Episode 203
Steve Goldstein says "Evolve NOW Or Fall Behind" – 5 Tips and 1 Warning
Get ready for a deep dive into the future of audio with Steve Goldstein, founder of Amplifi Media and one of the most experienced voices in podcasting today. In this episode, Steve uncovers how the landscape of radio, TV, and print is shifting dramatically as on-demand platforms take center stage. Discover why younger audiences are moving away from traditional media and how you can adapt to capture their attention.
Steve shares why being on multiple platforms is no longer optional and gives real-world examples—like how an episode of SNL exploded from 8 million TV viewers to over 200 million views on social media clips. Learn why "time-shifted audio"
is crucial for keeping your listeners engaged and why repurposing radio content into podcasts needs a smarter approach.
Whether you’re a broadcaster, podcaster, or simply passionate about audio’s future, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you evolve, adapt, and thrive in this rapidly changing landscape. Hit play to learn how to stay ahead of the curve, reach new audiences, and make the most of your content in a fast-evolving media world.
One Minute Martinizing with David Martin
Please help us thank these underwriting supporters:
YES! Send me the free SHOW NOTES preview email
Return to BRANDwidth on Demand episodes
Transcript
YouTube is the second largest television network, if
2
:you want to view that as a network.
3
:It's massive.
4
:And that's where so much of
media is being consumed today.
5
:So when we talk about tweaking for
the younger generation, if you are
6
:not on other platforms, I don't think
you can win place or show in the game.
7
:In other words, a big tower out in the
field is not going to get the show.
8
:Job done,
9
:VO: BRANDwidth on Demand.
10
:Rebooting radio with a different
take on all radio can be.
11
:Steve Goldstein: I think radio has
waited too long to deal with on demand
12
:strategies in a significant way, and
I wrote a piece recently highlighting
13
:the aging of the linear media business.
14
:But what I made clear was that
podcasting is the new talk radio.
15
:And I mean that with all sincerity, and
I mean it a little bit with the shock
16
:value too, that if you don't build out
the next generation, then you are sorry.
17
:AM radio or your telephone booths.
18
:You're just not as important.
19
:VO: Now your guides through the
mediamorphosis, David Martin and
20
:author of the book BRANDwidth,
media branding coach Kipper McGee.
21
:Dave Martin: Hey kids, this time we're
deep diving into the world of on demand
22
:audio and podcasting multi platform audio.
23
:That's right.
24
:With over three decades of experience,
our guest has been a pivotal figure
25
:in transforming the audio landscape.
26
:He's driven innovation and growth
at major broadcasting companies,
27
:including one where he was co-founder
and Executive VP, Saga Communications.
28
:And by the way, a station guy at a
legendary station, WABC in New York.
29
:His expertise in content creation and
digital strategy has guided brands
30
:through the shift from traditional
broadcasting to digital audio.
31
:Leading a firm known for its strategic
insights and creative solutions, he's
32
:a sought after speaker and thought
leader shaping the future of audio.
33
:BRANDwidth on Demand is proud
to welcome the founder of
34
:Amplifi Media, Steve Goldstein.
35
:Kipper McGee: Hey, Steve.
36
:Steve Goldstein: This is a lovely intro.
37
:Thank you very much.
38
:Now the pressure is on, I guess.
39
:Well, I'm not so sure about
that, but I do know you will
40
:have something to say on this.
41
:With TV and print audiences aging, what
do these demographic shifts mean for
42
:the future of radio and podcasting done
by radio stations or personalities?
43
:Well, so I think you have a combination
of things occurring at the same time.
44
:You have the aging of linear media cable
news is at 70 and primetime TV, primetime
45
:TV, which was sold as an 18 to 49 medium.
46
:The average is now 65
for linear primetime TV.
47
:Newspaper, if still getting one, is 60.
48
:Talk radio is at 58.
49
:And that's a kind number because
Nielsen combines sports talk,
50
:which is a lower demo, then news
talk, which is a higher demo.
51
:So you can extrapolate out what that 58
might be without the sports talk stations.
52
:That is not a good looking number.
53
:And then you have podcasts.
54
:Podcasts are checking in 30 years younger.
55
:34 is the median age.
56
:Dave Martin: Wow.
57
:And how are the media habits
of that younger generation
58
:changing the game, Steve?
59
:What can radio broadcasters do
to tweak their engagement and
60
:content to attract these listeners?
61
:Steve Goldstein: Yeah, if only it were
a tweak, Dave, I think it's, I think
62
:it's way more systemic than a tweak.
63
:And so, look, the generations, the
younger generations specifically
64
:are using content differently.
65
:You know, you don't have to be a
nuclear scientist to know that,
66
:TikTok, Instagram, things like that are
significant factors, but so is YouTube.
67
:YouTube is the second largest
television network, if you
68
:want View that as a network.
69
:It's massive and that's where so much
of media is being consumed today.
70
:So when we talk about tweaking for
the younger generation, if you are
71
:not on other platforms, I don't think
you can win place or show in the game.
72
:In other words, a big tower out in the
field is not going to get the job done.
73
:And I do think about it
through the same eyes of TV.
74
:The local TV station is under
tremendous pressure for the same
75
:demographic reasons I just recited.
76
:They are using streaming.
77
:They are using YouTube.
78
:All to reach the audience where they are.
79
:And here's an example.
80
:SNL in the middle of April, the
highest rated episode of the year
81
:on SNL was with Ryan Gosling and it
did 8 million views in linear TV.
82
:Meaning that 8 million people watched
it either on Saturday night or delayed
83
:it and watched it at another time.
84
:But 46 million people watched
clips of the show on YouTube.
85
:170 million people.
86
:Watched clips on Instagram,
TikTok, or wherever.
87
:So, what they've learned is that
they must be multi platform.
88
:And I think the same thing holds true
for broadcasters, radio broadcasters.
89
:So I, I do not think it's a tweak.
90
:Podcasting is a necessary tool.
91
:Streaming is a necessary tool.
92
:I think you need to get out from
under the notion that people are just
93
:going to listen to you on a radio.
94
:Yeah, we're still seeing that it's down
from 93 percent for a long time, but
95
:now it's like 80 something percent of
people listen to radio once a week or so.
96
:On that note, is there a way that
radio broadcasters can utilize those
97
:strategies that make a difference?
98
:Podcasting attractive to advertisers
so they can compete with things like
99
:you mentioned YouTube and TikTok.
100
:Is there a way they can do that?
101
:Yeah, I think so.
102
:I really do.
103
:I think radio has underplayed the
potential of time shifted audio.
104
:When I started Amplifi, which
believe it or not, Kipper,
105
:is nine and a half years ago.
106
:Kipper McGee: Wow.
107
:Dave Martin: Wow.
108
:Steve Goldstein: And a lot of
weird eye rolls at the time.
109
:What's this guy doing?
110
:In the nine and a half years, I
would say seven or eight of them, I
111
:thought time shifted audio was like
the Rodney Dangerfield of podcasting.
112
:Nobody wanted to touch it.
113
:Today, I feel very differently about it.
114
:I think it's a significant retention
strategy that is totally underutilized
115
:by radio, and I will give you
a frightening example of this.
116
:So we took a market, a
large market, top 20 market.
117
:And we took the top seven morning shows.
118
:Okay.
119
:So this is not the, screwed up
stations, the ones that are a mess.
120
:This is the top in the market.
121
:And we looked at listening patterns.
122
:And what we saw was that just
under 60 percent were listening to
123
:the morning show one day a week.
124
:That's it one day a week.
125
:And only.
126
:18 percent more were
listening two days a week.
127
:So only 18 percent two days a week.
128
:That's frightening.
129
:That's systemic.
130
:That suggests that the business model is
just broken and the audience has already
131
:said, Hey, I'm doing other things.
132
:And so if they happen to like your
morning show, shouldn't you think
133
:about strategies to help them?
134
:In offering that content on other
platforms so that they can consume it
135
:in other ways because they've already
voted and said, Hey, you know what?
136
:We're not around enough.
137
:I mean, maybe they're not
commuting as often as they used to.
138
:Maybe they have other
shows that they like.
139
:I don't know, but I do know that
taking a morning show and shoving
140
:three hours of it into a podcast is a
really bad idea and it's not working.
141
:Kipper McGee: So, shifting gears a
little bit, what are the relative
142
:pros and cons of using the TLR,
total line reporting, compared to
143
:those who separate the streaming
signal from the on air broadcast?
144
:And do you need to be a certain size
organization to have it make sense,
145
:or how do you see that whole world?
146
:Steve Goldstein: Yeah, I
think that's very bespoke.
147
:I think it's a really good question, too.
148
:So, streaming is moving north.
149
:There's a lot more streaming going
on, depending on the format, depending
150
:on the size of the radio station.
151
:It could be 12%, 15%.
152
:It could be as high as 20 percent of
the audience listening via streaming.
153
:So, that's no longer a
little rounding error.
154
:, that means those little Alexa speakers
in everybody's home are radios.
155
:And so that's pretty exciting.
156
:So that's great.
157
:So that would suggest that combining those
numbers together for TLR would be good.
158
:And the podcasting part of that
is, let's say they do listen to a
159
:signature bit of the morning show and
they listen to it within 24 hours.
160
:That's also accretive.
161
:And so if you combine those things and
I'm just making up this number, let's
162
:say it's 20, 25 percent of the listening.
163
:That's a big number.
164
:I mean, all of a sudden pay attention.
165
:There's a, there's an opportunity here.
166
:So I don't think.
167
:The TLR is a problem.
168
:I think it's an asset in most markets,
but I do think that there are many
169
:scenarios in which people are making
more money by separating out the
170
:opportunity of selling the stream
and the podcast than combining it.
171
:So I do think, and I've worked
with broadcasters who in their same
172
:organization will make that strategy a
bit more bespoke, depending on the size
173
:of the market or the size of the station.
174
:But I love the idea that
they're thinking about it.
175
:Dave Martin: How do you see a AI changing
the future of podcasting, broadcasting,
176
:audio, and what ethical issues should
creators of both consider to balance
177
:AI's benefits with maintaining genuine
human connections with their audience?
178
:Steve Goldstein: Isn't to say,
I think it'd be like NFTs and
179
:it'll just be gone in a year.
180
:Uh,
181
:I'm afraid not.
182
:I, I think this is a real thing.
183
:So it depends what media
we're talking about.
184
:I am amazed at how good
the audio is so fast.
185
:I would not have guessed that there
would be such great intonation and
186
:things of that nature in audio.
187
:And yet it is.
188
:It is here.
189
:I do think that the audience
is really sharp and I do think
190
:certainly on the podcast side, that
authenticity makes a difference.
191
:I think that broadcasters or any audio
creator will make a mistake thinking that.
192
:They can use AI as the surrogate.
193
:But I also think that it's a great
tool for production and for, the
194
:back office sort of stuff to improve
workflow and things like that.
195
:So, in one place I worry about
it a lot and the other, I
196
:recommend it often, but it is.
197
:Changing so fast.
198
:If we had had this conversation six
months ago, I'm not sure we would
199
:have found audio samples that sound
as good as what we hear today.
200
:So it is moving rapidly.
201
:Kipper McGee: Yeah, and it's kind
of on a hockey stick trajectory.
202
:It looks like.
203
:Steve Goldstein: Yeah,
and the legal issues.
204
:Dave, you asked about the legal issues.
205
:That is such a Pandora's box.
206
:There's so much going on there.
207
:And I think we'll see more.
208
:I read this morning that Drake fake
song that they were suing the record
209
:companies and producers of it.
210
:I mean, you're going to
see a lot of that, right?
211
:It just makes sense that people are
gearing up trying to figure out how
212
:to protect their copyrighted material.
213
:And you see it on the graphics.
214
:You see it with pictures and watermarking.
215
:I think we're going to see
audio watermarking as well.
216
:I've had the conversation with Dan Granger
and Stu Redvine over at Oxford Road and
217
:they're an agency that does bespoke audio,
about how to watermark original audio.
218
:I think it's a conversation.
219
:Dave Martin: And intellectual
property is going to be a very
220
:important issue going forward.
221
:It really is.
222
:Steve Goldstein: And I have a brother
in law who is in that business
223
:has been it's he's moving to a
couple of record years, I think.
224
:Dave Martin: Oh, no doubt about it.
225
:Kipper McGee: Business is very good.
226
:So looking forward, opening your
crystal ball app on your phone.
227
:What key factors do you think are going
to really be shaping the future of
228
:podcasting in the next five, 10 years?
229
:Steve Goldstein: So I think when
we're talking about podcasting,
230
:we're talking about a medium that
is growing and changing rapidly.
231
:Again, I started my
business nine years ago.
232
:There was $250,000 of
revenue in the business.
233
:This year there'll be over 2 billion.
234
:So it's still small, especially compared
to commercial radio, saying but it is
235
:growing rapidly just as on demand video.
236
:Has grown.
237
:This is the way people will expect
to find and listen to audio.
238
:And when I think about it in terms
of radio, and here we are doing this
239
:radio oriented podcast, I draw your
attention to the top 50 podcasts.
240
:On Apple podcasts or Spotify,
it doesn't really matter, and
241
:the diversity of topics.
242
:Out of the top 50, only
eight are political.
243
:About four are true crime and seven
are comedy, business and technologies
244
:in their sports, self improvement.
245
:There are five titles on self improvement.
246
:My point here is that diversity of
topics in podcasting is so great.
247
:And it suggests a desire to
listen to things that go way
248
:beyond conservative talk radio.
249
:They want to be entertained.
250
:They want to be informed.
251
:And there's also a lot
of new personalities.
252
:And that's something we haven't
seen in the radio business in
253
:forever is investment in new voices.
254
:And it is happening in podcasting.
255
:That is where the experimentation occurs.
256
:And I can tell you for sure that the
mortality rate in podcasting is not good.
257
:Most podcasts end up in the
recycle chute, but if you make it.
258
:And if you are making it, it is
because you are, differentiated and
259
:you're bringing fresh content on
topics that people are interested in.
260
:There are topics like self
improvement with Kuberman Labs that
261
:does extraordinarily well and has
since the beginning of the pandemic.
262
:And there's Alex Cooper, who's talking
about, younger, more millennial,
263
:And younger than that issues.
264
:There's a great diversity of voices
and I think that's what's going
265
:to drive podcasting in the future.
266
:Dave Martin: No doubt about it, Steve.
267
:We can all learn something
from Steve Goldstein, the
268
:Amplify Media founder and CEO.
269
:Hey, got a suggestion
or a guest or a topic.
270
:We're all ears.
271
:Drop us an email at show
at BRANDwidth on Demand.
272
:com or reach out on social
BRANDwidthPLUS on Instagram.
273
:Facebook and X.
274
:BRANDwidth plus together we can
make this podcast even more epic.
275
:Kipper McGee: So if you're
new to the podcast, awesome.
276
:Just don't forget to smash the follow
button on your favorite podcast app.
277
:And if you've been with us for
a while, please spread the love,
278
:tell friend BRANDwidth on Demand.
279
:We're available wherever
better podcasts are found.
280
:And with over 200 episodes,
we're here to help you master
281
:the art of audio like a pro.
282
:Dave Martin: Coming up, Steve
talks to us about what trends
283
:and opportunities he sees in time
shifting your audio to on demand.
284
:Sponsor: MUSICMASTER (musicmaster.com):
Yeah, we have a lot going on
285
:multiple stations and formats.
286
:We really need to bundle them all.
287
:Yeah, that sounds really good.
288
:Who are you talking to?
289
:Yeah, I'd like that.
290
:It's Dave from music master.
291
:Dave for music master
at two in the morning.
292
:Who is this?
293
:I told you it's Dave from music
master day for music master.
294
:Huh?
295
:What are you wearing?
296
:Huh?
297
:Kaki's from the industry's best music
scheduling software, Nexus integration,
298
:client server, and yes, 24 seven support.
299
:Just like your favorite neighbor.
300
:Music master is there.
301
:Details at music master.
302
:com.
303
:Sponsor: RADIO CONTENT PRO (RadioContentPro.com/BRANDwidth):
Imagine having your own
304
:prep team working nonstop.
305
:A producer picking the best content,
a copywriter making every story
306
:hit home, and a marketer finding
new ways to grow your audience.
307
:All while a digital team keeps your feeds
fresh with posts, updates, and videos.
308
:What if these pros were available
24 7, market exclusive, and
309
:affordable for your radio station?
310
:Power up your content before the
competition does with Radio Content Pro.
311
:Pro see the demo in action.
312
:Just scroll down the show notes
or visit radio content pro.
313
:com slash brandwidth.
314
:VO: Opportunities hidden in plain sight.
315
:BRANDwidth on Demand.
316
:Dave Martin: We are here with
the founder and CEO of Amplify
317
:media, Steve Goldstein, Steve.
318
:One question that many
stations are still debating.
319
:Are the merits of utilizing podcasting
for time shifting, to make the radio
320
:station content available on demand.
321
:What trends and opportunities
are you seeing in this area?
322
:Steve Goldstein: So let's go back to
something we talked about earlier.
323
:I think the TV model is a really
good one for radio broadcasters.
324
:I think bite sized content is the win.
325
:It's not the long form.
326
:No one listened to your radio
show for three and a half hours.
327
:They're not going to listen to your
podcast for three and a half hours,
328
:but they might listen to four or
eight minutes that were really great.
329
:And, sad to say, but you guys know you've
been around doing this for a long time.
330
:There's.
331
:three levels of content.
332
:There's A level B level and C level.
333
:And most content is in that C and B level.
334
:And the great moments are A level.
335
:And those are the moments that you should
be making available to listeners again,
336
:for retention, but also for growth.
337
:These are two very different strategies
and we do work with radio clients on this.
338
:I think that there needs to be way
more rigor and focus and thought placed
339
:into it as opposed to, yeah, we made
a clip out of the thing and we made
340
:it into an MP3 and we published it.
341
:I don't think it's as easy as that.
342
:Kipper McGee: And one thing, it just
seems to me looking at it, A news
343
:talk radio station, one of the things
you would think that people are
344
:coming to them for is information.
345
:Yet, many of them do top of the
hour and that's it, and then
346
:the rest is network and spots.
347
:Wouldn't it make sense for more news
talk or even sports stations to do a
348
:recap of that as a podcast and keep it
there till the next one was recorded?
349
:Steve Goldstein: Well, you you see that
in public radio the NPR hourly news
350
:is their top podcast You see that at
the BBC BBC is the hourly newscast.
351
:So what does that tell you?
352
:It tells you that it's vital product,
but not everybody's going to listen
353
:to it at the top of the hour.
354
:That's just old school thinking.
355
:They may get to it at 25 minutes
after the hour or when and
356
:when they get into the car.
357
:That's what on demand is all about.
358
:And I don't think.
359
:I don't think Linear can win any
longer, even though they may do a great
360
:sportscast at a quarter after the hour.
361
:It doesn't mean people are
jumping in to their car at a
362
:quarter after to listen to it.
363
:Dave Martin: No, Linear's
the world of live sports now.
364
:That's about it.
365
:And there's nothing wrong with that.
366
:That's a fantastic, but not at all, but
it is not the only way to reach people.
367
:Very good.
368
:I think any final word, any
final words of wisdom, Mr.
369
:Goldstein, I think radio has waited
too long to deal with on demand
370
:strategies in a significant way.
371
:And I wrote a piece recently highlighting
the aging of the linear media business.
372
:But what I made clear was that
podcasting is the new talk radio.
373
:And I mean that with all sincerity, and
I mean it a little bit with the shock
374
:value too, that if you don't build out
the next generation, then you are sorry.
375
:AM radio or your telephone booths.
376
:You're just not as important.
377
:Our thanks to the always
insightful Steve Goldstein.
378
:Links to his blog, his website,
and more all in the show notes.
379
:Just scroll down on your phone.
380
:Kipper McGee: As always, our
thanks to exec producer Cindy Huber
381
:for putting this all together.
382
:And coming up next.
383
:Thee Kelly Ford!: Hey there, it's Thee
Kelly Ford, host of Backstage Country
384
:on In 80 Cities, around this great
country of ours, and afternoon hoston
385
:1 0 3.1, the Wolf in Long Island.
386
:Would you like to learn how to lose
weight, how to have better sex, and how
387
:to earn $10,000 in less than three months?
388
:None of that I can tell you, but we will
have fun with Kipper and Dave coming up
389
:next episode of BRANDwidth On Demand.
390
:Dave Martin: That's a wrap, Kipper.
391
:Want to get better?
392
:Well, you need to seek out criticism.
393
:Start asking people, Hey,
what am I doing wrong?
394
:We'll talk about that in the
next One Minute Martinize.
395
:You'll find it in the show
notes at brandwithondemand.
396
:dot com.
397
:I'm Dave Martin.
398
:And I'm Kipper McGee.
399
:Stay creative and let
your BRANDwidth shine.