this exchange with the previous piece on podcasting here is one of the more interesting i have read in sometime. people on both sides have strong opinions but seldom seem able to clearly express their points of view.
this piece really emphasizes the point i have made in a previous comment and everywhere else where people will bother to listen to me. i think podcasting will be around but in a much more professional form. but i think it will, as a result, lose much of what makes it comfortable to many podcasters and listeners-- that sense of community and do it yourself feel. the pros will move in and do what they can do to tighten their grips on what can be podcasted and by who (music licensing etc). and as you stated the do it yourselfers are likely lose access to potential listeners as the pros gain audience.
thanks for this interesting two side exchange.
i agree that podcasting, as we currently know it, may not be here to stay but for reasons not really emphasized here. like internet radio, commercial broadcasters have there eyes focused on this. already we see blogs decrying the demands for licensing fees from performance rights organizations in the case where podcasts play commercially available music.
in the end, once everyone has their say and the freedom associated with podcasting has been all but legislated away. podcasts will likely be here just in a very different form.
personally, i count myself among those who "don't get," podcasting. but my getting something seldom factors into its success, for better or worse.
Podcasts are Here to Stay (and that is a Scary Thought)
Why Podcasting Will Fail