#Podcast July 22

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Sometimes we have to remember that technology changes our world. That is the case with the PODCAST. It didn’t exist until 2004.

In 2001 Apple debut the IPod. It was not the first MP3 player but it was arguable the best. If you purchased a first generation IPod you had to add songs from a CD or some other source.

Apple’s ITunes store didn’t become a thing until 2003. When it arrived people could now purchase songs to load on their MP3 players. This concept of downloading content to the IPod or some other MP3 player switched over to all types of audio files. The pioneers were MTV VJ Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winer.

Winer had authored an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) aggregator software, and Curry coded a program titled iPodder, which could extract audio files from an RSS feed so that they could be transferred to an iPod. For once, radio broadcast files could be stored on a portable player and listened to on the go. 

In 2005 the word PODCAST became mainstream with the New Oxford American Dictionary making it the word of the year. 2005 also saw Apple making a directory of podcasts on their iTunes Music Store. In October 2006, This American Life launched a podcast version of their popular radio show which, to this day, continues to be one of the most downloaded shows on the podcast charts. 

Fast forward to today where some estimates believe over 200 Million Americans have listened to at least one PODCAST. Some statistics indicate a 100 Million Americans listen to at least one PODCAST every month.

If you want to read a historical review of PODCASTS by Oliver Skinner click here.