IndiePodcasting.com Takes Podcasting and Music Promotion to New Levels

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IndiePodcasting.com is a new service devoted to promoting unsigned and independent musicians using a combination of podcasting technology, syndication, and viral marketing.

It is the first music promotion company to use podcasting as part of its services.

The independent music revolution is coming at a time when technology allows unsigned and independent label artists to obtain widespread distribution without the help of a major record label or distributor. The internet and broadband connections make it possible for a band to develop a large fan base, sell CDs and market their music as digital downloads. But a brand new development has arrived which takes distribution even further. It’s called “podcasting” and it’s could change the way music is marketed and broadcast on the internet.

The term “podcasting” is a combination of the words “iPod” and “broadcasting”. It is a new method of automating the delivery of audio directly to iPods, computer desktops, and other portable media. It operates by sending audio files, generally mp3 files, to a subscriber using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds based on XML programming. These feeds can be collected by RSS readers or a new type of software which facilitates automated downloading of podcast audio files. Once a podcast is received, the listener has an option to “tune in” to a broadcast when he pleases. It can be loaded into a portable mp3 player and taken on the road. The listener is not tied to their desktop. It's basically "broadcasting to go”. Podcasts can include any type of audio, not just music. In fact, the majority of podcasts are not music based. Thousands of people are quickly catching on to podcasting and it has been receiving a good amount of media coverage.

Unfortunately, podcasting is not yet popular with the general population. Most subscribers are members of the “web blog” community and those already familiar with RSS feeds to receive news and other written media. The average web surfer has yet to discover podcasting.

But there is a new company called IndiePodcasting.com, which is taking podcasting a step beyond the norm. IndiePodcasting.com is a new service devoted to promoting unsigned and indie artists using a combination of podcasting technology, syndication, and viral marketing. It uses a format which is unlike most podcasts currently being generated. IndiePodcasting.com intends to bring podcasting out of the realm of web blogging and audio blogs and into the hands of mainstream web surfers.

Most podcasts in general emulate a radio show. When applying this method to a music podcast, people normally receive an automated download of a large file including “DJ” commentary and a stream of various songs. Since most subscribers do not have audio editing software to separate the songs, they are stuck with a long mp3 they cannot easily browse on their computer or mp3 device. The average music podcast also provides no option to stream the music prior to downloading.

IndiePodcasting is different. It’s podcasts eliminate the DJ and send single songs in the feeds accompanied by fully designed artist pages. The artist pages provide subscribers with links to additional information about the artist, a photo, short bio, and a link to purchase the artist's album, where applicable. The pages also allow listeners to stream each song without downloading, or execute a download. The streams and downloads are two minute, CD quality song clips. Full length songs are not provided. This encourages consumers to purchase the artist's album. The system works best with an RSS reader since more features are provided, but is compatible with podcasting automated download applications, like iPodder and Podfeeder.

The advantage IndiePodcasting.com provides over simply visiting a large artist directory site is two fold. First, a subscriber automatically gets new music feeds as they are generated. All that is required is an activated RSS reader or podcast downloader. When a subscriber turns on his computer and signs on to the internet, an updated feed is automatically sent to the computer with the new music and artists. If they have an attached iPod, or other mp3 device, and use an application like iPodder or Podfeeder, the update automatically loads the music into the device. The subscriber just has to click on a link or type a url into their browser to obtain the feed, which is free. Second, the music has been screened for quality while the music found on huge artist directory sites has not been screened. This means that a music lover has to wade through as many as 100,000 artists on some directory sites to find what amounts to a needle in a haystack of mediocrity.

IndiePodcasting.com began generating podcast feeds on February 12th. Instead of a linked blog, it has a website which was professionally designed to interact with the podcasts being published. The site also stands on its own as a quality artist directory site. Eighty artists have been promoted on IndiePodcasting feeds since the initial podcast and a new artist will be added each day from this point forward. Artist press kits and websites are regularly submitted for consideration. All of the selected artists have been evaluated on songwriting skills, recording quality and production, vocals and lyrics, and musicianship by staff members with backgrounds in these areas. This screening process creates a high quality podcast that will interest subscribers. Some feeds have included well-known indie artists such as former Capitol Records artist Dexter Freebish, former Buck Cherry frontman Josh Todd, and Celldweller, an industrial/electronica artist whose music has been in several movie trailers for major films such as Spiderman 2, Catwoman, and Constantine. But, any deserving artist is promoted as long as they are blessed with above average talent and are serious about being successful in the music industry. To hear a stream of music from current IndiePodcasting artists, visit www.indiepodcasting.com/audio/all_artists.m3u and enjoy.

IndiePodcasting's feeds are being actively promoted to consumers through viral marketing at large community sites like MySpace.com and Hi5.com, music e-zines and review sites, offline music periodicals, music industry professionals, etc. The syndicated feed is also listed in numerous podcast directories throughout the internet. IndiePodcasting.com enables indie labels to scout new talent and promote existing acts, music reviewers to easily find new artists to review, and consumers to purchase music from great new artists.

The genres covered by IndiePodcasting.com currently include rock, alternative, power-pop/punk and folk/acoustic. Hip-hop and R&B are being considered for the future. The main targeted consumer audience includes people from their late teens to early forties and the main music industry target is the small indie record label.