Some people have switched to podcasting as a platform to produce and listen to their favorite content, mirroring significant increases in podcasts within the last couple years.
There were 550,000 active podcasts on iTunes in 2018. The number doubled within the next two years to 1.68 million podcasts, according to a December 2020 article from The Podcast Host, a website that stays up to date with the latest trends in the podcasting industry.
The platform’s convenience during the coronavirus pandemic and the listener's ability to use very little energy has contributed to podcasting’s recent success and increase in listeners.
San Jose State’s radio, TV, video and film (RTVF) adviser Kimb Massey described podcasts as fun, entertaining and informative.
“Listening [to podcasts] increased during the pandemic for several reasons,” Massey said in an email. “One, folks have had more time to consume media in general. Two, people are wanting more variety in their consumption [because they’re] getting bored with television and films, so they’ve started listening to podcasts.”
Some people listened to podcasts on their commutes to work and school before the pandemic. That quickly changed after working from home became a new societal norm.
Psychology senior Jamie Garcia said she listened to podcasts on her way to school, but now that she’s back home, she listens to them whenever she has downtime.
“I think I prefer it because it’s a lot easier,” Garcia said through Zoom. “I can kind of just sit back and listen where I don’t really have to consciously be paying attention.”
Sarvesh Upadhye, a software engineering graduate student, said he started listening to podcasts a couple of years ago.
He preferred watching videos at first until he discovered a podcast about the sport cricket and realized it captivated his attention more.
“There is a sport played in India called cricket and I was passionate about that sport,” Upadhye said through Zoom. “It was kind of exciting for me to listen about the team from different angles.”
Upadhye also said he expanded his listening palette and there are a variety of options for people who want to start listening to podcasts. He said the most essential thing is to find something listeners genuinely enjoy.
The growing platform was relevant before the pandemic, but RTVF adviser Kimb Massey expects podcasting to continue its success for the foreseeable future.
“Folks thought podcasts wouldn’t make it without commuters or car listenership,” Massey said. “But they are doing even better than before COVID. You can find a podcast on just about any subject.”
