C.C. Chapman interview

interview by Bill Palmer

Many moons ago, back when almost no one had yet heard of podcasting, I attended a conference where a speaker named C.C. Chapman had already started carrying out the gameplan for something called “podsafe music” which was allowing musicians to clear their songs for legal use on podcasts and to take advantage of the resulting publicity. Years later, with his award-winning music-themed podcast Accident Hash on the verge of its three hundredth episode and as influential as ever, I caught up with the podsafe pioneer to talk about the evolution of music podcasting as well as several other new media projects that currently have his attention – including a new podcast he’s producing that’s hosted by his eight year old daughter…



For those unfamiliar, what is podsafe music and why is it important to fans of music and podcasts?


Back when the Napster lawsuits were happening a bunch of new laws were passed that affect the downloading and publishing of music. I’m over simplifying, but this means that you legally can’t play music on podcasts unless you have the full permission of all rights holders to do so. This is not that easy to get, so the concept of “being podsafe” means that an artist has given their full ok for their music to be played on podcasts. When you are an indie artist (or a smart mainstream one) you want your tunes to be heard by as many people as possible on any outlet, so many artists have embraced the concept of becoming podsafe. 



Back in the day I was the Project Manager on the creation of the Podsafe Music Network which was a clearing house of music that had been deemed as podsafe for any registered user to play in their podcasts. While it has not been updated in years there is new music being uploaded every day so it is still a valuable resource.



I’m glad that other organizations have also stepped up to create libraries of music that podcasters can use. My friend Ariel Hyatt has an amazing lineup of artists that she works with at Cyber PR and all of them have songs that are deemed podsafe. If a podcaster is not signed up for her service (which is free) then they are missing out.

What led you to start the Accident Hash podcast?

I have always loved to be the guy who told his friends, “you’ve got to hear this new band.” In college I did radio and when I discovered podcasting I realized I now had an outlet to share music with the world. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I had a bunch of bands that I had gotten clearance to use their music in films I was making with Random Foo Pictures, so I started with playing them and people seemed to like what they heard.



It was crazy how quickly it went from little old me talking into a microphone and playing some tunes with a few listeners, to a show that was influencing people’s music purchasing around the globe. I still get a kick out of getting an e-mail from an artist who just sold their first CD to a listener on the other side of the world and they tell the artist they heard the song on Accident Hash. That NEVER gets old!

What can listeners expect from a typical episode?

Thirty minutes of great music from a variety of genres. I love hard rock, alternative and acoustic music. I’m a sucker for a female fronted rock band. I play it all and try to mix it up and give every listener a little escape from their day or the push to get through the end of the day.

You may also notice that quite often there is loose theme on each episode. So I might chill out one episode playing Allison Crowe or The Lovespirals and then the next show crank it out with [munk] and Waltham. It really depends on what my mood is for the day.



You’ll also hear plenty of me gabbing. I’ve been dinged from some people in the past for talking too much for a ‘music podcast’, but I’ve always shared my thoughts on the songs and what is going on in my life with my listeners and that isn’t ever going to change. Plus, if the talking is too much that is what the fast forward button was invented for.



My hope is that no matter what episode you listen to, you are going to hear at least one song that makes you pause and think, ‘why isn’t the radio playing this?’.


You’re coming up on your 300th episode. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the landscape since you first started out?

When I started out we were all very new at this. You could listen to all the other music podcasts and everyone knew each other. It was a hobby for all of us, but it grew into a business for some of us and that of course changes everything. I don’t have as much time to give to the show as I used to and I miss that.



Podcasting never took off as big as many of us thought it would. Sure, it has grown immensely since those early days, but I remember the energy and optimism everyone was filled with the first time most of us met in Ontario, California and we all thought it would get bigger than it did. Sure, a lot of people are making some money from it and the smart ones have branched out, but I think a lot of the early optimism and ‘we are going to change the world’ attitudes have gone away.

What have you got planned for the 300th episode?



I honestly haven’t thought about it yet. I’m hoping that my friend and all around great musician Matthew Ebel will make me a special intro like he did for #200. I get a smile just thinking about that. I hope to play a lot of songs from some of my favorite bands over the years. It is going to be a long show. That much I can promise you.


Knowing me, even though I say that I don’t plan to do much, I’ll more than likely do an extra long show filled with a lot of thank yous to all the musicians, fans and friends who have kept me going this long.

In the spirit of Twitter, if you were trying to convince a musician to make their music podsafe, what would you say to them in 140 characters or less?

You WANT people to hear your music right? Then make it available on every channel possible by making at least one track podsafe. (12 characters to spare *grin*)


How do you expect the future of podsafe music to play out? Do you think the major labels fully embrace it eventually, or will it always be the domain of artists who control their own music?

The music industry is currently run by a bunch of dinosaurs who don’t see their own extinction on the horizon. I wish it wasn’t that way, but I’ve watched it closely and that is what is exactly what is happening.

I don’t think they will ever fully embrace podcasting. They’ll use it when they hope to break a new band or resurrect an old one (remember when James Brown went podsafe?). Indie artists have always looked for every angle to share their music and they will continue to do so. The need for a label is still there, but quickly shrinking as the model changes.

What can you tell us about your other projects?

Which one? I never seem to have only one thing on my plate.

My newest project is DigitalDads.com which I’m very excited about because it allows me to talk to other fathers out there about what is on my mind. I noticed that there were very few sites out there for Fathers so I wanted to start one. I’m fortunate to have some awesome Dads helping me out by writing for the site. I’m really excited to see how it grows in 2010.

I also just started producing a video show with my daughter called Emily Explains It. She is only eight, but already is a natural on camera and she answers questions on all topics. She even had a sponsor already which made both of our days. She loves doing it and I love producing it so I’m hoping to get that on a more regular schedule in the near future.



Managing the Gray, the marketing podcast I do, is still churning along with a sort of shift in focus lately away from pure marketing. I’m really happy where it is going and the listeners are more connected then ever.



I’m also an active freelance photographer and writer which makes me happy. I’m passionate about both and when I get hired to do either of them it is something special. I’m hoping that the new year brings a lot more of both of these.



You just finished growing a mustache. What was that all about? 



It was part of an event called Movember where guys around the world start the month of November clean shaven and then grow a mustache (known as a ‘mo in Australia where this was started) for the month to raise money and awareness for men’s cancer.

This year Cancer has been on my mind more than usual as my friend Drew Olanoff was diagnosed and made his fight very public through his #BlameDrewsCancer efforts. Sure, I could make a direct donation and did, but I also wanted to do something more and when I got a video from the founder of Movember asking me to join the cause I jumped on board.

I’m happy to say that my team raised several thousand dollars and that the whole experience was a blast. Although my wife wasn’t very happy about the facial hair, we both believed in the cause.

How have you used sites like Twitter and Facebook to promote your shows?

I use both of them to keep my community of friends and fans updated on what I’m creating. I have separate Twitter feeds for all of them, but mainly they just push out the latest shows. My main Twitter account (@cc_chapman) is the one I use all the time and use to share everything and anything on.

I also have a personal Facebook account and a fan actually set up a Fan Page a long time ago and I still have yet to fully utilize that to the fullest extent. I spend a lot of time building and maintaining communities for clients on Facebook and Twitter so I know how to do it, but just like the Cobbler’s children I don’t have the time to do it for myself.

The great thing about these tools is that they can be used in a variety of ways and most allow for cross syndication so when I write a Blog post it automatically posts to my Facebook page. Too often people forget to do this and it is right there. Create it once and share it everywhere.


You’re a Miami Dolphins fan living in New England, which is kind of a unique thing. How did you end up being a fan, and what do you think the Dolphins’ prospects are for the rest of 2009?



Well after their complete meltdown in Buffalo this past weekend I don’t think they have a prayer for much this year. That game was a painful one for sure.



I get asked how I became a fan and I honestly have no idea, but I always have been. My Dad is a life long Vikings fan and my Mom roots for the Cowboys so it doesn’t come from them. But, I grew up watching Marino throw touchdowns and have always rooted for them.



It makes for a lot of fun times in New England for sure, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I wear my custom Dolphins jersey with pride.

Learn more at cc-chapman.com.