Indie Bible - Darkjoy

A computer program, dubbed a “podcatcher,” is required to listen to or view a podcast. Contrary to what the name
suggests, podcasts don’t have to be heard or viewed on an iPod. The iPod is the most popular digital audio player
in the world, but various other players can be used, either portable or on a computer.
The technology that makes podcasts possible is cutting-edge, but the model is fairly basic. A podcaster will
assemble a show – many resemble a radio show – and post it online with an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) file
that enables it to be distributed via podcast. Users use software like iTunes to subscribe and download the content.
Once downloaded, the files are ready to be listened to on the user’s digital audio/video player of choice.
A majority of the content available as podcasts is free, and podcasting software makes it easy to keep up with the
latest contribution from your favorite podcasters. In fact, the software is constantly seeking updates and new
programs once you subscribe to a podcast.
Here’s an example: Let’s say you go online to the iTunes directory and subscribe to a free audio podcast from
IndieFeed. You can then download any or all of the individual songs they’ve archived for podcasting. And since
you’re now a subscriber, iTunes will constantly (invisibly to you) check for new episodes from IndieFeed. When
new songs are posted, they are automatically available for you to download.
This model is fairly consistent across the spectrum of material offered as podcasts, which is as varied as the
internet itself. Business coaching, music videos, animated shorts, sermons, sporting events… it’s all out there
waiting to be podcasted. So is a ton of independent music.
Podcasting independent music
iTunes alone has over 150 different independent music podcasts available, and there are other directories out there
that list hundreds more. If you’re a user looking for indie music, the problem becomes, “How do I find the good
stuff?” As an indie musician, the problem is, “How do I get my music heard?”
There are a number of independent music podcasts that solicit music from artists, including IndieFeed and
Insomnia Radio. Browse through the directories included at the end of this article and you’ll find dozens more.
Most screen and hand-pick the songs for inclusion, so there’s no guarantee your music will be podcasted. In many
ways, these podcasts are analogous to college radio ten years ago: they are indie friendly, but getting in takes some
luck and requires someone on the listening end appreciating your art.
Typically, all you need to submit for podcasting is an MP3 of your music, though many podcasters also ask for
information about your act, like a short bio and URL to list in the event that they play your music.
Getting your music played on one of these podcasts is a viral means of reaching a fan base you wouldn’t have
reached before. As the medium gains momentum, more and more users are using podcasters as their gatekeepers.
Landing a track on a popular podcast is almost like landing a song on a TV show or a soundtrack. It’s all about
getting more ears to hear your music.
Creating your own podcast
Another possibility is to create your own podcast. It can be just about anything you want it to, but for the sake of
example, let’s say you want to combine a music track with a voice-over. You can talk about the meaning or the
inspiration for the song, go on a political rant, tell stories from the road – whatever you think might make your
podcast more enjoyable and relevant.
It’s fairly easy to do. You’ll need:
• A computer
• An MP3 file to podcast
• Music editing/recording software
• Text-editing software
• An RSS text file
• Somewhere online to post your files
Let’s assume you already have an original song saved as an MP3 file on your computer. You’ll then want to add a
voice-over track to complete the “show.” With free audio software like Audacity, you can quickly record and edit
voice-over elements right on your computer. If you have any kind of home studio, you can easily create a more
elaborate recording.
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