Why All The Fuss About Anchor?

This is an archived page from 2018. Find out more

Last week, Daniel J. Lewis highlighted how the free hosting service Anchor hosts the second-largest number of podcasts (83,000), which is quite an accomplishment having relaunched as a hosting company for podcasts less than a year ago. Since then, Anchor has taken a lot of grief from influencers inside the podcasting space, mainly because they say they’ve seen free companies come and go many times before and predict the same will happen to Anchor. And, they are not fans of Anchor’s terms of service, which they claim takes ownership of podcasts away from podcasters. In any event, free is free and new podcasters especially are using the service to help keep their costs down

[caption id=“attachment_113” align=“alignright” width=“192”] Dave Jackson[/caption]

Anchor raised $10 million last fall from Google Ventures and Accel. The goal of the company is to make podcasting as easy as possible. Many of the podcasters we’ve interviewed since launching PBJ are using Anchor. We’ve attempted to interview Anchor’s CEO Mike Mignano but have been unable to get his attention.

School of Podcasting’s Dave Jackson recently launched a podcast on Anchor called Anchor Sucks where he detailed his criticism of the service. The company caught on quickly and removed the podcast within days. He also spoke about it on his show which you can watch on YouTube HERE.

Most recently, Rebel Base Media  CEO Mark Asquith wrote a blog defending the free hosting service. It’s called “Why Anchor Isn’t The Villan In The Podcasting Story.” Asquith says he is concerned that Anchor is trying to become the only one-stop-shop that podcasters need. But he also says he’s OK with what they’re doing and people need to chill out about them. “Commercial” podcasting companies like ourselves who have been in revenue from day one with no financial injection, and especially those that aren’t venture capital funded, tend to get a little snotty about funded businesses – and I understand why, but I think it’s time to stop getting worked up about it."

Asquith says the reason people would not get worked up about Anchor being VC funded is because podcasters do not care. “All they want to do is try podcasting and Anchor is getting them over that hurdle, easily. The ‘podcast elite’ like to say things like, “You don’t need Anchor, you simply need to record and pop it on our hosting service and you’re done, so it’s just as easy. But those who say that are often missing the point: the perception is that it’s not as easy, and frankly, even though it IS easy, it’s not AS easy and it requires more time than Anchor does, even if podcasting companies get a little defensive over that.”

Asquith says the industry should embrace Anchor. He also says it’s easy to stand on a podcasting soapbox and say, “Here’s how it should be.” He adds, “But podcasting isn’t yours, nor is it mine, nor is it Anchor’s – it’s ours. Instead of focusing on Anchor and how Mike, Nir & co. are ‘dangerous’ to a podcaster, why don’t we all make sure that our own products and services are serving OUR audiences better than we ever thought possible? Then, if and when the time comes, we have the chance to win the business of that podcaster looking to make decisions based on what’s right for them.”

Asquith says Anchor is most likely looking to get acquired by either Apple, Spotify, Google, or some other company and will eventually have to make money.

If you are using Anchor.fm to host your podcast, let us know what YOU think of the service.

Comments:

Joe Laber - Dec 1, 2018

I have been in the Podcast space since May of this year (2012). I am a huge fan of Anchor.fm. The service is free and very easy to use. I launched my Podcast to promote my skills and experiences in the wonderful world of Radio. Anchor.fm is a very viable and professional choice for the newbie or veteran Podcaster. I have recommended Anchor.fm to many friends and colleagues and will continue to do so.

That was supposed to be May of this year (2018) NOT (2012)! LOL

Joe, Did you submit your show to Apple or did you let Anchor do that “for you.” ?

I heard they recently updated their ToS and it isn’t as bad now, and they no longer own your show/info. Is that correct? If you’re already hosting elsewhere (and getting published to most other apps) is there a benefit to adding your show to Ancor?