PodMov Daily: Tuesday, January 7

Episode 115: Testing, One Two-sday

Open to the Public: The Sights and Sounds of 1924

Our first regular issue of 2020 celebrates an announcement from The Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke Law School.

As of January 1, works from 1924 are “free for all to use and build upon, without permission or fee. These works include George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue [and] silent films by Buster Keaton.”

As Jennifer Jenkins explains in the Public Domain Day article, “Creators can legally build on the past — reimagining the books, making them into films, adapting the songs.”

The possibilities of this treasure trove are endless for podcasters. To 2020: 1924’s year in audio.

Business vs. Creative: Expert Perspective at the GeekWire Summit

Todd Bishop of GeekWire presents the highlights and key takeaways of “a discussion with podcast producers, media vets and startup entrepreneurs,” recorded onstage at the GeekWire Summit.

Experts like Phyllis Fletcher, senior editor for podcasts at American Public Media, and Amira Valliani, CEO and co-founder of Glow, weigh in on the impact of audience data, potential development with smart speakers, and much more.

One focus is what Valliani describes as the industry’s “current economic disconnect,” i.e., “a huge gap in how much engagement you’re seeing in podcasting and how much monetization is happening.” That said, is podcasting a smart investment?

Your editor notes that during the far-reaching discussion, her favorite podcast of several years, The Memory Palace by Nate DiMeo, was recommended by Steve Henn of Google.

Bold and Brave: Forbes' Ewan Spence on Apple's Year Ahead

What will it take for Apple to sustain its rate of growth in software and services? In Forbes, Ewan Spence describes potential “bold and brave decisions” toward that end.

Even with the addition of 5G, “relying on the iPhone should not be the only angle” to expand Apple’s user base, Spence asserts. “Let’s start with podcasting.” The company has updated its support of podcasting since iTunes 4.9, but Spence feels as a longtime podcaster that it could show more initiative for the community.

Developing and improving competitive software features would go a long way. “Increased focus on podcasting would finally reward podcast listeners and creators with a stronger emotional connection to Apple, and limit Spotify’s growth.”

Spext: Intuitive, Web-Based Audio Editing for Every Creator

Your audio files have limitless potential, but you have limited time. Whether you’re creating your next best podcast episode or transcribing an interview, Spext is your new best friend.

Spext is the most intuitive web-based audio editor on the market, with collaborative functionality similar to Google Docs. Unlike other programs, there’s nothing to download and no waveforms to adjust. Simply trim the auto-generated transcript, add music from the built-in library, and merge in minutes.

Post-production is done in a click, and with non-destructive and exportable edits you can repurpose and share with confidence. Plus, because filler words like “um” are universal, Spext supports over 100+ languages and accents.

From indie media creators to marketing teams, busy industry professionals trust Spext with their most important projects.

You’re smart — your audio editor should be, too. Get started with a free trial today.

Here's what else is going on:

• In balance: Steve Henn, content strategy lead for audio news at Google, contributes to Nieman Lab’s Predictions for Journalism 2020 series with fascinating commentary on developing a truly relevant and useful ‘audio web.’

• Digging in: An interview by Ireland’s Echo Live features the creators of The Mental Floss Podcast. Launched in a Cork garden shed, it’s Top-40 trending on iTunes and Spotify after “fewer than two dozen episodes.”

• Real time: The Washington Post suggests 6 immersive podcasts fueling this true-crime moment. Shows like Bear Brook and Reply All “chronicle the recorded experiences of the host as they investigate a question or mystery.”

• What’s next: Anissa Pierre of PRX reports on the organization’s key role in the last decade of podcasting, plus upcoming projects like TRAX, a youth-oriented podcasting network, and the Sirius XM channel PRX Remix.