Apple thwarting independent music podcasters?

A group of independent music podcasters says that Apple is thwarting independent music podcasters. The group announced that Apple is not publishing some of the feeds of some of its members' podcasts at the iTunes Music Store. "Even though most podcasts only take 48 hours to appear, many music podcasters are finding themselves left out in the cold. Despite the widespread proliferation of podcasts through Apple"s new iTunes version 4.9, it appears music podcasters that legally distribute independent music are being left behind and effectively locked out of the iTunes podcast directory."

The Association of Music Podcasting (AMP) claims it represents the largest podcasting content group in the world, with forty three members and says that 34 AMP podcast feeds remained unlisted in the iTunes directory, despite being listed at other popular podcast directories and being submitted to Apple for inclusion in iTunes.

"It appears Apple has placed procedural obstacles for many older, established podcasts to quickly enter its iTunes directory. Despite that brand new podcast submissions appear to be taking a reasonable amount of processing time (approximately 48 hours), many legacy podcasters have waited weeks without a presence on iTunes," according to a press release issued by AMP.

"Moreover, podcasts taken from the original iPodder.org listing are barred from resubmission, with no available option to resolve the issue of podcasts 'on hold.'"

Derrick Oien, President of AMP says that his podcast, which began in the fall of 2004, is among many not yet listed in the iTunes directory. "It appears that Apple is more concerned with molding the community to their immediate commercial needs than with embracing this open community and adhering to an effective long term strategy. We have witnessed the early evolution of podcasting at a break-neck pace; partly because podcasting"s open format rapidly adapts to fit the needs of the community at large. Successful corporations will embrace rather than attempt to control this phenomenon."

Formed in January of 2005, AMP says its mission is to unite podcasters who play legally available independent music. "AMP DJs are music lovers who have access to great, mostly independent music that you probably haven't heard of (yet). AMP provides a fresh alternative, and it's all legal and safe to download. AMP members operate their own unique podcast shows." The grouop says that music podcasters who legally distribute independent music are being left behind and effectively locked out of the iTunes podcast directory.

Filed under: iPod, industry