The commercialization of podcasting? Adam Curry might be talking about podcasting but he is also talking about a fundamental change in the way marketing works. While podcasting didn't really exist before August 2004 it is now not only moving into the mainstream, it is taking the great American leap of trying to be profitable – at least for a few people. So where is the money in a free service that targets an often small and selected listener basis?

Just like blogs it is in the targeting advertising. And now you don't need to wait for the sponsors to come to you. You can choose who and what you want to advertise and start earning click-through cash royalties from companies as such Amazon. com, Cdnow.com and Disney.com.

Yes, this really works - Adam Curry has sold over 23 Senseo coffee makers after putting a link on his site to Amazon.com. I brought him to number 24 last night after caving in and buying one. It has nothing to do with the link on his site... the link is only serving as a tracking mechanism for him, relaying to Amazon who he is referring that makes purchases. What sells them is him talking about them. Her likes them. And he is honest.

This doesn't look like it is going to cause some huge bubble market effect anytime soon. I think the monetary rewards from podcasting will be all but impossible to allow someone to do it full time and pay their bills. But several bloggers have managed to pull it off and sustain themselves through their dream job. Maybe podcasting is next... but for sure this type of advertising can be very interesting, especially in niche markets, and low cost and easy - since referral linking is free.

I think there could even be a great advance in the idea that people's honesty in talking about a product could become more expected and force advertisers to take a closer look at how they try to “sell us” on a good. To listen to more about the new age of advertising, check out Adam Curry's Daily Source Code at http://live.curry.com/ .