BY KURT HANSON
Of course, the number of American adults using the Internet is still growing and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. (Only lazy editors think it's a valid news story to say "U.S. Online Population Still Growing!")

But have we hit the halfway point yet?

According to a recent article in The Industry Standard, "Last month, the Strategis Group reported that the U.S. online population had hit 101 million, which represents a 20 percent increase over six months. But online population estimates vary widely, depending on which research firm you consult. While the most aggressive figures hover near the 100-million mark, other reputable researchers count as few as 65 million.

" Precisely how companies define an 'Internet user' explains some of the difference..." For the full story, accompanied by a slide show illustrating key data points, click here.  



What are the most important design principles for the most important page of your website?

Find out here: Click here to read today's new essay on website design. (Your comments are welcome, too.)

According to a teaser on the Radio Ink website, RealNetworks on Monday is going to announce a "major innovation" aimed at helping stations increase web revenues. Click here to read the teaser yourself.

Real's banner ad.



Real Networks's new "Take 5" daily programming service, which was launched November 8th, has a wide variety of participants. "Major media programming companies," according to their press release, participating included Capitol, Grateful Dead Productions and MTV/VH1.

"Internet-only media companies" included 3WK Underground Radio, The ARTISTdirect Network, audiohighway.com, broadcastmusic.com, Bumbershoot, Discjockey.com, dotmusic.com, Eritmo.com, Experience Music Project, GetMusic properties: BUGjuice; Connect2Music; Peeps; RockUniverse; and TwangThis!, GMN.com, Groovetech, Guitar.com, KCRW.org, Kennedy Center, KnitMedia, Inc., KUOW, Mickey Hart * Planet Drum, NetRadio.com, NME, OnePlace.com, PCCOM/MUZIC.TO, petshopboys.co.uk, Rapstation.com, RollingStone.com, StreamSearch.com, Tunes.com, TWEC.com and woodstock.com.

Who's missing from the above list? Note the apparently complete lack of ANY radio broadcasters (or their affiliated ventures)!


Excellent MSNBC article on RealJukebox's debut:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/265315.asp (or click here)

Excellent ZDNET May 1999 story explaining Real Jukebox:
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2250956,00.html
(or click here)




All week long, we've been in the process of writing up a review of our first "Site of the Week." The complete article, illustrated with numerous screenshots, is now available here.



Letter to the Editor of The Industry Standard:
"Lessley Anderson's article "Radio Plays the Same Old Song" [Oct. 25], could not have expressed it any better. I equate the situation to a small business reacting when Wal-Mart moves into town. Radio needs to realize that when this happens, the established, traditional methods of interacting with customers are gone. With radio's lethargic view of the Internet, and arrogant stance on being knocked off the hill, I'm afraid companies like Yahoo (YHOO) , LookSmart, Lycos (LCOS) and Broadcast.com will win the next round of ear-grabbing..." Read the letter in its entirety here.

And once you've had a chance to take a look around this web-based newsletter, please take a moment to tell us what you think of it. Compliments, criticisms, and contributions are all welcome.

E-mail us here.  Thanks.

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