Questions - How Long and More – PTC 434

Podcasters often ask me how long their podcast should be. It isn't as easy as most would like. We'll get into that along with other questions like the legality of using TV audio on your show, finding intro music, and how to record.

If you have questions, you can always email me at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

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Let's get into the questions.

HOW LONG SHOULD IT BE?

If my podcast episode usually take 50 minutes to a hour typically. I have episode with a special guest it went longer for a total of two hours because guests wanted to keep going . Do I just post the episode as normal or cut it into two parts for two episodes?

-Robert

There isn't a clear answer to these questions. Before you decide, consider a few things.

First, there is no magic length to your episode. A study of the top 200 podcasts in Apple Podcasts show 50% are longer than an hour and 50% are shorter.

Radio coach Valerie Geller says, "There is no such thing as too long, only too boring." Ensure your podcast is engaging regardless of length.

Next, be consistent. People like what they know and know what they like. Humans are also creatures of habit.

Deliver a consistent length to build habit.

Finally, break the rules when necessary.

If the interview is so engaging that listeners won't be able to turn it off, publishing the full episode won't be a concern.

However if you are working to grow downloads, leaving an open loop will get listeners coming back for the next episode. This will help drive downloads.

If you cut it into two parts, do 3 things.

One … cut at a natural spot, so each episode can stand on its own.

Two … clearly label part one and part two.

And three … be aware that some people will not consume both. Include your call to action in each of the episodes.

TV AUDIO

Can I use audio from TV shows on podcasts without infringing copyright? We recap a reality TV show and we'd like to use a little bit of audio from the show here and there.

-Carla

The short answer is no.

TV audio is copyrighted just like music, books and another other content.

In radio, we would use audio drops from TV shows and movies. The copyright holders of that material soon had their attorneys contacting big radio companies to inform them of the copyright issues.

We had to remove all of those pieces from our imaging and production.

THE FAIR USE QUESTIONS

When it comes to copyright questions, there is a term that people like to use when discussing this issue. It is Fair Use.

According to the U.S. Copyright Office, Fair Use is a legal doctrine that promotes the freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances.

The Copyright Act identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use.

It also identifies four factors in evaluating Fair Use.

1. Purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes

2. Nature of the copyrighted work

3. Amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole

4. Effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work

The thing to remember is that anyone can sue you for copyright infringement regardless of your claim. You'll need to spend the money to fight it in court.

Just like most governmental laws and regulations, there are other questions and exceptions. In addition to the four factors mentions, the courts may also consider other factors in weighing a fair use question, depending upon the circumstances.

Do you want to go through the headache of a court battle that isn't black and white to prove your Fair Use? Or, would you rather just play it safe and find another strategy?

INTRO MUSIC

We are looking to find intro music. Where should we look? How does it work?

-Jackie

As we just discussed, do not use any music that is copyrighted if you don't have permission.

Many think they can simply get permission from the band to use a piece of music. That's not typically the case.

If music is published on a legitimate record lable like Columbia or Warner Brothers, there are many people who have rights to the music.

The biggest rights holder is the publishing company. They own the composition.

Then you have the performer … all of them. The producer may have rights. Often, the record company has rights.

Many times the band didn't write the music. You'll need permission from every involved in the writing.

Getting permission to use music from a traditional publisher is difficult.

Instead, look for royalty free music.

Royalty free music refers to a type of music licensing that allows the purchaser to pay for the music license only once and use the music for specific reasons for a length of time.

It is best to find royalty free music for your specific use for an unlimited length of time.

I typically use Bandcamp by Jewel Beat. You can find a link to that at https://podcasttalentcoach.com/royaltyfree. I have no affiliate relationship with them. I just find them inexpensive. Many are around $2.

There is also PremiumBeat.com and StockMusic.net. However, many of these sites charge $40 or $50 for a piece of music. It comes with different permissions and uses.

If you have questions regarding how to create your custom theme and intro, my friend Rick Stewart has put together a great guide. You can get it for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/theme.

There are many other options. Just search Royalty Free Music. You'll find options.

USING AUDACITY

I'm in the process of getting my podcast started, but I'm nervous about recording because I am not tech savvy. What are the best apps/recording equipment for a beginner like me? I downloaded Audacity, but even that seems daunting.

-Jasmine

You're not alone. I get questions like this a lot.

Audacity looks menacing. Once you start using it, the software is quite simple.

As you edit audio, you'll use the same commands you use when editing a Word document. Copy, paste, delete and insert are all there.

You can use separate tracks to layer your audio. The tracks can be dragged forward, backward and to other tracks.

When the project is complete, you simply export it as an .mp3. This is just like saving your Word document as a text file or exporting it as a .pdf.

To quickly learn Audacity, I suggest you hit record and start. Document what you are doing by saying it right into the mic. Say things like, "This is what I sound like when the mic is at 60 degrees to my right. This is what I sound like when I'm touching the mic."

When you listen back to the audio, you can tell exactly how your actions affect the audio.

If you want to see a video I did on using Audacity, you can watch it by visiting www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/Audacity.

Do you have questions? You can email me at coach@podcasttalentcoach.com. I'll do my best to answer your questions here on the show.

If you don't have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way, go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply, click the button and apply to have a chat with me. We will develop your plan and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals.