Jemily Rime

While centred on the medium of audio, podcasts are often a multimedia concern, and one that has become hugely popular in recent years, though relatively little is known about the perspectives of podcast creators and their visions of innovation. This article details the results of an exploratory study conducted to enhance our understanding of potential innovation in the field of podcasting. Sixteen podcast creators were interviewed about their work and what they wanted from next-generation podcasts, in order to understand the requirements and expectations of tools that could be built to create new forms of audio-based programming. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis, we reveal novel findings, such as the duality between “listener-centric” and “creator-centric” innovations, to improve listener experience but also to unleash new creative possibilities in a streamlined production workflow. We shed light on what podcast creators envision as “next-generation podcasting,” the archetypal podcast production workflow, and creators’ expectations of podcasting tools. Combining these findings, we identify how the workflow could be modified to include new steps that will help to realise podcast creators’ visions. This study crystalises on important information about podcasters—their behavior and perspectives on the future of the medium—which will allow further research, design, and development in the field to be founded upon empirical observations.

This essay addresses two questions on the topic of podcast innovation. The first, ‘What is a podcast?’ is answered via a review of the literature, investigating podcasting history and its evolution. The definition of podcasting arising from this analysis – centring on episodic audio, convenient both to produce and experience – takes into account recent changes, providing an up-to-date description of the term, useful for further research on the topic. It is also required to answer our second question: ‘How do we design new ways to produce and listen to podcasts without denaturing the medium?’ By reflecting on the essential features of podcasting and the necessity for innovation in this interdisciplinary medium, a framework of six-tensions is proposed as a means of grounding and potentially boosting innovation. Answering these questions could prove valuable for the future of podcasting, hypothesising a basis for reflection and development in both academia and industry.