Tuesday, September 27, 2016
PRESS RELEASE: For immediate distribution
CONTACT: Dick Roberts
Roberts Communications USA
v: 412-721-7400
droberts@robcomusa.com
PITTSBURGH CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL PODCAST DAY
WITH THE POD CRAWL THROUGH MILLVALE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Six podcasts and podcast networks will be recording live shows
PITTSBURGH – There is a National Waffle Fries Day, National Pancake Day and National pretty-much-anything-you-want Day.
In the summer of 2013, Steve Lee, founder of Modern Life Network – heard a radio announcement for National Senior Citizens Day. Thinking that was pretty cool, it begged the question of why isn’t there a day of celebration for podcasting. That’s when Steve said to himself, “let’s create Podcast Day!” And so the adventure began and a collective team of podcasters put their heads together to establish methods for podcasters and podcast listeners to raise awareness for this great entertainment and education medium.
International Podcast Day (IPD), dedicated to promoting podcasting worldwide through education and engagement, will be held Friday, September 30.
Pittsburgh will have its own special IPD celebration with a Pod Crawl, presented by “The Rivers Edge” beginning at 6:00 p.m., through Millvale. The Pod Crawl will feature:
6:00 pm – 6:45 pm The Mike Sasson Show at Cousins Lounge
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm Drinking Partners Podcast at Grist House
8:00 pm – 8:45 pm Brian Crawford’s River Talk at Double L
8:45 pm – 9:30 pm BOLD Pittsburgh Night’s Out at Double L
9:45 pm – 10:30 pm Awesome Cast at Smokey’s Tavern
10:45 pm – 11:30 pm YaJagoff! at Sidelines Bar & Grill
“September 30th will be a day to celebrate podcasters, and introduce them to consumers,” said Frank Murgia, executive producer of the Pittsburgh Podcast Network, one of the participants in this year’s celebration. “We need a day that we can educate the world and our region about the wonders of podcasting.”
What Murgia is saying isn’t just his opinion, it’s a fact. As more and more mainstream broadcasters and celebrities start releasing podcasts, awareness raises, creating a booming market and the download numbers don’t lie. The entertainment system in the car many people drive is able to stream podcasts. Airlines have already stocked their “in-flight entertainment” options with various podcasts flyers can listen to at 34,000 feet.
And podcast listening grew 23% between 2015 and 2016.
Murgia says podcasting strikes a chord with him. “It’s like being in the early days of TV and Radio, but also it has provided an avenue to create audio and video information, education and entertainment, and social media engagement which can’t be found through traditional media,” he said.
Currently, there are approximately 250,000 unique podcasts broadcast in more than 100 languages and more than 8 million episodes been published in the iTunes Store. That adds up to a podcast audience of 57 million.
It is thought that as podcasting becomes a more integral aspect of entertainment, education, and self-expression, the public needs to be familiar with the term and know what they are. This is where International Podcast Day comes in. Murgia says with just about everyone carrying a smartphone, listening to podcasts has never been easier. According to Edison Research, 64% of podcasts are being listened to on a smartphone or tablet. “Consumers now can listen to shows while at the gym, mowing the lawn or driving to work. Newer automobiles make it easier to listen to your favorite shows built right into the car’s audio system with Apple’s Car Play, Aha, iHeart or Stitcher Radio,” he said. “And while Twitter has more members, the research shows their active user base is on par with the overall podcast audience.”
InternationalPodcastDay.com has been set up, not only as a resource but also as a site where current podcasters, listeners or anyone curious about podcasting can go and learn about the industry and get the word out about this broadcast medium. “One in four Americans age 12 to 54 listened to a podcast last month and continues to grow,” said Murgia. “Podcast is a takeoff name on “broadcast” that uses ‘pod’ because the iPod was all the rage back in the day and the first mainstream audio delivery platform.”
The Pittsburgh Podcast Network creates, produces, promotes and distributes on-demand audio content from the Pittsburgh creative community of sports athletes and professionals, comics, actors, writers, and bloggers. “We are a regional umbrella brand, offering Pittsburgh area specific content by former Pittsburgh Steelers Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley, standup comic/radio personality, Jim Krenn, the YaJagoff blog, former Pitt Football All-American Dorin Dickerson, Celina and Chelsea Pompeani and more.” All shows are free and available to listen 24/7/365 worldwide by searching Pittsburgh Podcast Network on many podcast listening platforms.
On September, 30th, use the hashtag #PodcastDay to engage with others worldwide talking about the IPD event.
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