MTV: Podcasting Lets Anyone Be An International DJ

An article at MTV's site highlights one of podcasting's appeals:

The key to podcasting's allure lies in its TiVo-like setup. Instead of spending minutes, or sometimes hours, waiting for the podcasts to download, users subscribe to a program and never have to seek out their show again. Your computer searches for new episodes and whether you're at your computer or not, the show downloads automatically and is ready to dump onto your iPod or other device. Unlike traditional broadcasting, the listener controls when he or she will listen to the program. Plus, the iPodder software works not just for broadcasts, but for video, pictures and even software updates.

"You can hear all these shows that are completely free and open with no FCC restrictions and they don't have to sound the way radio traditionally has," Curry said. The medium also provides an untapped avenue of exposure for new acts. When Curry started playing tracks by the all-girl New York vocal band the Lascivious Biddies, the indie group quickly saw an increase in online album sales. "Now they're being played on other podcasts and there's definitely more people at their shows who've learned about them on podcasts," said the group's production manager, Ben Struck.

MTV on Podcasting