In the beginning there was Napster. And it was good. But one day the Recording Industry Association of America decided it didn't really appreciate people getting their product for, you know, free. So for the past seven years, the RIAA has been suing college students and grandmas ... and college students and grandmas have been looking for new ways to get their music for free. But if you're like most people, you're tired of living in fear. And if you're like most people you don't know there's an easy, free, legal way to get music - and it's not Ruckus. Behold: the beauty of the podcast.
Podcasts are basically digital broadcasts that can be downloaded via iTunes or played directly from the Web on sites like podcast.com or ipodder.org. They cover everything from politics to comedy, and music is no exception. There is an incredible array of music podcasts out there, and they come in many forms. Some provide commentary, reviews of new releases and interviews without providing whole songs (see NPR's "All Songs Considered," Esquire's "The Andy Langer Show" or iTunes' "New Music Tuesday"). Others provide mixes ranging from 20 minutes to well over an hour. They can be compilations of hot new music (see "Next Big Hit" or "Bands Under the Radar") or just great workout music (see "Podrunner"). Finally, there are podcasts that provide a service so accessible and amazing it's hard to believe it's possible. Podcasts like "Indiefeed" and "KEXP Song of the Day" provide great music, one song at a time, no strings attached. At most they are accompanied by a quick intro, helpful information at the end about the band and a quick plug for a sponsor. And if you're an iTunes user, by going to File:Get Info:Options you can edit the start and finish time of your podcasts to trim intros and advertisements.
For many, podcasts might seem too technological or inconvenient, but it's time to see them for what they are: untapped resources of incredible music from inside and outside of the mainstream. Even though Napster sold out and the RIAA continues its McCarthyisitic rampage on its own customers, there's hope ... and it's only a few mouse clicks away.
