RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter

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The following was sent to RAIN via e-mail from Todd Herman of theDial.com, most of the assets of which were recently acquired by Loudeye Technologies...

BY TODD HERMAN
You may have read in the news that theDial’s audience, player, back-end technology, contracts, trademarks, web presence, brand names and affiliate network have all been acquired

by Loudeye. Loudeye has also hired most of our entertainers, music directors, our ad and commercial music sales department, as well as our cofounder/director of R&D, Christopher Taylor. In addition, Loudeye has retained Matt and Ed Bruno, the dynamic duo.

As you all know, the private capital markets have gotten to be a bit, uh, tepid of late. theDial ran into that wall and we decided it was the right time to sell -- like many companies are doing these days.

Nothing will diminish my pride in what we accomplished. We sold some of the first interactive audio ads ever and shattered the CPM barrier with clients like: Folgers, Sears, The Discovery Channel, Proctor & Gamble, The Oakland Raiders,

Sprint and Sprint DSL. We proved that audio advertising works, much better than the banner ever will and we never took short dollar for advertising. In fact, the minimum price for an audio on theDial was $35.00 CPM.

Through it all we maintained our trademark creativity which set our sound apart from a host of music-only sites (some of which were run by friends -- so no put down intended). I am probably most proud of that. Depending on how we know one another thanks, respectively, for your support, your business and/or your friendship. I look forward to working, seeing and/or talking with all of you soon.

Todd can be reached via e-mail here, or at 206.612.3465.

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Raleigh news outlet to launch AP-powered online only station

From the press release: "With broadcasters struggling to produce ad dollars in the uncertain economy, AP Radio

has developed a business model that helps stations generate nontraditional revenue in the dynamic online world.

News/talk-leader WPTF in Raleigh is tapping into AP's strategy and is set to launch TriangleNewsRadio.Com, using AP's streaming 'All News Radio' as the backbone of its Internet broadcasts.

"Beginning July 15, the Curtis Media Group-owned WPTF will couple their own local reporting with AP's state

and global resources and features to target listeners and advertisers with a common interest -- the North Carolina research triangle. The strategy allows WPTF to provide specialized, niche programming to an online audience while facilitating targeted advertising by companies interested in reaching this refined audience. Bonneville's WTOP in Washington pioneered the strategy successfully two years ago with its Federal News Radio."

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From EuropeMedia.net: "Capital Interactive, the Internet branch of Capital Radio, has signed a

deal with MSN.co.uk to become the sole supplier to their online music services.

"MSN are hoping to develop a strong Internet music presence under the MSNmusic.com brand. Online music is fast becoming a competitive market, with Yahoo!, MSN’s main competitor, recently

acquiring the streaming music site Launch.com, and signing up with Duet, the online digital music subscription service from Universal Music and Sony.

"MSN and Capital’s strategy will be to launch three radio stations which will be accessible through the website. The stations will be aimed at particular niche markets. ATK13 will be aimed at gamers, Chyra will target women, and Glisn will be an R&B and soul station."

Read the complete article here.

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RadioWave tests multicast technology
From RBR.com: "The latest webcaster/streaming provider to look at low cost peer-to-peer sharing of bandwidth

between users: RadioWave is currently beta testing with vTrails. The company's technology is based on intelligent routing and peer-to-peer technologies that overcome the bandwidth and infrastructure limitations experienced in streaming media. vTrails aims to help RadioWave by reducing bandwidth and eliminating network bottlenecks by using peer-to-peer networking to avoid overloading the server."

Read this article here.

deCastro joins MBC board of directors
From R&R: "The MBC, or Museum of Broadcast Communications, administers the U.S.'s only Radio Hall of Fame. Currently CEO of Nothing But Net, de Castro" (pictured, left) "was cofounder/COO of Evergreen Media then Vice Chairman of AMFM."

Read this article here.

Jimmy deCastro is also a member of the board of directors of Strategic Media Research, of which RAIN publisher Kurt Hanson is CEO.


July 19-22, 2001	The Conclave Learning Conference: Minneapolis
Aug. 9-11, 2001	Morning Show Boot Camp: Las Vegas
Aug. 15-18, 2001	Gavin Summit IX: Boulder, CO
Sept. 5-7, 2001	XStream: Broadcasting on the Internet at the NAB Radio Show: New Orleans, LA
Nov. 1, 2001	Inside Radio: The Future of Radio Fly-in 2001: University of Southern California