Podcasting has become a useful tool for new and established musicians, alike. And, remarkably, it’s not even necessary to have an iPod to become involved with podcasting. Independent musicians and recording artists have found podcasting to be an effective self-promotional schema to build fan bases and promote sales of their own recordings. Podcasting requires only an Internet connection, a microphone, and an online podcasting venue. Musicians can create their own recordings, video clips, and programs that can be uploaded to the Internet.

The term “podcasting” stems from “iPod” and “broadcasting.” Podcasting was in its conceptualization stages as early as 2000. Technical components of “push technology” or “webcasting” were developed by 2001, and implementation of podcasting became a regular occurrence by 2003. The term “podcasting” was subsequently entered into the New Oxford American Dictionary and described as ‘…a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player.’ Internet podcasting is a free service that lets anyone to record an audio or video cast directly to or from the Web.

Podcasting is an audio-video publication system very useful for musicians, which allows files to be published to and downloaded from the Internet with the assistance of editable AtomEnable or RSS format programs. Online Web subscription feeds allow podcasting downloads to digital audio players, computers, and MP3 players for listening or viewing online or offline on iPods or other such audio or video players.

There are several types of podcasting: Autocasting automatically converts text into speech for downloading as podcasts; learncasting allow downloading of education materials; RSS and Media RSS are Yahoo!-based personalized computer feeds; MMS podcasting originates from mobile phones; MP3 Blog allows Web music file downloads; and Photofeed is, of course, image podcasting. There are, of course, other types of podcasting, some of which are in development.

Musicians now have the opportunity to get a serious jump on setting early career paths via podcasting. Finding the right types of recording and podcasting devices that suit individual purposes and needs may be the most difficult part of preparing for podcasting and selling personal music recordings. Once music and information files are ready, the rest can be oh-so easy.

This is a general overview of podcasting. If you would like to contribute your own article about podcasting, feel free to do so at Media Positive Radio today.