Recently I conducted a highly scientific poll regarding audio books, podcasts, and traditional reading.
Okay okay.
It wasn’t highly scientific.
Nor was it a poll.
All right!?
It was a Facebook post asking my limited group of friends what their habits were concerning those three formats
My questions were this:
1. Are you a podcast listener?
2. Are you an audio book listener?
3. Do you prefer a book or ebook over audio?
Since I am fairly new the podcast scene…I’m a voracious reader of books/ebooks. I never dreamed people considered themselves readers if they listened to books. I get it now, but I think our definitions have definitely evolved on what “reading” is. Anyhoo…Since I’m still getting into podcasts I wondered how others view them. I knew they were gaining popularity especially the last few years because I was hearing more and more people talk about them whether online or in actual real life conversations. Yes, people still actual have those.
I fully expected that across the board if people agreed that yes they were podcast listeners, they would also be avid audio book listeners. The answer was yes and no. What I really didn't understand is the relationship factor of podcasts. I have learned over the last few weeks that a podcast is really more relationship based. As I listen and understand conversations, interviews, opinions etc., the overwhelming reason a listener tunes into a podcast is to get to know the people doing the podcast and receiving information that is important to them. The podcast appears to be a unique marketing tool to drive purchasers of audio and ebooks – BECAUSE they got to know the author first.
Through my friends posts, I discovered a variety of new podcasts to listen to myself. My podcast listening has increased just from being intentional about listening especially when I’m driving. As a drove two children to a variety of places on Monday, I cleared 5 podcasts. Also I’m learning to adjust speed and get used to the faster delivery. It doesn’t take long and hey I don’t get mad while I drive because I’m listening to politics and talk radio. Probably for the best..
I have enjoyed searching the trends and the data backs up my perceptions – more and more people are tuning in to podcasts and audio books to fill downtime instead of turning on music to chill out. Think cooking time, working out and doing laundry - more people are listening to podcasts instead of music. Since I’m a music person as well, I’m now going to dig in and see if the music industry is trending down because of the increased consumption of podcasts/audio books. I’m fascinated as well with the idea of serial broadcasts of books. I think it’s super fun and will be working that in to my schedule also.
As a visual learner, I am definitely behind the trends here, but I find it fascinating that the advent of technology and evolution of our habits has created new trends that affect all of my favorite things. Of course this week I learned of Book TV with youtube... oh my...I may be lost for a long time now!! I'll do another post on Book TV soon!
Did you miss out on the original conversation - answer those questions and leave them as a comment now :)
Here are some more links with more on podcasts and audio books if you are interested as well!
https://publishingperspectives.com/2017/06/audiobook-sales-growth-us-2016-report/
http://goodereader.com/blog/digital-publishing/audiobook-trends-and-statistics-for-2017