Dixie Defended
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Huzzah! It looks like at least one of my goals with this site is already in motion — we’re initiating dialogue and getting responses and ideas back from the people making news in podcasting.
In this case, Gretchen from Mommycast read and commented on my post on their deal with Dixie. First off, thanks very much for coming by and taking the time. My wife and I have both listened to your show before. You’ve got an engaging style, and the topics you hit on are real ones. I can see why your show is popular.
Now. You said:
This is actually going to be a partnership. MommyCast is going to be included in their print and television advertising throughout all of the campaigns this year. Hmmm…millions of dollars of advertising with MommyCast included….millions of potential listeners being introduced to MommyCast….I’ll let you do that math!
Congratulations! That sounds like a terrific opportunity, and I wish you the best with it. However, I think this only reinforces my point that your compensation is undervalued. Millions of dollars invested in messages connected to your show… Exposure to a potential audience of millions… And you guys only get $40,000 at the bottom end of that deal?
What you’re saying is that Dixie recognizes that your show matters. You’re worth a lot to them. And you’re clearly worth a lot to Podshow. You should be worth more to yourselves, too. You deserve a lot more than you’re getting from this. A flat-rate year-long deal means that even if you get those millions of listeners, the payoff to you doesn’t change. It’s too low now, and if you’re superstars in eleven months then it’s really too low.
Perhaps it will pay off for you in secondary advertising, or in new deals after the year is over, and I sincerely hope it does. But as “a standard for others to follow,” I think this dilutes the perceived value of podcast content. Dixie and Podshow are getting far more from your hard work than you are. And as another hardworking podcaster, that bothers me quite a bit, even if it doesn’t bother you.
Finally:
Now, as for the comment that we don’t have day jobs…KaPOW! On behalf of all of the moms around the world…shame on you!
I think you misunderstood me here. My wife and I have an eleven-month-old son. I’d never insult moms — I prefer to keep breathing, thanks. That wasn’t a dig at you, that was a dig at Curry and Podshow’s “Quit Your Day Job” campaign. And the irony in the footnote was meant to be sympathetic irony.
Moms? Big fan. Podshow? Not so much. My mom did get exclusivity from me for a very long time, it’s true — but she never asked me for 60%.
I have to agree with you Steve. Although I am glad that the Mommycast is getting some much deserved props, they are getting the bad end of this deal. They provide all the content, which I would say equates to at least 60 percent of the work, but they don’t get at least half the dough. It still doesn’t pay to be a mom;)
I do hope that this can bring future deals for them.
Comment by Paul Puri — February 25, 2006 @ 1:27 am
Steve, because I know you, I know you didn’t insult moms with the “day job” comment, but it did come across as “they don’t have day jobs to quit because they’re SAHMs…”
Just saying.
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As for the compensation comment, I think you’re 100% right.
Comment by Mur — February 25, 2006 @ 9:09 am
Thank you for the dialogue, too. We appreciate your interest and your detailed evaluation of our worth. We like to think we are priceless!
For what it is worth, our calculations differ from yours. And the return we are getting from PodShow is extremely valuable. There is a lot of support there on many different levels - mostly behind the scenes.
We certainly do not feel undervalued by any means! You and I both know that the more listeners we have , the better position we will be in for future advertising/sponsorship opportunities.
That’s the problem with kids today, they think they should hit the big time right out of the gate!
Glad to hear you are a dad and well-educated on the job moms do at home. Paige and I have always maintained with Adam that we can’t quit our day job no matter how successful MommyCast becomes!
We welcome further discussion as I think the industry is really trying to get their arms around how all of this will work. Perhaps you’d like to come on the show and talk about it? Thanks for listening!
Comment by Gretchen — February 25, 2006 @ 2:03 pm
Well Steve,as I always say , “Horses for courses” Seems to me they are getting a raw deal, but ultimately that’s fpr them to decide. You should take them up on their offer and guest on the show. Bring some of your goblins along if you really want to piss them off.
In closing, if Gretchen and hubby are happy with their Podshow deal, more power to them. Personally, everything I know about them and their contracts is less than impressive and reeks of chicanery, but that is strictly my opininion. Time will tell.
Comment by Brooklyn Bluesman — February 27, 2006 @ 1:15 am