Here's the pitch: "Listening to a great song on the radio? Want to know its name? Remember to buy it later? A simple click of the Xenote iTag creates a bookmark to that song. Hear an ad for an interesting new product? You know you won't remember their website address or phone number. Just click and your iTag remembers it for you."

More from the firm's website:

"The first generation Xenote iTag allows radio listeners to 'Bookmark the Radio.' Listeners can 'tag' songs and ads and, at their convenience, connect to relevant information and e-commerce opportunities on the Web.

"The Xenote iTag and Web service are both completely free to users. Xenote iTag is currently in large-scale consumer trials in test markets throughout the U.S. Widespread consumer availability is expected in Q3 2000. Future versions of the Xenote iTag will bookmark people, products, or even places, enabling people to choose the best products for their needs, exchange 'live' electronic business cards, remember favorite restaurants, plus other features.

"Xenote, based in San Mateo, CA, is privately held and is funded by Ridge Ventures and Trans Cosmos USA. Radio Partners If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Xenote iTag-enabled station, please contact: Rocky Cosgrove, Director of Radio/Advertising Sales, 650.345.2777 ext. 240, or write rocky@xenote.com."

Latest press release (last week): "Xenote, Inc., the makers of the Xenote iTag™-a fun and free keychain-sized Internet device that lets radio listeners 'bookmark the radio' today announced an exclusive agreement with Mediabase that provides them access to the playlists for Mediabase's participating radio stations. The agreement provides Xenote with current playlist information on 955 stations in 140 major markets, enabling immediate nationwide scope to the Xenote iTag and associated Web service.

"Xenote is currently launching consumer trials with the award-winning Xenote iTag in six US markets, including San Francisco, Houston and Atlanta."

KH observation: It's a cool-looking little device, but this seems like it's technology-driven rather than need-driven, doesn't it? Also, I need to ask them, What's the business model? Who pays for the device? Where's the revenue to anybody? And if KKSF/San Francisco is one of the stations participating in the test, why is there no mention of it on their website?

More on this device, including answers to those questions, coming in the near future in RAIN. (Any thoughts or comments? Contribute them here.)

The Chicago Sun-Times's Robert Feder, one of the country's top media columnists and perhaps the top columnist in terms of radio coverage, snagged an interview with AMFM President/CEO Jimmy deCastro the day he resigned last week.

Regarding his future plans, deCastro told Feder, "I am most interested in building my own company in the Internet. The technological advances that have come into our life in the last several years are so exciting. To me, it's like the Pony Express, the train, the airplane. And I've always wanted to have my own company. The Internet is like radio used to be--where entrepreneurial spirit can exist."

To read Feder's full interview with deCastro, click here.


Reprinted from yesterday's edition:

Magnitude Network, the Chicago-based website design and streaming company owned by CMGI, announced at the RAB last week that it will become part of iCast, a New York-based company also owned by CMGI that is developing a multimedia entertainment portal.

Under the deal, Magnitude will become a channel within iCast called "iCAST Music" and will abandon its website design services in favor of a concentration on providing audio streaming.

The firm also took advantage of the RAB event to announce a streaming plan for radio broadcasters with a new, lower price point -- $500/month per station for unlimited streaming. (The firm will also retain rights to a 15-second "gateway" ad at the beginning of each stream accessed by a listener).

The streaming itself will be provided by Activate, a Seattle-based company also owned by CMGI.

As for iCast itself, it is a long-delayed CMGI project that underwent management upheavals last year; click here for a November Industry Standard story on the subject. As of today, the iCast site still consists only of a placeholder Flash animation.




Critical Mass Media president John Martin was named head of Clear Channel's Website Services Group last week. The group helps facilitate the development of Clear Channel's over 450 station websites and will take on additional websites after Clear Channel's acquisition of AMFM is complete.

Martin's responsibilities will include coordinating the technical infrastructure, content, marketing, and sales of the websites.

Martin joined then-Jacor-owned Critical Mass Media in 1991 after serving as VP/GM of Evergreen KHYI/Dallas-Ft.Worth.

Martin will retain his title at Critical Mass Media, but EVP/Research Operations Carolyn Gilbert moves up to EVP/GM of the research and direct marketing firm. Meanwhile, SVP/Clear Channel Internet Group Jenny Sue Rhoades's new role in the firm's Internet strategy is currently in discussion.



From yesterday's CNET News: "In case you hadn't noticed, dot-com mania has taken over the airwaves.

"Although ad spending may have peaked during the holidays and the Super Bowl, online companies need no special occasion to continue bombarding the consuming public with billions of dollars in TV commercials, radio spots and newspaper advertisements, as well as Web marketing initiatives.

"But with so many Internet companies operating in the red, how long can they keep pouring money into these campaigns? The issue has become even more difficult recently as investors have begun to demand bottom-line evidence that they should keep buying stock in businesses that have yet to show a profit..."

And lots of dotcoms seemed to get little or no long-term (e.g., more than one week) value from their Super Bowl spots. Read the full story in CNET News here.

Part Two:

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