It was only a matter of time before big business co-opted the podcast, but someone must have missed a crucial memo. Their attempts to turn the guerrilla format into just another channel for corporate-speak are horribly ill-conceived.
axecast
Unilever
Concept: The anticorporate corporate podcast, promoting Axe Body Spray amid some decent tunes and candid chatter.
Flaw: Music is interrupted by jarring hard sell: "Axe is the hottest body spray … the hottest deodorant … one of the hottest brands right now."
Mike's Manic Minute
Microsoft
Concept: A Microsoft employee shills for the software maker on his "personal" podcast.
Flaw: Since when do personal podcasts end with rapid-fire disclaimers?
Entertainment Podcast
NBC5 WMAQ TV Chicago
Concept: Repurpose entertaining celebrity sound bites from Access Hollywood.
Flaw: There's no picture, so gags involving repeated "do not attempt to adjust the picture" warnings make no sense.
Fastlane Radio
GM
Concept: GM insiders introduce the automaker's latest offerings.
Flaw: The listening experience is like sharing a room in hell with a car salesman: "Not only does the car go, but it can turn because of … superior vehicle dynamics."
OTN TechCasts
Oracle
Concept: Geek holds forth on esoteric tech news.
Flaw: Host copes with his tendency to stutter by reading mechanically from a prepared script.
Gerald Buckley's Podcast
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Concept: For busy geologists on the go, an audio version of the organization's Web site.
Flaw: Barely suppressed sighs of boredom between announcements.
- Suzanne Wu
credit:
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Podcasting for The Man
