Blogs Find Their Audio Outlet

It's no NPR yet, but the latest radio phenomenon is gathering steam—and it's not even really radio, Portfolio reports. The 18-month-old BlogTalkRadio.com lets anyone with a broadcasting itch host a show for free; users select a time slot, genre, topic and start gabbing—the audio blog even comes with a phone system that accepts live callers—who have included Brad Pitt and John Kerry.

Its 40,000 shows attract about 2 million listeners a month, making BlogTalk the leader in its field. But "radio was supposed to be dead decades ago," reminds a Columbia media professor: Profitability is a concern, and listeners must sift to find quality amid online radio's noise, and the broadcasts aren't accessible in the car. (More internet stories.)