I just read the post below this one – a great and interesting piece by my colleague Robin Valk – regarding the iPhone and Pandora’s wildly successful app for it. As he points out, it is a huge step forward as it brings together many of the things that need to be present whenever seismic shifts occur in regards to how people do things – in this case, how they listen to audio. Robin mentions that he still won’t call it radio however, because in his book “radio still involves someone communicating with you.”
Yes! I couldn’t agree with him more.
At its essence, radio is about the communication between the listener and the person on the other side of the mike. That person plays the music the listener wants to hear and provides information about the songs and the artists that keeps the listener plugged in. Additionally, that person provides a sense of companionship and community for the listener. Radio is the social network with a voice.
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Tagged: Content, E Street Radio, Micro-channels, radio, Satellite Radio, Sirius, Springsteen
- Published:
- July 22, 2008 – 6:15 pm
- Author:
- By Billy Sabatini
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Just got back from New York. They had lines round the block all over the city – people wanting to get hold of the new iPhone. So far, so not unusual. But today I read something both unusual, and hugely encouraging. I think we’re finally approaching the era of decent portable internet radio. The admirable Pandora have streamed 3.3 million songs to the new iPhones since they launched their new mobile application. That’s in ONE week. Some going.
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Tagged: Internet Radio, iPhone, Pandora, Web Streaming
- Published:
- July 22, 2008 – 3:27 pm
- Author:
- By Robin Valk
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I’ve written about these satellite radio micro-channels before here and here and I hate to sound like a broken record, but I will.
Investing in creative, compelling programming pays off.
Sirius just announced that Coldplay will take over one of their channels (Alt Nation) for ten days beginning Friday, June 13th. The launch of the channel, Coldplay Nation, coincides (shockingly!) with the release of the band’s “Viva La Vida” album which will be during the channel’s 10-day run. As is stated on the Sirius website, Coldplay Nation “celebrates the June 17 release of Coldplay’s new Viva La Vida with Chris Martin and the band’s personal introductions to songs from the new album. You’ll also hear music from throughout their career, artists who influenced the Coldplay sound and current favorites.”
This cuts to the heart of what radio has to do to succeed – create programming that is unique, compelling and exclusive. If listeners are given a compelling reason, they will listen and become fans of a radio station or in the case of the satellite radio providers, subscribe to their service.
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Tagged: Alt Nation, Coldplay Nation, Programming, radio, Sirius
- Published:
- June 12, 2008 – 1:35 pm
- Author:
- By Billy Sabatini
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Take a look at the Richard Park feature in today’s Guardian. Richard Park (non-UK readers check here for the bio) is now heading up Global, the largest group by far in the UK. And he’s talking a lot of of sense, to my ears at least. Bottom line? Indie Group management should stop whining about the nasty BBC and and look at what they have – and could have – instead. And then think how they can make it work better. Read More »
- Published:
- June 9, 2008 – 9:57 am
- Author:
- By Robin Valk
- Categories:
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- Comments:
I just read the post below this one – a great and interesting piece by my colleague Robin Valk – regarding the iPhone and Pandora’s wildly successful app for it. As he points out, it is a huge step forward as it brings together many of the things that need to be present whenever seismic shifts occur in regards to how people do things – in this case, how they listen to audio. Robin mentions that he still won’t call it radio however, because in his book “radio still involves someone communicating with you.”
