Podcasts have been revolutionary in the world of audio entertainment. Early detractors and naysayers derided their potential as derivative of radio shows, expecting them to be nothing but a fad. Fast forward 20 years, however, and radio personalities are now podcast hosts, and stations are pumping money into pre-recorded content.
In fact, the most popular podcasters are managing to sell thousands of tickets to live recordings of their shows. Richard Herring, the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and our very own Blindboy Boatclub are able to sell out venues like the 3 Arena and Olympia with ease. With these live versions ultimately being repacked and able to stream after the fact, it begs one question: Are we reaching a point where we will see live broadcasts of podcasts?
With many filming these live events and releasing the audio on streaming services such as Spotify, it seems like a logical step for these live shows to become live broadcasts, which could be seen as a return to the podcast’s roots in live radio.
Live-Streamed Content Is a Major Draw Across Entertainment
Live video content now makes up a large part of the content that people are consuming on the internet, and it’s not restricted to just one specific form of entertainment. Instead, live video has infiltrated all forms of online entertainment at every level in a way that few could have predicted in the early stages of the boom.
Take the online casino, for example. Players can play at a live casino online, with the games they choose being live-streamed from a studio. Instead of standard games that use random number generators to determine the outcomes, these games are essentially the exact same as what you would find in a land-based casino, filmed in a studio with a real dealer.
In entertainment verticals that would be more traditionally associated with live video, the effects have been no less transformative. While YouTube was developed as a video repository for people to upload prerecorded content, the influence of platforms like Twitch has seen it pivot to encouraging live streaming to capture a new audience and allow creators a different outlet and financial avenue.
Live-Streamed Podcasting Not Entirely Unheard Of
It must be said that live podcasting would not be an entirely new phenomenon. Many smaller podcasts are broadcast live before being archived for replay. This reduces the need to spend additional time on editing, especially for off-the-cuff podcasts where hosts manage every aspect of the operation. In fact, platforms such as Twitch and YouTube could be seen as the homes of live podcasting.
According to Twitch streaming data, Kai Cenat is the fourth most popular streamer on the platform, with more than 16 million followers. This is of particular note given that the 23-year-old’s streams are fundamentally closer to a podcast format than most other streamers. His broadcasts often feature a group of Cenat’s friends having discussions, and Kai Cenat Live is available on more traditional outlets like Spotify.
Ultimately, it wouldn’t be too significant of a leap for more established podcasts to take a dive into live broadcasting. However, pushback may come from touring podcasters and those who prefer more editorial control over their output than an off-the-cuff discussion would allow.
Arena Sell-Outs Could Force Podcasters’ Hands
Considering The 2 Johnnies Podcast is Ireland’s most popular podcast on Spotify, it’s no surprise that they managed to pack the house at Dublin’s 3 Arena. The fact that there were plenty of fans who weren’t able to get a hold of tickets suggests that the Tipperary duo would have been able to make even more if they had been able to sell access to a live stream of the events.
The first big name in the podcasting world to do so will likely be the one to open the floodgates of podcasters live-streaming their shows, harking back to prime-time radio shows like The Ricky Gervais Show. If that does happen, it will be interesting to see what the next move will be in a mode of entertainment that has been consistently evolving.