Discussion: Why we aren't pushing for the Stitcher Awards and other awards shows...

I'm writing this open post in response to a few questions regarding podcast awards and why we don't seem to push/care about them.

I received an e-mail today about the 2013 Stitcher Awards. The main problem I have with ALL of these contests is summed up in the e-mail:

"All shows and podcasts that are available on Stitcher are eligible for consideration and shows may be nominated in multiple categories. You, your listeners, friends and family can vote once each day over the nomination period, today through Sunday, December 22nd. "

They are basically spam contests. Who can spam the voting the most, rather than which one actually deserves it. There's something to be said about the number of listeners being equal to the quality of show, etc... BUT I would only seem to support something like that if only one person=1 vote.

Why is this a problem? Don't get me wrong, I like the people over at Stitcher. I've met them before and they are very nice and supportive people. However, this contest, and other ones like "The Podcast Awards" only survive by spamming votes from users. The more times people go to the site and vote, it boosts their numbers and makes their social footprint more valid in the eyes of social media bots. In other words, they are exploiting podcast listeners to further their own profile in the guise that it's a competition or "awards". Not Stitcher, but other sites and contests generate ad revenue from the amount of people visit the page, again, making money off podcasts that create the content.

Keep in mind these are only "nominations", so there may be some validity to the judging that happens afterwards, but the whole process of spamming and taxing listener's profiles is one that I see over and over and don't care to support.

-Kc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kc

I'm writing this open post in response to a few questions regarding podcast awards and why we don't seem to push/care about them.

I received an e-mail today about the 2013 Stitcher Awards. The main problem I have with ALL of these contests is summed up in the e-mail:

"All shows and podcasts that are available on Stitcher are eligible for consideration and shows may be nominated in multiple categories. You, your listeners, friends and family can vote once each day over the nomination period, today through Sunday, December 22nd. "

They are basically spam contests. Who can spam the voting the most, rather than which one actually deserves it. There's something to be said about the number of listeners being equal to the quality of show, etc... BUT I would only seem to support something like that if only one person=1 vote.

Why is this a problem? Don't get me wrong, I like the people over at Stitcher. I've met them before and they are very nice and supportive people. However, this contest, and other ones like "The Podcast Awards" only survive by spamming votes from users. The more times people go to the site and vote, it boosts their numbers and makes their social footprint more valid in the eyes of social media bots. In other words, they are exploiting podcast listeners to further their own profile in the guise that it's a competition or "awards". Not Stitcher, but other sites and contests generate ad revenue from the amount of people visit the page, again, making money off podcasts that create the content.

Keep in mind these are only "nominations", so there may be some validity to the judging that happens afterwards, but the whole process of spamming and taxing listener's profiles is one that I see over and over and don't care to support.

-Kc

---

I completely agree with you on this one. I don't believe awards are a true representation of a podcast's true merit - the engagement and excitement the show generates amongst the audience is a testament as to how good the show really is. The buzz in the forum for instance, waiting for the next episodes and the theorising and chatter among everyone is unrivalled against any other podcast that I've ever encountered.

Keep up the good work man :)

I already voted with my middle finger in the air, because I can.

Shucks, that's a shame. It really is hard to verify users in an online poll to prevent cheating and even harder to get your listeners to frequent their site daily to vote. Is there any way around it though? I imagine most polls will be like this. We're Alive going underground?

Edit: isn't everyone at the same disadvantage? There has to be a captcha verification or atleast you must have a stitcher account, right? Podcasts who cast daily would get more traffic to vote. That business model is really unfortunate.

Kc, your explanation is exactly why I haven't "voted" on anything (Stitcher and some others) that gives more than 1 vote per person. Like you said, the more votes a podcast gets then maybe the more popular it really is. But in the end, that's not what the "award" is really about.

Thanks for explaining it so well....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kc

I'm writing this open post in response to a few questions regarding podcast awards and why we don't seem to push/care about them.

I received an e-mail today about the 2013 Stitcher Awards. The main problem I have with ALL of these contests is summed up in the e-mail:

"All shows and podcasts that are available on Stitcher are eligible for consideration and shows may be nominated in multiple categories. You, your listeners, friends and family can vote once each day over the nomination period, today through Sunday, December 22nd. "

They are basically spam contests. Who can spam the voting the most, rather than which one actually deserves it. There's something to be said about the number of listeners being equal to the quality of show, etc... BUT I would only seem to support something like that if only one person=1 vote.

Why is this a problem? Don't get me wrong, I like the people over at Stitcher. I've met them before and they are very nice and supportive people. However, this contest, and other ones like "The Podcast Awards" only survive by spamming votes from users. The more times people go to the site and vote, it boosts their numbers and makes their social footprint more valid in the eyes of social media bots. In other words, they are exploiting podcast listeners to further their own profile in the guise that it's a competition or "awards". Not Stitcher, but other sites and contests generate ad revenue from the amount of people visit the page, again, making money off podcasts that create the content.

Keep in mind these are only "nominations", so there may be some validity to the judging that happens afterwards, but the whole process of spamming and taxing listener's profiles is one that I see over and over and don't care to support.

-Kc

---

I never heard of Stitcher Awards, however, it appears as its voting process is just like the one which turned the MTV video music awards into a Cyrus/Bieber-fan-orgasm-show. A vote has to count, it is pretty useless otherwise.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tonyhind86

... the engagement and excitement the show generates amongst the audience is a testament as to how good the show really is....

Keep up the good work man :)

---

I think you all know I have listened to this more than a few times. :tinfoil: lol

The beginning of the first episode still gives me chills the way the music and the voice over melt into something so mundane as going to class...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Grognaurd

I think you all know I have listened to this more than a few times. :tinfoil: lol

The beginning of the first episode still gives me chills the way the music and the voice over melt into something so mundane as going to class...

---

I'm midway through my sixth run - think I've got some catching up to do haha :)

I think one of the things that makes this podcast so good is, no matter how many times you listen to it (and you know what's happening next), it still has the ability to keep you hooked as if it's the first time listening to it. For me, I like hearing the voices of characters long past (RIP Angel) and picking up on subtle little hints that make the theories a little easier to comprehend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tonyhind86

For me, I like hearing the voices of characters long past (RIP Angel)

---

*sniffle* Bill....Always remember you man....miss you everyday....

You need only look at podcasts like "The Fantasy Focus" podcast from ESPN. They technically have multiple podcasts but they always push you to vote for the Football version because that's they one they like the most. This year it had to be the baseball one. They openly encourage you to vote from every single email address you own daily. They promote the loop hole that eliminates fair play and awards based on merit.

I mean...these are the same people that tell their twitter followers to actively harass celebrities (as nice as possible at least) in order to get their attention and come on the show. Mob mentality reigns supreme on these sites.