Haven't pimped this Canadian in awhile

But something just... compelled me to.

I can assure you it had nothing to do with the fact I had a few things to say to him about his last podcast, which he actually played on his latest podcast. (Brave man)

Not a thing to do with that at all, or the fact that he mixed it up quite nicely, making the whole segment sound pretty cute.

Nope. Not a thing. *big grin*

He doesn't have his show notes updated yet, so I've linked you at the bottom to his podcast pickle page. If you are just overcome with curiosity and want the set up- you can go HERE and listen to episode #36. You can also pick up the feed HERE if you want to subscribe. Which you will most certainly want to, if you are a fan of independent music and Canadians (as I am on both accounts), mixed in with some fun and a little bit of politics.

Ajay, my friend, here's my final plea: Just tell her your big secret.
Wouldn't it be a hoot to find out she's been doing the same thing? ;-)

Another podcast to get your old time radio fix

Another cast that helps keep the classics alive!
Here's the promo:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/chuckchat/RY-Promo.mp3

Isn't it great how old time audio never gets... old?

New Podcast Directories

• MLPodcast - a directory of real estate podcasts
• ChurchPodcasts - from the Podcast Pickle guys, focusing on Christian podcasts.
• GodCast1000 - also focuses on Christian podcasts
• PodcastDirectory.org - a general directory

A New Kind of Old Time Radio

Ain't this cute?

After the SL-D900 Retro styled CD player Teac has come up with the R-1B an AM/FM radio with retro styling. The tuning knob is designed to move slowly depicting the radios available in the early 60's. Though it sports a retro look it does not forget the iPod the R-1B sports a mini-stereo input for connecting iPod or other audio devices. The speaker is 65mm wide whereas the amplifier has an output of 1.5W. Its battery provides 10 hours of continuous playback and charges in 2 hours.

And LOOKIE!!!

This cool piece of audio eye candy is only $90!
(I've got quite the Christmas list going, don't I?)

A few SS eggs, one AA basket

Oh, I don't know wtf that means. I was trying to be witty and I'm feeling rather grumpy this evening. :-(

But I wanted to get this post up before I crawled into an ice-cream filled hole.

The second to the last re-cast of Sonic Society is up-up-UP and away! My 20 weeks of lazy podcasting is almost to an end. They will soon start requiring actual work out of me. Hmm... I think next week I will re-play the last show of the season. I'll have to check with the Supreme bosses up on high about that. But it makes sense to me.

Season Two premieres September 12th- I think everyone should listen in, then send them a voicemail about how awesome the show is. Or was. Or- ah, whatever. Yes, they have a voicemail line- 206-984-2383. That's 206-984-BEUF. You figure out what it means. I just like saying "beuf", but it's usually after a big meal.

Let's see.. eggs, eggs... OH! Firefly. OMFG- you will not BELIEVE the response to the first episode. There have been like, since the 22nd when it came out, 6 THOUSAND freaking downloads! Is that like, completely insane or what? All the reviews have been pretty positive, and 99% of the reviews have been REALLY positive. People love this Firefly stuff. So I guess congratulations go out to them, all the hard work they have put into this project is really paying off I think.

So, the next episode should be up by the end of the week, for all those Browncoats that have been inquiring. Hey- why don't you leave them a voicemail and tell them how great it is? Call 206-984-ADUD. (LOL- I hope THAT one doesn't catch on!)

OK, I've gone on way too long all ready, and my ice cream is melting. Later!

Decoder Ring on Podiobooks?!?

But- but- Podiobooks doesn't do audio drama- right?

Why yes friends, yes it does! Podiobooks is now expanding it's repertoire to include audio drama! Yay! I mean really, how can you not? Audio drama is taking podcasting by storm- and it's not letting up any time soon!

I swear, every time you think this podcasting thing can't go down another avenue, it goes down another avenue.

And continues to rock. Who the hell said this was a fad?

Congrats to my Decoder peeps. And hey! Check out their podcast blog, they've got another video up of a recording session. I just love those!!!

Ahhh! One month and counting!

Swiped shamelessly from Podcasting News:

Tim Bourquin, founder and CEO of TNC New Media, producers of Podcast & Portable Media Expo, sends word that he expects this year's expo to be bigger and better than last year's inaugural Podcasting Expo.

"Last year, many people were still asking what podcasting was," said Bourquin. "This year, everyone wants to know how they can get involved."

The conference, which was named Expo Magazine's Best New Show winner 2006, will take place September 29-30 at the Ontario Convention Center (above) in Ontario, California. It will feature exhibits and conference sessions aimed at both corporate and individual podcasters.

"About half of the show's attendees will be independent podcasters," Bourquin said. "The other half will be from the corporate side who produce podcasts for their own company or for clients."

Registration numbers so far for the 2006 Podcast & Portable Media Expo are at 3,000 attendees and 85 exhibitors, up from slightly more than 2,000 attendees and 60 exhibitors last year. In addition, two of the three "official" hotels of the Podcast & Portable Media Expo are already sold out. The third is nearly full.

More content, more conferences

"For listeners and viewers, the challenge is finding the content they want from all of the choices available," Bourquin said. "For podcasters and other content creators, the challenge is to stand out in an increasingly crowded space."

To help meet that challenge, Podcast & Portable Media Expo 2006 will offer an expanded range of conference sessions to accommodate the ever-growing and increasingly specialized podcasting market.

Areas covered will include:

• Corporate Podcasting
• Video Podcasting
• Media Partnerships
• Marketing and Communications
• Subscription Business Models
• Advertising and Sponsorship Models
• Product Placement Models
• Distribution and Syndication
• Licensing and Digital Rights

Exhibitors

The show floor at the 2006 Podcast & Portable Media Expo will feature a broad range of both well-established and new, trend-setting companies. Expo sponsors include PodcastReady, Podango.com and Audible’s Wordcast.

Exhibitors include audio equipment manufacturers Sony, Shure, Samson and Marantz; software makers Adobe, Rogue Amoeba, TechSmith and Podcast Station; and RSS distribution and management company FeedBurner, among others. Microsoft and AMD will be sponsoring a blogger lounge.

Limelight Networks is the Official Content Delivery Network. GigaVox is the Official Conference Audio Provider. Media Partners include The Mac Observer, iPod Observer, Videomaker Magazine and iProng.com.

Yay yay yay!!! I will so be mooching off of everyone else's laptops so I can blog live from the expo! Oh geez and crap I need to get a mic for my portable recorder. (yeah, think I'll be the only one there who thought of THAT? LMAO! Let's play "how many iRivers can you fit in one room" kids!)

This will be one great weekend.

Pre-loaded Digital Audio Books

Swiped from Gizmodo:

If you like audiobooks but don't like downloading them and getting them onto your iPod, you can try the PlayAway book. It's about the size of an iPod Mini and comes with earbuds and a lanyard to wear around your neck, so everyone knows what you're listening to. The "books" come preloaded with one of a few books, like "Anansi Boys," John Grisham's "The Broker," Stephen King's "Cell" and "The Da Vinci Code".

Each title costs $34.95, and is powered by an AAA battery. After you've listened to them once, we suppose you're supposed to give or toss them away. But it would probably be nice to pick one up at the airport if accidentally left your music player at home. – Jason Chen

--I'm not so sure about this one, and it almost has that feel of "this audio book will self-destruct 5 minutes after you listen to it." I guess it would be good to grab in a pinch, but for 35 bucks I wouldn't mind reading a book instead.

By the pricking of my thumbs...

I'm paroozing around the blogs this evening/morning/whatever, and I come across Colonial Radio's.

Do you all realize that they are putting Ray Bradbury novels in audio form? They have just finished production of "Dandelion Wine", and now they are getting ready to begin recording- OMG- "Something Wicked This Way Comes" !! That was the first novel I read as a child that really turned me on to suspenseful scary stories. I slept with the lights on for like a week! (Well, didn't want to read in the dark and all... hurt my eyes....yeah that's it.)

Ray-flippin'-Bradbury!
Is that like a radio theatre's biggest fantasy come true or what?
I can't wait to hear them both!

Check out all the amazing stuff Colonial does, and find a link to their blog at their website!

Oh- happy belated birthday Jerry!
(I didn't know! I'll be in MA in October- I owe you a bday beer!)
XOXO

Total. Podcast. Bliss.

This past weekend was probably one of the best weekend's I've had in a long time on the podcasting/audio front. Now, believe it or not I'm a fairly introverted person. (Oh stop laughing you. And YOU! You too over there.. ) Honestly, I usually drag my husband with me to things he would have absolutely no interest in, but I want to go, and I need someone to cower behind. (He's 6'1" and I'm 5'2"- so he makes GREAT cover!) I would rather drive around in circles for hours, then ask someone for directions because it would require striking up a conversation with someone- and a total stranger to boot! Really, I'm a total wuss. I probably will just sit in my hotel room at the Expo because I'll be too afraid to go and MEET people. But I digress, as is so easy for me to do online...

Saturday I drove across town to be on Michael and Evo's Wingin' It podcast (yes they are here in AZ- as I'm finding TONS of awesome podcasters that are right here in the same area codes!) They will think this sounds totally silly, but I was nervous. I mean, EVERYONE knows who they are, and everything they do. With all due respect to Adam Curry, they are the true podfathers in my book. Hell, Evo co-wrote a book on it!
I remember when I met Robin Wilson, when he was playing solo gigs Friday nights at Long Wong's (oh how I miss you Long Wong's!) about 4 or 5 years ago. He took a break and walked outside, and my brother was all, go and talk to him chicken! He's just a person, like anyone else. Well yah- he totally was, and we stood outside talking for like 20 minutes, then he came back in and played my favorite song, "Allison Road". GOD I'm such a sucker for a man with a guitar! But again, I digress...

Evo has always been very gracious to me, answering every email and trying to get my ass up there to be on the show for a few months now. For one reason or another, it just never came to pass. This was really my fault, on top of life things getting in the way.
I think I got the biggest kick in the previously-mentioned ass when FFOW premiered. It has always been easier to pimp other people than pimp myself. So I emailed Evo, and he was like "F-yeah! Come on up!" (loosely quoting him here) So I did. :-)

I could have hung out with these crazy sons-of-bitches ALL DAY. No, not just because of the beer. It was one awesome freaking time- that's why! Never will you meet more down-to-earth people. They were finishing up Slice of Sci Fi and their VM shows, and I sat in on the recording. And was just in heaven. I did get to speak up now and then in the Wingin' It VM show, and of course my big moment in the regular show, but honestly I could have just sat there all day and listened in. But I did pretty good, holding my own in the group of 50 (ok like 12 maybe) that were crammed into the little studio. I did my Halifax boys proud, I think.

I even managed to plug myself a bit too... and I left on such a high! Radio/podcasting/audio- OMFG being there just confirmed what I all ready knew. This is SO what I want to be doing!
I drove home and with my trusty phone card called Jack up in NS. Got his voicemail, so I called Andrew next, and he was home! So he got to hear me talk a mile a minute and describe my day to him.
After I talked his ear off, I was thinking about how far I've come in this whole audio thing. The first time I was actually *on* the radio? Yep, it was when I was in Halifax. They had to COAX like, two sentences out of me. And even then I was all mousy and quiet. Oh, how far I've come in just two years' time. And yet, it doesn't feel as if two years have passed.

Listen and hear for yourself! I don't think I slurred my words...

76 Martian Trombones

The next Society pod-recast is up! Just a few more weeks until Season Two starts!

And there is big stuff a-happening... it's really going to kick some major booty. :-)

Let us pause for net neutrality identification

It may not be audio- but this issue seriously affects audio addicts everywhere! Contact your congressperson today! Now! This instant!
This video puts it all very... succinctly....

Oh btw..

THANK YOU Rich for the great update to my logo!!! Please continue to get creative impluses more often, and direct them my way! :-D

(I got a banner too-heeheeee... I just can't put it in the title line on Blogger, dammit! Or I lose the title at the top of your browser!)



OK, now I go to bed!

Early morning audio porn

Shhh. It's very quiet in the house right now, and darn it I'm wide awake. ALWAYS when I have something important to do. I like it when it's quiet, because then I can concentrate on what I'm listening to. Anyway, a quadruple slam of audio pretties:


First up, the pod chair. And it's in a teen catalogue? F'nA- I want one!

High-quality built-in speakers are strategically positioned near your ears, and a subwoofer sits under your seat for maximum bass. A pocket holds your iPod® and a control panel by your right hand lets you change the volume. A wood frame with weighted base prevents tipping, and cush faux suede looks and feels deluxe. Standard audio jack makes it easy to connect to any game system or MP3 player. 34 x 29 x 30" h.
And only $400!

Next up we have the Progression Wake Up Clock, which is exactly as this very original name says it is. So, like 30 minutes before you are actually supposed to get up, it starts with this peaceful light, then nature sounds, and aromatherapy, all getting stronger until at the end of the 30 minutes it immediately jumps into a rendition of Reveille to get your nature loving, lavender smelling ass out of bed.

OK, I made that last part up. Still, if the aroma isn't coffee... and the sound isn't two children under ten fighting, I ain't movin'. This one is a little easier on the wallet at $50.

Speaking of two children under 10, I may have to stock up on these :

Isn't it cute? It's a USB SD/MMC Mp3 I-before-E-and-sometimes-after-C player. This little bug gives you 10 hours of playing time, and runs on a little iddy-biddy AAA battery. Perfect for children who are prone to breaky the electronic thingys. At $15, as I said you can stock up!

Finally, I give you the Logitech AudioStation Stereo Speakers for iPod- taadaaaa! Coming in at a mere hundred dollars less than the chair above, you get 80 watts of power, removable grills and a freaking remote with this baby!

Heh, I think I'm getting tired now, because I'm reading through this post and finding it funny. Enjoy the browsing and the pretty things... and have a great weekend everyone!

OK I can let a small cat out of the bag

I was waiting until I was ready, and well, since I have put my very first review up, I guess it's safe to spill my news.

I'm very honored and proud to say I've been asked to join the awesome gang at SFFAudio as a reviewer/contributor! *big-ass grin*
I mean sheeeet... you see me linking to their fantastic posts ALL THE TIME! I was greatly tickled (appropriately of course) to even be asked!

So I've been working hard all week, even neglecting my dear Truth Seekers board... to make my very first review as informative and perfect and fun and most excellent as I could. (And without run-on sentences and fragments like these last two.)

Click on over to see my debut review, and of course I'd LOVE feedback. This is the first time I was actually semi-serious in a posting! :-P

Thanks Jesse and Scott, you two rock!

What's in YourSpace?

From the files of the Foreign Correspondent:

There's been a lot of talk in certain quarters lately about audio groups making use of MySpace to promtoe their shows, and it is a pretty good idea... if for no other reason than it's free for heaven's sake. And signing up for a Music page does let you post up to four "songs" (or compressed episodes in this case). It's a swell foot-in-the-door for new listeners who stumble across your page. Oh, I haven't really drunk Uncle Rupert's Kool-Aid, but "free" and "easy" are two adjectives that tend to get my attention. (And yes, I just thought of a hundred and six bad jokes to go with that turn of phrase)

Where was I? Oh, yes. Most of us who've posted shows on MySpace don't have that much material to draw on that regular listeners won't find somewhere else. That's not true at all with the Texas Radio Theatre's page. Since much of their material was previously only available on CD, there's a big catalouge of shows for them to draw from... and they've got some very new material up too, including the first episode of the latest Colonel Nickels adventure; Colonel Nickels and the Sea Monkeys of Atlantis, which I listened to this morning. The globe-hopping, thrill-seeking upper-class twit is a favorite of mine, and this one is a lot of fun. You should swing by and say hello.

...and for your music podcast

Here's another new directory to put your music podcast in, or find music podcasts to listen to. It's a primative, no frills set-up, but maybe as it gains popularity that could change.

Another Podcast Host Service- GoDaddy

From Podcasting News:

GoDaddy, a popular domain registrar and web hosting service, has introduced a new service for podcasters, GoDaddy.com Quick Podcast. The service is designed to let users easily publish and manage their shows.

"As North America's largest hosting provider, Go Daddy is in a strong position to support the podcasting community. I'm a podcaster myself with my show, 'Life Online,'" said Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of The Go Daddy Group, Inc. "The tools in Quick Podcast are ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals looking to get into the podcasting game."

GoDaddy.com's Quick Podcast, starting at $4.99 per month, helps users host and publish their podcast, using a Go Daddy developed platform. After uploading the media file for the program, the system generates and publishes the RSS feed.

Quick Podcast Features:

• Ability to promote the podcast using a personalized domain name.
• Simple, hosted Web page with templates and themes to showcase the podcast.
• Onsite player for MP3 files, located on the podcast Web site for audio program listening.
• Media management resources for organizing multimedia files.
• Automatic notification to several podcast directories, including iTunes and iPodder.org, after users register with these services.
• Statistic reporting to track the popularity of the podcast.
• Customer support available 24/7/365.

More information is available at the GoDaddy site.

"Firefly" notes from the Foreign Correspondent

All right, all right... seems admitting yesterday to not having got off my duff and listened to episode one of Firefly: Old Wounds was the kick in the pants I needed...

If you haven't heard it yet, it's really remarkable. They manage to neatly avoid all the pitfalls that make me shy away from "fan" productions... They waste no time explaining Firefly to you (millions already know, and there's the potential audience... what, that's not big enough for ya?).

The script perfectly matches the flow and musicality of some of the most styilized dialouge ever to (briefly) grace network television; and each memeber of the large cast really nails the essence of the character, making them instantly recognizable. In fact there are moments that are genuinely eerie... Like almost every line of River's, or Simon's stammering when confronted by Mal, or... aw, heck... there's too many of them to list.

Because the recognition factor is so high, most of the clunkier conventions of audio drama can go out the window. Firefly fans know exactly what this world looks like already. I saw every moment at clearly as if I'd been watching it on t.v.

Its probably fair to say that someone who'd never seen Firefly wouldn't really get this. Those people have bigger problems. They should be marched off to education centres for mandatory repeat viewings of the season one DVD box set. For the rest of us; here's the season two we never got. Kudos to all!

Fun Decoder Ring Stuff

Well, our Foreign Correspondent isn't going to brag about himself- he's way too humble. (That's a good thing. :-) )

So I'll do it for him. :-) Do you just LOVE this new logo? They've got one for the Red Panda too. It completely and totally rocks. See what happens when you join MySpace? You meet people who DO stuff.

Oh, and Greg posts awesome video clips of their recordings on the podcast blog, the latest one was so great! Yes, that Peter is dynamic! LOL! I think more of yous audio cinema peeps should do this sort of thing. Fans like me eat this stuff UP.

I will keep my fingers crossed on the Podcast Award, I know I voted every day! Hopefully I'll be there so see them call Decoder's name in person, as I'm once again on the track to getting to the Expo next month!

I will shriek loudly, I promise. :-)

Gettin' crazy in the Society

This next re-cast of Sonic Society is more Crazy Dog Audio. They always have good stuff, I hope to hear more next season on the show!

It was also nice to hear Third Coast Live again. I got a few emails from BK over the summer with some goodies she had put together, but it's just never enough I tell you! NEVER! But it is really fun stuff to listen to, especially the last of the skits, I really liked that one.

You realize it has been 17 weeks that Sonic Society has been in the off-season? Geez, they are as bad as Fox when I'm waiting for the next season of 24 to start!

More Review News

Hi, ho, your trusty and very lazy S.A.A. Foreign Correspondent here with more news on new reviews. (I'm looking forward to getting my ears on Firefly: Old Wounds, but it just ain't gorram happened yet. Did I mention I was lazy?...)

But not so lazy that I didn't know you folks might like to see this nifty review of Second Shift, which we told you of a few weeks back. They've got episode four out, and each one gets stronger than the last. Anyway, the aforementioned nifty write-up can be found HERE.

I had to post this wonderful review

You've all heard my mentions of Dave before. Heck, if you listen to my podcast, you hear him! Well, he wrote a great interview of Firefly and the podcast over on my TS message board and I wanted to share it with you, because I'm really quite touched.

I think we have a new conversion story to send to the Signal...

And do you just LOVE this logo? Jesse over at SFF Audio made it for his mention of the podcast. It's just great, and it was very kind of him to make it.
Thanks Jesse!

Click the link to read awesome review-age!

Finally- REAL audio porn! WooHOO!

My Friday gift to you all...
You may all thank me (or roast me, whatever)
in the comments section.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Digital Radio To-Go

BBC plans clip-on digital radio

Apple's iPod has helped make MP3 players popular

The BBC is drawing up plans for a plug-in gadget that turns MP3 players into digital radios.

Currently plans are at an early stage and there are no firm details for the capabilities of the gadget or how much it will cost.

There is also no timetable for when the add-on radio might appear.

"It's important for to us to make sure that people can listen to digital radio on their own terms," said a BBC spokesman.

Player power

Portable media players have grown in popularity recently and a study released at the end of June showed that ownership of them has doubled since 2003. The study by market research firm Ipsos reported that 20% of Americans over the age of 12 own one of the portable players.

Speaking about the plan for the gadget, the BBC spokesman said the broadcaster was carrying out feasibility studies to see how easy it would be to make and market the clip-on gadget. The study was also looking at the design of the product and what it would do.

"We have a duty to make sure digital radio is relevant and clearly portable MP3 players are a massive area of growth," he said.

The plug-in gadget would not be limited to playing the BBC digital radio stations. Versions might also be available for mobile phones and cars.

He would not name potential partners in the project but dismissed as "pure speculation" that Apple was involved.

Apple's iPod dominates the market for portable music players. Many people use a clip-on gadget for it called the iTrip to listen to their collection of tracks via FM radio. There are also many other gadgets and add-on extras for the iPod and other MP3 players.

The spokesman would not put a timetable on when the project would be finished but said: "We would like to get something out sooner rather than later."

Now this is audio porn

Play it loud, let your iPod be known.
Load 10,000 songs into your iPod and plug it in the Jukebox Station with Universal Dock for iPod and enjoy your music with the colorful Jukebox Station LED lighting system.

Features

• Wood Enclosure Jukebox Style 2.1 Stereo System
• 1 Meter in Height
• FM/AM Radio
• Perfect for Game Rooms
• LED Lighting System
• Precise Sound Quality
• Custom-designed drivers
• Woofer, mid-range and tweeters
• Clean, well defined, high fidelity sound
• Integrated Universal Dock for iPod
• 17 function IR Remote Control
• RCA Input Jacks
• 3.5 mm mini jack input/Headphones
• RCA Video Output Jacks
• Lockable Window

You can use the JukeBox Station with any iPod with dock connector.

Well, it's better then those stupid jeans I posted about yesterday! :-P
This would look tres cute in my living room, next to my air hockey table! (Oh yeah, I've really got one. I kick ass too.)

I can finally end my teasing!

Because it's official now! OK, here's a little back story:

Your friends at Sonic Society who bring you all the awesome audio cinema you've been listening to for a year now have their own production company too, Sonic Cinema. For the past 5 months they have been working very very very very very very hard on a fan production of the Firefly tv series.

And they're finished! WooHOOOO!

Well, with episode 1 anyway. I think episode 2 as well, but I'm not sure. It's at least in final production. Anyway, episode 1 is posted and ready for everyone's waiting browncoat ears! OK, that deserves another wooHOOOOO!

I can go on and on and on and on about this, really. You know I can. But it would be so much better, and rewarding for YOU to just go over and take a listen! Besides, you'll even hear ME in places, like interviewing these blokes.

And really, it's all about me, right? Well, at least that is what my husband says, but usually with thicker sarcasm. Hmmmm...... *giggle*

Enjoy people- and remember to spread this signal around the podcasting 'verse!

For $250 you'd think they'd look better

I mean, yeesh. I can't even call it audio porn.
UUUUG-LY.
Built-controls though, that's kinda neat.
But geez, wearing the same pair of pants every day, I think people would notice after awhile. ;-)

Podcasting vs. Satellite part deux

Apple recently announced that more than 70 percent of 2007 cars will have iPod support, which will make it easier for people to listen to podcasts as they drive. This threatens Sirius and XM, though, because adoption of satellite radio has largely been through people who buy cars with factory-installed equipment.

According to Carl Bayard, an analyst at Desjardins Securities in Toronto who tracks the satellite radio business, the development of "seamless" integration of the popular portable iPod device and car stereos is "a major negative blow for the entire satellite radio industry."

In February, Mr. Bayard highlighted the iPod as the "most worrisome" substitute to satellite radio because, he says, "it offers users better control over music selection."

Subscription fees for satellite radio basic service are about $150/year for one receiver, about the same as it costs to buy an iPod nano.

Other reasons podcasting threatens satellite radio:

• For many listeners, podcasting offers a broader variety of content than is available over satellite
• Podcasting captures an attractive demographic for advertisers
• Podcasting reaches an audience that, depending on estimates, is comparable in size to satellite radio or larger.

So have you all had enough of me going on and on and on about this yet? Ok, ok... I'll shut up about it. I promise to start rummaging through all my audio/radio drama linkage now, and start posting about stuff that is IMPORTANT! :-D

Satellite Radio Losses Grow

Another good one from Podcasting News.

Losses are growing at the two leaders in satellite radio, XM and Sirius.

Sirius lost $237.8 million for the period compared with a loss of $177.6 million during second quarter of 2005. XM Satellite Radio on July 27 reported a second-quarter loss of $231.7 million, up from losses of $148.8 million a year ago.

One of the biggest issues for both companies is subscriber acquisition cost, or the money each company spends to get a single subscriber to sign up for the service. Sirius's acquisition costs dropped to $131 in second quarter from $160 in the year-ago period. XM's, meanwhile, rose to $64 in second quarter, compared with $50 in the year-ago period.

A threat that may prove to be even greater, though, is the explosion of free audio content on the Internet. Some radio experts are sceptical about the chances of new radio technologies competing with Internet audio. There are already more podcasters than radio stations in the world, and podcasts offer on-demand playback and device independence.

Even with the losses, investors appear to be encouraged by a growth in the overall market. Sirius's net subscriber additions outpaced XM's during the quarter, 600,460 to 398,012. XM has a total of 6.9 million subscribers to Sirius's 4.6 million. By comparison, podcasters currently reach an estimated audience of 10 million podcast listeners.

Sirius' CEO, was bullish on advertising as a second revenue stream. "We have approximately $22 million on the books this morning," he told analysts. "That compares to finishing all of last year at slightly over $6 million."

via Ad Age

Okay... can someone tell me which YOU would want to use to reach more addicts? I wonder how many people have been converted from satellite to podcasts. I just did an interview where they were very happy about their shows being played on satellite, and unfortunately they can't podcast them because of this. How is this freedom of the airwaves?? Argh, it's so frustrating! But each case is individual, and there might possibly be more listeners to THAT particular station than their podcast.
But if the losses continue...

But I still see it changing- satellite stinks!
(But really, I don't have an opinion one way or another...)

Podcast marketing 101 is now in session

Turns out blogging and podcasting are two of the top 5 most effective tools for marketing leads in the technology industry, according to Marketing Sherpa.

Top 5 Tools For Generating Sales Leads

• 1. Free Trials -- Business software marketers ranked free trials extremely highly, with 54% calling trials very effective.
• 2. Webcast -- At 41% this was another favorite for software marketers, however technology services and related hardware firms also ranked webinars at 33% and 31% respectively.
• 3. White paper -- All business technology marketers rated white papers fairly evenly, giving white paper offers ratings ranging from 31-36% 'very effective.'
• 4. Blog -- 35% of software and ASP marketers rated their blog as very effective, as did 33% of technology services firms. However, just 19% of hardware companies felt that a corporate blog was effective. This may be because general business executives are more likely to read a blog, while IT staffers may not.
• 5. Podcast -- Last year the concept of a podcast was barely on the technology marketing map. By June 2006, 22% of software marketers who'd given a podcast called them 'very effective' lead generation tools. Perhaps IT professionals are more likely to be in an early adopter community that might listen to a podcast.

Seriously, that to me is just freaking cool. I can understand why it can be effective as well. It's so easy now to subscribe to a podcast or blog feed. (Hey you all DID notice my subscription buttons over there in the sidebar, right?) Then everything just gets automatically downloaded. If there is something you want to know more about- it's all right there in just a few clicks.

I know, I know... can Dani state the obvious any more clearer? :-P
Still, it's an interesting pdf to skim through. And I'm sure you all have someone you know in business who would appreciate the info, eh?

Gosh darn it- I love this crap.

So, maybe I am dead

Because I feel like I haven't accomplished a damn thing since I wrote that last entry.

Actually, that isn't entirely true. I did an interview, edited it, and put together 3/4 of that really shiny special thing I've been teasing you about for- like ever.

I did also get the next Sonic Society podcast up- so please go and take a listen. I like this replay... they are really cute stories read by Mr. Host of the show. (OK, not sure how to make Oscar Wilde cute, but you know...) But it's cute nonetheless. I have no shame in saying that I think Jack Ward has a really good voice. :-)

However, I had a big plan to get MY podcast together, and dammit I've just not got around to it. And I need to do it- but I'm still not caught up with what is happening in the world. Has anything changed in the past week?

Hey does anyone listen to The Poddog Show? Isn't it cool? I actually just recently became a listener, I gave it a go when I was on the beach in San Diego. I love it! Daryl is quite entertaining, but I am positive it is because Kuma writes the scripts. So- I sent him a picture of my Sandi and he put it on his listener pet page!

What is even cooler is he went a step further, and gave me a plug on his most recent show! And it wasn't just a little "here's this show and the link" thing- he actually spoke at least 5 complete sentences about my podcast!! And they were GOOD things!! WooHOO! Damn, I really need to make a promo for my cast, but it's still cool when people talk about it and don't just play a promo.

Well, I might as well list out what else I listened to when I was away. I didn't get as much in as I wanted to, but it ended up being several episodes of a few things, so you know, it takes up alot of time.

I finished up book one of 7th Son. I'm very pleased to say I guessed which clone was going to bite it.
All Axis Radio: Canada. You know, my goal in life is this: Promote my podcast as well as JC Hutchins does, and mix a podcast as well as Ajay. My heroes!
I also finished the second half of the 4th season of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd. If you've not heard this series, then you really do live under a rock. I have such a crush on Dr. Steve, I tell you. Although he sounds like Burns to me at times, LOL.

That's really about it. I wish I had more time to listen to more things, but you know, there was the whole purpose for my trip- family time!

OK, I'm finding plenty to blog about here, prepare for the onslaught!
I know y'all missed me... XOXO

No, I'm not dead..

I've just been on vacation! Took a little breather from the heat here and went to San Diego for a few days (about a 6-hour drive). The beach, the zoo, and Legoland! A very nice mini-escape. :-)

So, I'll be back in the swing of things soon. AND I will have some very shiny stuff to blab endlessly about. I've all ready given a teaser here...

Until then, keep your ears entertained by going here.

And here.

Oh, and don't forget here, since I done 'glected to mention it myself before skippin' town...
(see? It's the gorram exciting thing I can't wait to blab about- making me type all odd-like. My ears are in HEAVEN, people. H-E-A-V-E-N.)

All righty... be back real soon!
Dani