What do you do to make money when you have millions of potential podcast listeners out there? Perhaps a better question: "How do you make 20 million listeners part of a conversation?"

The latter question is much more interesting, isn't it? I think of Loomia and what they are doing to make podcasts more relevant to their listeners. They're gettting the conversation going, showing people what podcasts are relevant to them.

Melodeo is bringing podcasts to mobile phones. Now, will people listen to podcasts on their mobile phones? Carriers are betting on music will be the hit in 2006.

I am betting on the conversation about the music. We're seeing conversation spread in remixes, mashes and all forms of DIY media. Mobile phones are natural conversation tools. Music is meant to be shared. Incremental developments in technology are creating a revolution in our views about music and its context with the individual and society.

Podcasts and music on the mobile phone all add up to technology innovation. That is sure. But these are only incremental changes. The real innovation is in the conversation and the sparks that ideas create, moving our views to a place that is far different than before, both for us as individuals and as a cutlure, experiencing music and sharing it over a mobile phone.

Give me the tools to converse about music and share it on the mobile phone. Show me how I can listen to a podcast recording on my mobile, take a picture of something and send it along to my friends with a note about this great new hip hop I heard. Show me how I can share my mobile phone podcast and music playlist across different groups. Direct me to recommendations. Show me something random. Help me broaden my music preferences.

Help me with those questions and I am sure the answers will come about those millions of listeners and the treasures they possess. Where will you find them? They'll be in groups of 12, across one very long tail, available on your mobile phone.