The Rise of Podcasting: Why everyone is Tuning In

It should be noted that podcasting has rapidly developed in the recent years. Currently, more than 100 million people listen to podcasts every month, only in the year 2021. Podcasting has grown and with more people tuning in it is now a mainstream media and a very effective tool. But what has led to the podcast phenomenon and why are people consuming the podcasts at the current volume? Let me highlight some of the most significant contributors to the rapid growth of podcasting.

The Ease and Versatility of Podcasts

The fact of podcasts has also been a major plus as they are so easy to access. While, on the other hand, podcasts are unique in the sense that you can listen to them at your preferred time and location. Riding a bus, a bike, walking, sweeping, washing dishes – anything you can think of. Podcasts are helpful in the sense that they can create an interesting listening segment out of even the most mundane of activities. 

Further, the podcast episode duration is 30-45 minutes on average. This makes it easy to do in small segments of time that one may have between other tasks or activities. 10 minutes or more than an hour can be easily filled with a podcast that one desires to listen. No more being limited by strict schedules of broadcasting. Podcasts are perfect for the modern world and its fast pace since they are versatile and can be taken anywhere.

The Intimacy and Connection of Podcasts

Podcasts are more personal than mass media platforms such as TV and radio as they create the impression of a dialog. GREAT hosts have mastered the art of keeping the audience interested and making them feel as though they are being understood. This establishes a parasocial interaction that makes the audiences wait with bated breath for the next episode of the show.

Furthermore, the host-listener relationship means that podcasters can develop targeted, specialized content for different listeners. In this way, podcasters help to create close-knit groups of people interested in specific topics of the episodes.

Rather than simply declaring that podcasts have educational value, the present study aimed to explore the extent to which the said value was present.

Podcasts have also surfaced as effective learning tools. This causes ideas or topics that are complicated or otherwise boring to be fun to discuss. Podcasts have the potential to help you learn a new skill, help you become an expert in a particular field, or simply grow as an individual.

Business leaders, scholars, outstanding orators, and great storytellers have all shifted to podcasting as a medium of sharing knowledge. Whether you are interested in sports, news, history, art, or any other topic, there is always a podcast out there that will provide you with all the information that your curious mind needs.

The Fact Alone That There Are So Many Different Types of Podcasts

Currently, there are more than 2 million podcasts and over 30 million episodes as of 2022, and in every category. I believe that podcasts are much more diverse than radio, encompassing topics ranging from true crime, comedy, sports, and even science fiction. This makes everyone a winner since it provides listeners with choices that are endless and can be matched with the listener’s mood or preference.

Not only are podcasters adhering to the traditional categories but they are also creating new and unique content types. Everything from scripted fiction podcasts with Hollywood actors, investigative documentary series, interview shows with storytelling elements and so on. The podcasting medium is, in many ways, the ultimate playground for audio creativity.

Podcasters who have gained popularity and recognition are also in the category of celebrity podcasters. 

Recently, famous personalities such as Michelle Obama, Shonda Rhimes, and the Obamas have ventured into producing podcasts. These celebrity hosts attract large audiences and expose podcasting to people who otherwise may have no prior exposure to podcasts. 

Podcasters like the host of Call Her Daddy, Alex Cooper, are newcomers to the hosting field but have attained celebrity status due to podcasting. When more celebrities start podcasting and more brands endorse podcasts, the medium gains more popularity and recognition.

Opportunities for Community Building

Podcasts provide a platform for like-minded people to come together based on their interest or in this case, identity. For instance, we have The Black Effect Podcast Network, which is managed by Charlamagne Tha God. This network gives Black people a platform and unites people of color.

Likewise, My Favorite Murder is an interest around true crime and comedy. However, its loyal listenership, or ‘Murderinos’, share much more concerning the public issues discussed on the podcast. Podcasts are a tool that has the ability to create communities on both a micro and macro level.  

Mainstreaming of Podcast Advertising 

Thanks to the sheer growth of podcasting, big brands have started to place their large ad spends on podcast ads now. Podcast advertisements are usually more engaging and personal than regular radio and sometimes even TV advertisements. Currently, podcast advertising is still relatively new, but it is predicted that over the next two years, the revenue generated from this advertising type will double, meaning that it will be more easily encountered in the future.

Conclusion  

Such convenience, flexibility, engagement, and variety are available to listeners for free or very cheap and it is no surprise that everyone is listening to podcasts.  And we have probably not even begun to see what this tool [podcasting] can do to the fullest. Promising to continue its upward trajectory as technology advances, celebrities get involved, and advertisers invest significant funds, podcasting is now making its presence felt.