The History of Podcasting and Its Precarious Future

FAIN: FT-291481-23

Jeremy Wade Morris
University of Wisconsin, Madison (Madison, WI 53715-1218)

Completion of a monograph on the history of podcasting from the format’s inception in the early 2000s to the present.

Podcasting burst onto the media landscape in the early 2000s with hopes that it might usher in an explosion cultural production and that it could represent an alternate model for how to produce, share and experience new voices and perspectives. Twenty years on, podcasting is at a critical juncture in its young history: a moment where the early ideals of an open and accessible format are giving way to closed and exclusive platforms and experiences. My book-length manuscript, Podcasting, looks at the industrial, technological, cultural and sonic history of the format. I argue that as streaming services push to make podcasting more available, user-friendly, and similar to other media experiences, they threaten core aspects of the format they hope to popularize.

Media Coverage

Library of Congress Interview (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Cary O'Dell
Publication: Library of Congress
Date: 7/5/2024
Abstract: Jeremy Wade Morris is the author of the book “Podcasting.” This 2024 book is part of the ongoing Digital Media and Society series from Polity publishing. He was interviewed by the Library of Congress on July 5, 2024.
URL: https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-plan/tools-and-resources/documents/Interview_Jeremy-Wade-Morris.pdf

Associated Products

Podcasting (Book)
Title: Podcasting
Author: Jeremy Wade Morris
Abstract: Podcasting burst onto the media landscape in the early 2000s. At the time, there were hopes it might usher in a new wave of amateur and professional cultural production and represent an alternate model for how to produce, share, circulate, and experience new voices and perspectives. Twenty years later, podcasting is at a critical juncture in its relatively young history: a moment where the early ideals of open standards and platform-neutral distribution are giving way to services that prioritize lean-back listening and monetizable media experiences. This book provides an accessible and comprehensive account of one of digital media’s most vibrant formats. Focusing on the historical changes shaping podcasts as a media format, the book explores the industrial, technological, and cultural components of podcasting alongside case studies of various podcasts, industry publications, and streaming audio platforms (e.g. Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts). Jeremy Wade Morris argues that as streaming platforms push to make podcasting more industrialized, accessible, user-friendly, and similar to other audio media like music or audiobooks, they threaten podcasting’s early, though always unrealized, promises. This is the go-to introduction for students and researchers of media, communication, and cultural studies, as well as readers who enjoy making and listening to podcasts.
Year: 2024
Primary URL: https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=podcasting--9781509557332
Primary URL Description: Polity Press Website
Secondary URL: https://www.amazon.com/Podcasting-Digital-Society-Jeremy-Morris/dp/1509557334
Secondary URL Description: Amazon Listing
Publisher: Polity Press
Type: Single author monograph
ISBN: 9781509557349
Copy sent to NEH?: Yes

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