Holy moly, look what just happened…

Wizzard Software (OTCBB: WIZD) announced today that it has agreed to acquire Libsyn, the world’s largest podcasting network. Following the acquisition, Libsyn will maintain its independence and continue to grow its successful brand and loyal podcasting community, empowering podcasting everywhere.

Libsyn is the home of some of the biggest shows in podcasting, like The Mac Cast, Sex is Fun, Schlaflos in Muenchen (hi Anik!), and Keith and The Girl.  Congratulations to the Libsyn guys, and please join me in welcoming Wizzard Software to the podcasting family. 

Wizzard might become our new favorite uncle.  That other uncle kinda makes me feel… I dunno… dirty, I guess.  Quit ASKING ME ABOUT IT! (*Scott storms off to his room*)

Â

I am buried neck deep in a sofware project, but did manage to fire off a contribution to Dave at Chub Creek a few weeks ago.  (How busy have I been? Well, it is 5am, I am at work, and I have not been home to bed yet.  Sheesh.)  This brightened my day, though…

I am the voice of a futuristic coffee maker in a podcast drama: “DarkSpeed� produced by Dave from Chub Creek.  It’s an amazingly well-produced (and funny) little drama that he puts together using mp3 audio files that his friends send him.  The miracle of the production is that no one records their parts at the same time, and there is no script.  How does that work?  Very well.

Check out Episode 75 - October 22nd, 2006 at http://www.chubcreek.com/ The whole show runs 34:32, and my bit runs from 19:44 to 24:30.  You’ll hear the ‘old’ coffee machine, and then you’ll hear my “new coffee machine.â€�  There is some profanity (a few sh**s, and a F*** or two) that make it “not safe for work,” but the language is only used for punctuation. Â

The big buzz over the last two days has been the news (From MWGblog) that MommyCast is no longer with Podshow.  Before we all pile on the “Podshow sucks” bandwagon, let’s be honest about our feelings on the subject: We tend to dislike ‘corporate organizations,’ and we tend to favor ‘independent success.’ 

Having just now performed that bit of perception filtering on myself, I am still left with a sense of antagonism towards Podshow.  I know that Podshow is making failed attempts to separate themselves from the core community, and I also know that podcasters are growing weary of the manufactured and unilateral animosity.  Podshow is creating an environment in which the emotional attachments between them and their podcast producers fade quickly, leaving only legal contractual obligations.  It’s been my experience that “legal contractual obligations” do not inspire the passion required to produce quality content.

*I pause a moment to refresh my objectivity filter.*  While I was at the 2006 Podcast Expo, I had an all-too-brief-before-the-plane-leaves conversation with the new owner of a new podcast network, and I think I startled him with my views on what it takes to really succeed in this market.  He is a smart man, and he is just now beginning to understand the nuances of the podcasting marketplace and its many (sometimes subtle) differences between podcasts and radio. 

I know that he (and everyone else) will fail if he tries to apply existing/traditional media models to podcasting.  His only hope is to re-imagine his business using non-media models (I suggested a mix of “the creativity of niche comic books/graphic novels, the passion and willingness to spend money of model rocketry clubs, the streamlining of production of CafePress, and the narrow-cast monetization strategy of Google AdSense”)

Regarding ad networks, content valuations, and content ownership: If you listen to Podcheck, you know that I have some well-expressed views on the subject of Podcasters’ power to control their own destinies, and no one seems to be helping the podcasters achieve the PODCASTERS’ monetary and social goals. Where is the niche advertising, narrowly-targeted audience messages pertinent to the subject material, and monetary rewards reflective of the audience participation?

So far, every company in the podcast-marketing-network space has failed to live up to my expectations, yet Podshow stands out as being the least-likeable.  Considering their anti-involvement in the grass-roots community, and their big “F*** You” to the Podcast Expo attendees (in the form of a giant black Hummer Limo to shuttle the chosen few between the actual event and their anti-event), this aire of disdain is Podshow’s own fault.  At least Podtrac had a “member meeting” and parties on site, and Kiptronic had a party or two.  The muckety-mucks of both Podtrac and Kiptronic made themselves available for ANYONE to discuss ANYTHING.

I also suspect that more podcasts will leave Podshow in the next 18-24 months.  (Eric Rice has a similar take on it.) More importantly, I suspect that new podcasters will avoid a Podshow deal.  Podshow needs to consider some changes, including an initiative to do some outreach to counter this increasingly well-formed argument pervasive antagonism against them.

In any event, best wishes to Paige and Gretchen of The MommyCast!

UPDATE 10/29/2006: According to P.W. Fenton, Podshow was not allowed to rent space at the Marriott Hotel, which “forced” them to hold their activities elsewhere.  I still believe that this was the result of a choice that was made by Podshow to not pay for the necessary booth, sponsorship, whatever at the Expo.  How is it that companies like Podango, Kiptronic, Blubrry, and others can manage to navigate the supposedly treacherous political waters of the Expo, and Podshow is an outcast?   

I have re-read this post, and I see that it does not reflect my best efforts.  It is bitter, scatological, and weakly-threaded.  Still, I was so moved by something that I spent more than a few minutes that night to type the post.  I have run out of time to analyze my motivations, so I’ll be a giant p*ssy and say that I do not have all of the answers, and some/all of my assumptions may be proven incorrect.  I hope that you ENJOY the post, in all of its glorious warmongering.

“Digital Bill” Douthett, host of the Wizards of Technology podcast, passed away last Wednesday at the age of 47 years old.

from Marc on a post at http://www.macmerc.com/news/archives/3531
It is with deep sorrow that I inform you of the passing of one of our own. MacMerc writer and friend, Digital Bill Douthett was found dead in his apartment earlier today (Wednesday, September 4th, 2006).

The world is diminished by his passing, though we are all greater for having known him.  If you were a fan of his show, I encourage you to visit his web site and donate a few dollars to his family.