Industry leaders from the podcasting community announced the formation of the Association for Downloadable Media (ADM). The goal is to develop standardization of audience measurement and advertising for downloadable media. The ADM will focus primarily on the world of podcasting, downloadable media and portable content monetized by advertising and sponsorship. The ADM will create a landscape that facilitates the commercialization of this growing audience.

The purview of the ADM includes revenue generation from advertising and sponsorships of podcasts, vodcasts, and other audio/video digital content distributed via RSS, ATOM, peer-to-peer, mobile devices, downloads from web sites and other platforms to come.

The organization has been formed to focus specifically on any content downloaded by consumers, and will work in collaboration with related industry organizations, publishers, and agencies such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA).

The ADM will support the needs of publishers, producers, advertisers, agencies, vendors, research/measurement companies, as well as hardware and software manufacturers who are involved with the production or distribution of downloadable media. Monetization of podcasts is a growing opportunity for these parties, and the ADM supports the momentum of this channel through the collective mindshare of its members.

There has been a need for industry standards in the podosphere, and the ADM will help accelerate its growth into a commercially viable medium. Podcast advertising is a burgeoning medium for marketers. Spending on podcasting advertising will quintuple over the next five years, from an $80 million market in 2006 to $400 million in 2011 according to eMarketer, Inc. Apple Inc. has sold more than 100 million iPods, more than 350,000 iPhones have been reported sold in its first weekend of availability and more than 300 million copies of iTunes have been installed. According to an Arbitron/Edison Internet and Multimedia 2007 study, the number of people in the U.S. who have listened to a podcast has grown to 13% in 2007.

The ADM will comprise an interim board of representatives from the following companies who met initially to establish the organization: Apple Inc., BlogTalkRadio, Kiptronic, LibSyn, IndieFeed, NPR, Nielsen/NetRatings, Personal Life Media, Inc., Podbridge, PodTech, PodShow, Podtrac, Porter Novelli, Rev3, and Vogele Law.

Five initial committees will be formed immediately to address: advertising standards, measurement, outreach/education, terminology and membership. Membership application is now open on the ADM website. Nominations for the executive seats, advisory board and committee chairs will take place this summer.

Originally posted on July 16, 2007 @ 12:08 am