Funk Babblings

A year ago I discovered podcasts, around the time (within a couple months) that a lot of good podcasts were getting started. 2005 saw an explosion in podcasting, with various podcast alliances starting (some of them fading and splintering into new ones), many musicians and record labels getting involved, and the beginning of commercialization helping push things along. There was a podcasting convention in November. Podcasts are now getting played on both broadcast and satellite radio. Eventually even Apple recognized the phenomenon, even if their featured-podcast list is almost entirely shows that don't originate as podcasts.

Just a few months ago I could keep up with all the happenings. I can't keep up with it all anymore. (And not just because I'm two weeks behind in my listening.)

Some of you may still be wondering what in the world a podcast is (and why I keep mentioning them). If so, I'll just say it's an periodic audio show, often comparable in style to a college radio show, where each installment is an MP3 audio recording put on the net such that it can be automatically downloaded by software "subscribed" to that podcast. Some people put out a show every day, while others only once a month or less, but in my experience most put out 1-3 shows a week. Each show is generally somewhere between 10 and 90 minutes long, with most being around 20-40 minutes. There are exceptions to almost all of these statements, but for more information I refer you to Wikipedia.

One other thing I should mention: music copyrights and "podsafe" music. Since podcasting didn't exist before mid-2004, established copyright laws and practices don't take it into account as being anywhere near equivalent to traditional broadcasting, even though that's the model most often followed in show formats. As podcasting began, podcasters either ignored copyright on the music they played, risking prosecution by the music industry, or they sought permission from the artists or labels individually. Then there are the rare few that paid the various entities involved in order to be able to play anything they want. The term "podsafe" came about to describe music that has been cleared for play on podcasts, and most prominent podcasters religiously stick to podsafe music. (The advent of the Podsafe Music Network has helped this, reducing duplicated effort.) Some also avoid all music published by the major record labels (the RIAA), even in the rare cases when that music is podsafe, because they disapprove of the RIAA's tactics in enforcing their copyrights.

Many of the podcasts I currently subscribe to can be roughly divided into a few categories:

Top-tier podsafe music shows
Insomnia Radio Podcast - About 45 minutes or so of the best indie rock, hosted by Jason Evangelho from California. Usually around a show a week, maybe more, maybe less. The feed also includes occasional "Double Shots", which are guest-hosted shows, usually on the mellower side, spotlighting two artists with two songs each.
Accident Hash - Anywhere from 25-50 minutes of great indie music, hosted by C.C. Chapman from Boston. Sometimes a little too talkative, but always fun. Usually about three shows a week.
Rock and Roll Geek Indie Cast - Southerner-in-San-Fran Michael Butler hosts this show that leans more toward the hard rock end of things. 25-50 minutes, around once every week or two.
Bandtrax - From Boise Idaho, Canis Lupus and Rena Marie relax and chat (sometimes a bit too much) about the music. Three shows a week, each generally with a theme. Often has unusual genres, and there are usually two songs each from two or three bands.

Other podsafe/indie music shows
Bands Under the Radar - From L.A., Kami Knake plays an hour or so of great music, with very little talking. This would be in the above category, but it's only once a month, and it's not always podsafe.
Sonic Playground - Lynn (a recent transplant from Michigan to Florida) plays about half an hour of music about once a month.
Mostlytunes - Bob in Montreal plays half an hour of great music with (almost) no talking. Unfortunately he only does it every month or two.
Vu d'ici / Seen from here - Another Montrealer, M-C Turgeon bounces between French and French-accented English as she plays music you won't hear from any of the others, mostly electro-pop and a bit mellower than what I usually listen to. Half an hour, once a week.
Late Night Sounds - Not much personality or talking here, just half an hour of good music every week or two. Tends slightly toward darker sounds, but not always.
The $250 Million Radio Show - Hosted by the founder of (the old) MP3.com, Derrick Oien, and these days only sporadically, it's about half an hour of great music.
Constant Columbus - A new podcast focusing on Columbus bands but not limited to them. Sometimes a bit harsher sound than I like, but other times it's good. Maybe half an hour, maybe once a month.
Not Lame Podcast - Hosted by Brian Ibbott of Coverville, this spotlights the bright power-pop sounds of the Not Lame Recording company. 40 minutes, about once or twice a month.
Rubyfruit Radio - I just discovered this one and actually haven't listened yet, but the playlist and concept sound good to me. "All girls all the time." Looks like about 40 minutes, a couple times a week.

Specialty Shows
In Over Your Head - As I mentioned recently, this is another one out of Montreal, hosted by Julien Smith, and it's half podsafe hip-hop/electronica/electropop, half Julien's wonderful rants and commentary. About 20-30 minutes, two or three times a week.
Coverville - This is the one everybody can like. Three times a week, Brian Ibbott plays 40-60 minutes of cover songs, and he's paid the required licensing fees so that he can play anything. You're bound to hear something you know, possibly in a better form than you've ever heard.
Old Wave Radio: New 80s Music - A great concept, great music. "Danny The K" (Dan Klass) plays new music that sounds like it's 80s music. About half an hour, only every couple months now.
KEXP Podcast - A Seattle radio station that puts out about 90 minutes of indie music as a podcast every month.
They Might Be Giants Podcast - The weirdness that is TMBG is now available in podcast form. Think Dial-A-Song for a new century.

Irish/Celtic Music
Irish and Celtic Music Podcast - From Austin Texas, Marc Gunn plays over an hour of traditional Irish, Celtic, filk, and Renfaire music. Lots of fun once a month.
Celtic Music News Podcast - From Macon Georgia, Aaron Drake plays Celtic music that tends more toward the Celtic Rock side of things. And despite the name, there's not really any news in it. About 20 minutes, once a week.

Individual songs or song samples
Song Of The Day - Far from podsafe, this is generally an extended cut of some 70s, 80s, or 90s song, often on the funk side (Prince is a favorite).
Insomnia Radio's Daily Dose - Jason (of Insomnia Radio) and friends bring you individual songs chosen with the same good taste as in the main show.
IndieFeed: Alt/Modern Rock - IndieFeed introduces a band, plays a song, talks about it a bit more, and is done in 5-10 minutes. This is the main channel I pay attention to, but others are good too.
IndieFeed: Electronica/Dance
IndieFeed: Folk/Americana
IndieFeed: Hardcore/Punk
Hellthy: Indie Rock/Pop - This gives you songs downloaded directly from the artists' web sites
IndiePodcasting.com - Rock/Pop - Two-minute samples of good indie songs.

Public Radio shows as podcasts
On The Media - 50 minutes every week discussing the media and how they cover current events.
Harry Shearer's Le Show - The voice of half the Simpsons characters satirizes current events every week. The music he plays is cut out due to copyright issues, so it's generally around 35-40 minutes.
Echoes Podcast - The 10-minute spotlight/interview segment from the ambient music show hosted by John Diliberto and Kimberly Haas. Copyright issues prevent podcasting the whole show.