By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
Huey Lewis had a great line in response to the first time one of his albums reached number 1 on the charts. He said, “we're number 1? I thought we were better than that.” I know exactly what he meant by that. Last week, my brother Mike announced on Facebook that his album, “Enjoying the View”, hit one of the jazz radio charts at Number 78! I went to the site myself and noticed that the album also picked up 14 new stations for the same time frame. In that same post, he also mentioned that his “sister from another mister”, Maci Miller, is also on that chart and climbing fast. I still haven't had a chance to listen to Maci's album yet, but judging by the musicians she enlisted to play, I bet it's outstanding. Staying on the subject of Mike and his latest album, yesterday, he sent birthday wishes to Antonio McLendan. In case that name is not familiar to you, he provided both the vocal parts and vocal arrangement for “The View”, which is by far my favorite song on entire album. Happy birthday, Antonio. Back in my neck of the woods, in the land of podcasting, they also have tracking tools similar to those found on other areas of the media. Things like charts complete with rankings, trending, and the like. As I mentioned in previous episodes, the podcasting industry is booming. Statistics show that there are millions of podcasts published worldwide. According to ListenNotes, there were nearly 197,000 new podcasts released in 2018. The next year, that figure jumped to 316,000. 2020 brought more than 1,000,000 new podcast shows, a record number which more than tripled the previous year. In 2021 and 2022, the growth trend seemed to go down a bit, but the number of newly released episodes per year is still quite constant at around 28 million per year in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Numbers for 2023 are yet available, but it is safe to say that podcasting is here to stay! In fact, podcasting has become so popular that television and radio networks are creating their very own podcast series, hosted by their regular on-air talent. While I'm encouraged by the growth of this area of the media, and wish the big boys well, I don't go out of my way to listen the those shows. That's because I'm drawn to the smaller shows, with the smaller budgets. Those shows tend to have few or no sponsors. They are members of my tribe. According to Edison Research, more than 80 million people in the US are listening to podcasts on a weekly basis. You can only imagine the number on a global scale, as podcasting is really available everywhere. According to Spotify‘s statistics page, the current number 1 podcast in the world is “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. This information shouldn’t surprise anyone, as Spotify decided to acquire the Joe Rogan Experience show for about $200 million during 2020. While $200 million is nothing to sneeze at, you need to be aware of the fact that you have to give things up in order to reap the payday. For example, Rogan’s podcast had one of the most popular YouTube channels at the time, and once acquired by Spotify – it’s was available exclusively on Spotify. Other podcasts lost total creative control over their content. The sponsors became de facto editors. So, which podcasts do I listen to? It depends as much on my mood as it does the day of the week. Let's just say that my tastes run toward the eclectic. The one constant is that the show has to be available on YouTube. That makes it seem like I'm a hypocrite since my podcast is an audio—only show. But my evolved truth is that I think that my show is boring enough without subjecting you to having to watch me squirm and yell “cut” every thirty seconds. One show that I'm currently listening and watching is “Celebrity Underrated”, which is a biographical anthology show hosted by a gentleman who doesn't announce his name anytime during the episodes. There is a haunting synth pad that is playing underneath the narration, which raises the dramatic level through the roof. Celebrity Underrated chronicles the lives and deaths of entertainers, sports figures, world leaders, and others both famous and infamous. I recommend this show to anyone who is a fan of pop culture history, with a morbid slant. I'm also watching a video podcast titled “Holly Randall Unfiltered”. It's hosted by a woman who has been a photographer and director in the adult entertainment industry for over a quarter century. In fact, her parents taught her the business. Holly Randall Unfiltered is a podcast series that sheds light on those working in the adult industry, and explores all topics of sex with authors, educators, and advocates. Here you get to know your favorite adult stars and what REALLY happens behind the scenes! Full episodes are about one hour long, with anywhere from 5,000 and 250,000 views per episode. “The Sauce w/Kenzie Taylor”, is a podcast hosted by the award-winning adult performer and entrepreneur of the same name. The show recently changed its title to “The Sauce Podcast” with the addition of Kenzie's on-screen stepsister Sarah Taylor. According to its description, “The Sauce” has unfiltered conversations about topics that most might be shy to talk about. You can expect lots of laughter, exclusive interviews, relationship chats, Q&A sessions, trivia & more. Kenzie also believes that mental health is extremely important. She facilitates real discussions about addiction & recovery, aiming to create a safe space for those who may be struggling. Her show continues to create content that keeps her audience entertained, informed & inspired. The Sauce typically draws up to 10,000 views per episode on Kenzie's YouTube channel. The final adult-themed podcast I'm currently watching is “Cooking with Nathan” hosted by adult entertainer Nathan Bronson. In addition to Nathan being a highly sought-after performer, he is an accomplished chef and for good measure, a talented stunt man. On this show, Nathan invites adult film stars and other industry types into his kitchen where he cooks a wide range of delicious foods, with the guests serving as his sous chef. He also chats with them about their personal lives and experiences in the adult industry. This show is sponsored by the mysterious Judy. What I enjoy about these adult-themed podcasts is how they bring the human touch to their guests. I get to see just how smart, funny, and sensitive they are. I also learned that many of them made the conscious choice to enter that line of work, and are making plans for when they retire, if they so choose. Like Kenzie, Nathan draws up to 10,000 viewers per episode on his YouTube channel. I used to watch a sports-themed podcast titled “What Did I Miss” hosted by veteran sports broadcaster Michelle Beadle. Unfortunately, she stopped publishing episodes about a year ago. Beadle, who now calls games on TV for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, is eager to see her former ESPN colleagues land new gigs elsewhere that could let the talent “be themselves.” I just learned that she has a new show on the Amazon-owned Wondery podcast network. When I find it, I'll be sure to like, subscribe, and share it within my small universe of friends, family, and fans. Parting Shots There are other podcasts I occasionally consume in video format. I think I'll carve out space on this show to highlight a few of them in some upcoming episodes. They probably won't be the most popular ones with the largest audiences. But they will be shows that I find entertaining, educational, and thought-provoking. I'm always interested in learning more about people perceived to be living on the fringes of mainstream society. As much as I really enjoy the shows I just mentioned in this episode, they didn't make my list of top three favorites. They are, in no particular order, “I Have Things to Say w/Angel Snipes”, “ISO Peace & Healing w/Celia Boone”, and of course, “Much More to Say w/Ken Boone, Sr.” They are my favorites because they represent the passion and commitment of the shows' hosts. Celia and Angel threw everything they had into providing good content, expecting nothing in return. And after publishing nearly 100 episodes of my show, I still give it my all. And I'm not tired yet. And here's one thing that my brother Mike and I have in common. We are more than willing to compete with the Goliaths of the world, knowing full well that our success will not be measured in sales, airplays, or downloads. We know that if we do the best that we can, we are indeed winners. The other stuff will take care of itself in due time. Today's Quote “Numbers don't lie, but they also don't speak. It is up to us to interpret and understand their meaning.” Paul Lockhart – American Mathematician
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About the HostKenneth E. Boone, Sr. is a writer, podcaster, music lover, sports enthusiast, and retired accountant. Archives
May 2024
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