Podcasts are an excellent way to reach people, whether they're listening to them or not. They're also a great way to make money online. If you've been wondering how to turn your passion into profit, podcasts might be the answer.
Podcasts are audio-only shows that usually run between five and 30 minutes long. They're often recorded live, so listeners can hear all the mistakes and awkward pauses. This makes them perfect for sharing ideas and stories, which is why they're such a popular medium for entrepreneurs.
But there are plenty of reasons to think that traditional podcasting might soon become obsolete. For starters, the internet has made it easier than ever to share music and video, and the rise of smartphones has given us access to our favorite songs wherever we go. That means fewer people are listening to podcasts.
The rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music has also taken a bite out of podcast’s popularity. People listen to their favorite artists on these platforms instead of podcasts.
As a result, podcasting companies are struggling to adapt to the changing landscape. In fact, NPR recently announced that it was cutting its news staff by 20 percent.
While the future of podcasting is unclear, we do know that robots will play an increasingly important role in the industry.
Robots are already replacing human workers in some industries, including manufacturing and customer service. But they could eventually replace human podcast hosts as well and these technologies could give podcasters more time to focus on creative projects.
And scene ...
Everything above this section was written by AI. It’s technically correct, and you can understand it when you read it, but there’s something missing.
Actually, a few things are missing.
For one, it’s generic. It has no real voice or point-of-view.
It’s also a bunch of elements thrown together in a single document without much to connect these different elements.
This is where “AI” is today. It’s a cool novelty when it comes to “creative” projects, but it’s missing the human elements and connection.
So if you’re one of the many voiceover pros, podcast hosts, and others worried about being replaced by a computer, don’t. While AI and other computer automation is coming to both voiceover and podcasting, it’s a long way from being able to replace us.
Even Current “Automation” Hasn’t Replaced Us
I was in the grocery a couple of weeks ago, standing in line at the self-checkout. Within a few seconds of me getting there, a “human” station was opened and a manager invited me over.
It had been years since I’d been through a traditional grocery checkout. For one, I like the guy at my grocery store who monitors the multiple self-checkout lines, so it’s always good to see and connect with him. But I also like the process of self-checkout – it gives me more control over how my groceries are bagged and I don’t have to get behind somebody with 300 items.
Self-checkout is also faster. Or so I thought.
On this day, the guy running the register was mind-blowingly fast. As he was scanning, I moved around to the bagging area to keep things moving along and I had a hard time keeping up.
He was also very nice. We had a laugh when I told him how long it had been since I’d been through a traditional checkout line.
Automated Radio is Similar
Jack FM has stations all over the US and Canada, many of which use an automated, voice-tracked DJ.
It’s a very popular format loved by millions. Yet it still takes a human to program it.
And many stations still have live DJs in their booths. It’s a different experience for listeners and it can’t be copied, even with the great technology we have.
So don’t worry about being replaced on your podcast. Even if technology gets better, and it will get better, there will always be listeners who want what you have to offer. What that looks like may change, but it’s never going to completely disappear.
