larger in concept?! I return to the top of this feature, and the radio commissioning route. Here, the costs and expertise are handled; one has less financial stress but, perhaps, a lot less flexibility regarding concept, running length and where that podcast/show is broadcast. It is a pickle and, whilst my intent and passion has not waned, my financial situation has – the inevitable result of living in London! I have my concept and plan regarding a podcast series, and a good idea of the guests, sound clips and songs. I have options when it comes to distribution and assistance regarding platforms – getting it launched on Spotify or somewhere similar. I know ambition and dreams do not get realised easily and, more often than not, financial issues outweigh intent, talent and focus. I am not sure whether crowd-funding is the way to combat high costs, or whether that has its perils – and how would backers be rewarded? It is a bit frustrating having energy and enthusiasm for a podcast, but there is that financial hurdle that, whilst not impossible to overcome, does slow things down considerably. I am still determined to get a podcast out there but, if you want to produce something that is quite deep and differs from what is already out there, it can be quite…
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A big investment.