Duran Duran in podcast first
10 May 2006 - 12:11:38

Duran Duran are to launch the Guardian's new Film & Music podcast, in what organisers claim is a UK first.

The two-part podcast features an extended interview with the band's Nick Rhodes and John Taylor by Guardian Film & Music editor Michael Hann, as well as 60 second clips of six tracks from the duo's Only After Dark compilation album.

Peter Wells-Thorpe of Duran Duran's online strategic marketing agency The 3003 Group, who organised the podcast for The Guardian, says that this will make podcast history. "This is the first time that music from the major record labels and music publishers has been officially approved for use within a podcast; and is the latest in a series of music and technology 'firsts' pioneered by Duran Duran".

Previously, publishers of music podcasts have been restricted to using only music from independent record labels, under a special licensing arrangement with Aim, although in October 2005 Xfm did create a podcast featuring full-length Xfm session tracks from Elbow.

"We have now opened the door for major record labels and publishers to make podcasting a permanent part of their marketing mix for new releases," adds Wells-Thorpe.

The podcast is available as a free download from the Guardian's web site:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/podcasts/2006/05/only_after_dark_part_1.html .

Courtesy UK Music Week