Below the dotted line, is the first version of an article I wrote for Broadcast magazine. It turns out they don't want it for the 'paper' mag, but for the website. So I had to cut. I am glad to have been allowed to do this myself, as sub-editors can really cock your work up.
Below the second dotted line, is the edit.
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A New Medium
Having done an evaluation of my viewing and listening habits, I have concluded that television and radio are no longer as important as they once were. Once upon a time, you would send scripts to television companies, or demo tapes to radio stations in the hope of selling your work and achieving fame and fortune. These days it is easier to promote your work just by putting it on the internet and letting people find it. The growth of websites such as youtube and myspace has taken the pressure off. Where pop stars such as Lily Allen and The Artic Monkeys used myspace to their advantage in the early stage of their career, to build a following and get their music heard. As a reversal of the usual means, the record company went to the musician.
Television is the same in its own way. People posting their videos on youtube have gained their own type of fame. Chris Crocker’s tearful plea to the media to leave Britney Spears alone has been watched by millions of internet users, and as a result, he is now making money as a bona fida celebrity. Television now looks online for its new comedy star, rather then trailing around clubs. All the stand up has to do is post a handful of jokes on the net and the audience is there. A ready-made way to attract people to live gigs and thus do what was thought impossible, making money from posting online. Not in a direct way of course, but because of giving away a few free snippets.
The comedian Richard Herring has used the internet to his advantage, writing a daily blog for the last seven years. The blog, Warming Up, has been an inspiration for some routines for the stage. It has also spawned a book, with another on the way next year. Herring’s website also acts as an archive of his old work. The 1990s television series Fist Of Fun, and it’s follow up This Morning With Richard Not Judy, has had no DVD release from the BBC, but both Herring and his partner Stuart Lee direct you to the series in its entirety uploaded to video websites. Andrew Collins, a writer and broadcaster, joins Richard Herring in his attic to record a weekly podcast based on the old show they did on BBC 6Music. By letting it be listened to free, people have been made aware of their work. As a result, his podcast sidekick now back on radio, and Herring sometimes joins Collins. Another spin off has been a series of live versions of the show, performing to a paying audience of comedy fans, an idea also used by Phill Jupitus and his old radio stooge Phil Wilding.
The act of podcasting has taken the place of illegal pirate radio, you can broadcast to your own interest and with the right keywords, it will end up on the all-important first page of a Google search. Once a following has been built up of loyal listeners, the financial side of things can take care of itself in some form. Steve Swanson hosts a weekly podcast dedicated to the work of Jim Henson, and the home page for Muppetcast has a ‘donate’ button to keep him able to travel around the USA conducting interviews with puppeteers and directors. Some of his episodes are recorded at fan conventions the length and breadth of America.
Bloggers have been described as frustrated journalists and writers, which has an element of truth in it. What started out as something seen with a nerdish edge is now a writing medium that is taken seriously. Many blog writers are interviewed for their opinions when compiling ‘list’ type television shows, with the tagline ‘blogger’ under their name. Perez Hilton is the biggest example of achieving a career out of being a blogger. What started out as a bitchy celebrity gossip blog is now one of the most influential sources in show business. Many blogs have been turned into books, and in at least one case a television series based on the book of the blog.
Therefore, because of internet coverage, celebrity is a lot easier to achieve. By the simple task of uploading some videos, or talking about something on a podcast or just writing a blog, you then have the basis for an audience. Television executives will fight over you in order to secure their Christmas bonus by getting your signature on their dotted line.
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A New Medium (edited)
An evaluation of my viewing and listening habits concludes that television and radio are no longer important. Before, you would send scripts to television or demos to radio in the hope of selling your work. Now it is easier to promote yourself by uploading and letting people find it. Websites like youtube have taken the pressure off.
People posting videos on youtube have gained their own type of fame. Chris Crocker tearfully asking the media to leave Britney alone has been watched by millions, and, he is now making money as a ‘proper’ celebrity. Television now looks online for comedy stars, rather then trailing around clubs. All the comic has to do is post a routine on the net and the audience is there. A way to attract people to live gigs and do what was thought impossible, making money from web content.
The comedian Richard Herring has used the internet to his advantage, writing a blog for the last seven years. Herring’s website is an archive of old works. His 1990s series Fist of Fun, and This Morning With Richard Not Judy, has had no DVD release, but Herring and his partner Stuart Lee direct you to the series uploaded to video websites. Andrew Collins, a writer and broadcaster, joins Herring to record a podcast based on the show they did on 6Music. By letting it be freely available, people have become aware of their work. As a result, Collins is now back on radio.
Podcasting has taken the place of pirate radio. Once a following is there, the financial side can take care of itself, with a ‘donate’ button, or live sales.
Bloggers have been described as frustrated journalists and writers. What started out as something nerdish is now a writing medium taken seriously. Many bloggers are interviewed when compiling ‘list’ television shows. Many blogs are turned into books, at least one a television series based on the book.
