What is Your Opinion About Internet Radio Shows?

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

Hi All,

I'll be honest and I think I'm in the majority here unless there's something I've overlooked. I don't listen to them and I don't know anyone who does. Point blank. Honestly. I do NOT know a single person online or off who can honestly say they tune into IR shows on the regular or EVER. I DO know a lot of people who have their own shows (or had) some didn't last even a month. I've been interviewed by a few over the years. The people were nice but I don't find it a decent means of promotion. It's okay if you just want to be a guest to talk on someone's show and share advice, but people shouldn't expect to get products sold or gain an audience from an IR show. There are some that are quite popular but those have started charging for air time and let's be honest, with an IR show, that's a big waste of money. If you're gonna pay you should be on a radio show where you KNOW you'll have more than a handful of listeners. Some IR radio shows have an audience of O.

Seems like IR was the new thing about ten years ago but once again, too many people jumped on and now it's purpose seems muddled. I never saw evidence that it was very popular to begin with, just with the folks who wanted to start their own shows.

What do you think? Be honest. How many IR shows do you listen to or have listened to? Do you know anyone who listens to them? What's your opinion on IR popularity or lack of with the general public?

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Mark Engebretson]

Never listen. The one exception would be a Dallas-Fort Worth station I listen to when driving - it is on the Internet, too. But I've found it to be distracting when I'm writing. Would rather have music that doesn't need my attention, just some background noise.

[Deborah]

I don't listen to internet radio shows except the Blog Talk Radio shows from Hachette Publishers. I like those because you can call in and speak with the author. They've had several big names and I've gotten to be able to talk to Ted Dekker, Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt and Shelley Adina. Those are really fun to listen too.

[Joana]

I know a couple of people who have their own IR and have multiple shows on it, it's called Radio X. It's been going on for years, but I hardly tune in because of my usual internet speed. It just isn't good enough for listening to streaming music. Theirs is the only show I would likely listen to.

The only other IR I sometimes listen to, when I'm on a faster connection, are the local radio stations. They have options to listen to the radio station over the internet as it's playing live. Even then, I typically only do that when I know they're running giveaways over a period of time and I want to keep an ear out so I can call in to win. ^_^;

[pussreboots]

I have never listened to a podcast. The computer time is my quiet time. I like to listen to my own music or watch TV. I don't need the noise of a podcast blaring at me.

[Wayne Hurlbert]

I have hosted an internet radio show on BlogTalkRadio for three years. My show is called Blog Business Success. My guests are usually business people, and business book authors, but I also interview many people in the publishing industry. My show gets a solid number of listeners live, and many times that number on podcast. I have a large group of regulars who listen to every one of my shows.

More than one publicist has pointed out that the Amazon sales numbers jumped for the author after an appearance on my show.

That said, many shows have small listener numbers, and could do so much more to promote their show and their guests. One thing I find surprising is how some authors promote their appearance on my show heavily, while others do nothing, and every level in between. I believe strongly that an internet radio show will help authors, but they and the show hosts need to do more promotion.

Like anything else, the more that is put into the show, the more value it will produce for everyone.

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

You said it, Wayne! I think that's the big problem with IR. A lot of the hosts don't take it seriously. They need to remember that if they are going to have a quality show on the air and obtain loyal listeners then they need to treat it as if it's a radio station on normal airwaves. They must be dedicated. I congratulate you on your show's success. I wish more people who tried to host IR could learn from you.

Best Wishes!

[Linda]

I don't even know where to find them.

[Wayne Hurlbert]

For shows on BlogTalkRadio, you can search by topic, including books and authors. There are several book related shows, that broadcast on a regular schedule, including one hosted by our friends at Hachette.

Shows on BlogTalkRadio can either be heard live as they stream over the internet, or in a free on demand podcast download to your computer, MP3 or iPod, after the show is over. The shows stay archived permanently too.

Live shows have call in lines available for listeners to phone in questions for the guests.

[Linda]

Thank you! I'll have to check it out.

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

LOL, Linda!