Iowa ambient music podcaster offers original content and advertisers in latest episode

Mark Rushton, a musician and audio artist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa started podcasting in late 2004 to help bring attention to his ambient and electronica recordings at http://www.markrushton.com

"I got a lot of play from a number of public radio stations in the US and Canada, including KUNI, but for the most part college radio ignores independent acts. They seem to just play whatever the record companies and magazines are paid to promote, " says Rushton, a jab at the recent $10 million settlement by Sony/BMG in New York concerning payola for such acts as J-Lo and Good Charlotte. "I realized that was the wrong way to go."

Over 7500 downloads from all corners of the world later, Rushton has integrated advertising into podcasts. He's also one of the top ambient and electronica podcasters on Apple's iTunes.

"Do you know how expensive it is for me to try to get airplay in Hong Kong, Japan, India, or even Saudi Arabia?" questions Rushton. "Today, it's free! There are people listening to my podcasts in those countries, as well as all over Europe, South America, and the United States! One guy from France wanted to use one of my pieces of music as a bed for his own French podcast."

Rushton's initial advertisers for his podcast are EcoLips.com, an natural and organic lip balm company from Cedar Rapids; ScrapItOut.com, a computer and e-waste recycler from Austin, Texas; and LinkertonPublishing.com, an online e-book seller who just put out a video entitled "How To Set Up Your Online Music Promotion In 59 Minutes Or Less."

Says Rushton, "Some people think it's going to be difficult to have advertising on podcasts, but hopefully I can help change that perception. My ads are fairly quick, usually about 15 to 20 seconds long, and they're simple spoken ads like what you'd hear on veteran broadcaster Paul Harvery's show."

For now, Rushton hopes that more downloads of his podcasts, and especially exposure via Apple's iTunes, will spur additional sales of his CDs, downloads, and even his original artwork.

For more information, visit: http://www.markrushton.com