| For many in the Millennium generation podcasting is the | | | | broadcasting has done for a different generation. |
| new broadcasting. For many who are under | | | | Podcasting can also be consumed via cell phones and |
| twenty-five there has never been a time when they | | | | other portable devices. |
| did not have access to computers. | | | | It is even possible to dock an mp3 player and allow a |
| This generation perceives the interactive components | | | | podcast to be used in a classroom or conference |
| of the Internet to be the focal point of media in the 21st | | | | center. The role of this media has become too large to |
| century. | | | | be ignored or dismissed. |
| The advent of mp3 players has allowed the role of | | | | Radio and television stations are working to fuse |
| media presentations to be portable and storable. RSS | | | | traditional broadcasting with Internet alternatives. This |
| feeds have taken the podcast and made it nearly | | | | role may not always be clearly understood and the |
| instantly accessible. | | | | concepts may even be embraced differently with |
| The tie that Boomers and Busters had to radio is | | | | each station, but there is the recognition that this media |
| virtually non-existent in this new generation. They gain | | | | may be the frontlines of the future of broadcasting. |
| their music from online sources. Even the notion of a | | | | I once heard it said that if railroad companies had |
| CD player is a somewhat archaic idea. After all, why | | | | thought of themselves as a transportation company |
| pay for a disc when you can pay only for the songs | | | | they might have seen even more success. This may |
| you want and store them on an extremely small and | | | | be the notion traditional broadcasters must struggle |
| portable device that you can customize to alter | | | | with. |
| content whenever you want? | | | | Podcasting and Internet broadcasting is a bold frontier |
| Traditional media was slow to come to the party, but | | | | and many professional and armchair enthusiasts are |
| they are increasingly making podcasting a dynamic | | | | populating audio bytes with a uniquely branded sound |
| part of their media distribution. | | | | and listening experience. |
| While record companies were also slow to understand | | | | The tie to a younger generation that understands |
| the impact of the Internet they now embrace the ability | | | | electronics and online shopping may make podcasts |
| to sell songs via online download sites. | | | | and online broadcasting a potential goldmine for |
| Independent artists are no longer looking to traditional | | | | advertisers. If you are an online business owner looking |
| radio to become popular. These artists are populating | | | | for something that reaches out to those primarily 25 |
| sites like MySpace to get their music out. There have | | | | and younger then sites that feature popular podcasts |
| been several success stories from individuals and | | | | and audio streams may be a positive choice for your |
| groups who have noted tremendous sales of their | | | | online advertising and marketing strategies. |
| music simply by relying on social media and podcasting | | | | The fact that a huge percentage of radio and |
| to get the word out. | | | | television stations have moved some product offerings |
| Podcasting can educate and entertain and it has the | | | | online means that this direction is not a subtle shift, but |
| ability to connect listeners in a way traditional | | | | a tsunami of change in broadcasting. |