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From R&R Online: "Radio websites  generally
suck!" That's according to the RAB's Gary Fries, who said
that broadcasters still haven't figured out how to create revenue
streams from the web. "We don't know what we are doing," he told the
[R&R Talk Radio Seminar] roundtable. "We are just playing around.
They should be a part of our strategic plan and a way to expand our
product..." Read full coverage of the event in R&R Online
here (subscription required).
From Radio Business Report: “IShopHere.com,” a multi-category
online shopping destination, is about to get an investment from Clear
Channel that will include a group-wide link to
its station websites. The deal should be consummated this week. “Actually,
we’re hoping it will be consummated today (2/22) or tomorrow (2/23)...”
said Crom Carmichael, COO. “I would like to get the deal consummated,
and then I can tell you more about what we’re planning on doing...”
Although the name might seem clumsy, IShopHere.com is a surprisingly-attractive
shopping site that is worth looking at. (Click screenshot above.)
Read the full news item in RBR.com
here.
| Forms
are working again! E-mail links are working again! If you
have a moment, it would be great to hear from you today. |
 From
Streaming Media News: "iBEAM Broadcasting Corp.
Thursday announced a streaming media distribution agreement with NetRadio.com,
under which iBEAM will stream NetRadio.com's channels through its
streaming  media
network. iBEAM's distribution model utilizes a hybrid satellite and
fiber network to stream media to the edges of the Internet which will
broadcast NetRadio.com's 120 music channels with less congestion and
delays sometimes associated with streaming media..."
iBEAM also provides streaming for Launch.com and CableMusic.com.
Read the full story in Streaming Media News here
In this week's Guest Essay (here),
Bob Bellin expresses his disappointment with the quality
of most Internet-only music broadcasters ("They all suck").
Readers, as you might have guessed, had responses, both yesterday
and again today. |
 |
"Internet
radio needs to out-perform broadcast radio in terms of connecting
with its audience... "
--
William Goldsmith, KPIG |
February
24 , 2000 5:58:52 PM
|
I found Bob
Bellin's comments to be very provocative (in both senses of the
word), and pretty much right-on. The vast majority of Internet radio
stations do suck. In my opinion there's a lot more to a great
radio station than just a bunch of songs from a particular genre
thrown together at random. Bob addressed a few of the things missing
from most net radio: proper music scheduling, good production values
and imaging, and the filling of a niche that wants to be
filled.
But I think that the most important missing ingredient is the sense
of audience participation & involvement that is a key ingredient
in all great radio stations. In my opinion, that's missing from
most broadcast radio as well. There's just not much to get excited
about & involved with on the FM dial these days for most radio listeners
-- especially those over 30 or so. And I believe that that
is what potential net radio listeners are hungry enough for to make
them put up with the hassle & inconvenience of listening to net
radio as opposed to broadcast stations.
I'm an "adult alternative" type of guy - but I find absolutely nothing
to excite me about (for instance) NetRadio's "Adult Alternative"
channel. (I'm not singling them out, really -- though they did kind
of throw down the gauntlet... What I say about them could apply
to any other channel I've heard in that genre). There's no personality,
no sense of flow, no thematics, and only a very rudimentary and
emotionally flat form of interactivity.
If I had the sense that there was a real live person behind what
I'm listening to -- who talked to me, responded directly to my emails
or postings, surprised me with their musical choices or other program
content, and whose opinions & musical taste I came to trust & value
-- I might be interested. Interested enough to put up with stream
interruptions, limited sound quality, and the need to tie up my
computer & bandwidth resources in order to listen. If not, it's
just too easy to slip a CD into the player or settle for a broadcast
station.
In order for Internet radio to be a success it needs to out-perform
broadcast radio in terms of really connecting with its audience
and generating excitement and passion about its programming. Instead
most people I talk to in the net radio game seem to think that "no
talk" and personalized playlists are as compelling as they need
to get. I talked to the CEO of a major net radio company last week
and he said that making improvements as rudimentary as tempo & texture
flow and the ability to segue songs together was just "too much
trouble". With that kind of attitude at the top, it doesn't matter
how many "professional programmers" you hire. You'll still end up
with a bland, boring string of songs thrown together at random.
And I know that the audience is looking for something more
than that.
Where do I see glimmerings of light? There are a number of Shoutcast
stations -- mostly various flavors of the techno/trance genre --
that are attracting substantial audiences (at least by net radio
standards) by doing exactly what I've been talking about: using
skilled pros (mostly club DJs) to generate smoothly flowing, thoughtful
programming that really connects with their audience on an emotional
level. And it seems to be working. I'd be very suprised, for instance,
if any of NetRadio's techno channels have listening levels that
even approach those of Tag's Trance Trip, Afternoon Nap, or some
of the other top Shoutcast stations.
If the "pros" and "big players" aren't careful, these garage stations
might do an end-run right around them.
That's my $0.02, anyway.
|
"The
Internet is a new frontier...
"
-- Aurora Cantu, Broadcast Manager, eWave
Networks
|
February
24 , 2000 5:52:05 PM
|
In terms of Internet radio only "sucking" as Mr. Bellin so professionally
puts it, I disagree. The internet is a new frontier. With the broadcast
business in consolidation, it opens up a new realm for radio professionals
to go look for new jobs and use ideas that may not be accepted for
on-air use in "terrestrial" radio.
Radio taught it's listeners to tune out by rotating the same music
over and over and over and creating illusions of commercial free music
sweeps by backloading ten spots in a stopset at the end of the hour.
With internet broadcasting, niche formats can be created for niche
groups and chat rooms and rings can be created around them to discuss
their music interests.
Most stations don't have a forum for listeners other than special
request shows. If stations play what their listeners want to hear,
then why don't program directors and music directors take a day to
field phone calls from listeners and talk to them directly.
Also, one of the concerns of broadcasting is creating new listeners.
Apparently the younger generation doesn't embrace the radio as their
primary medium for music information. With the interest in MP3's and
transporting of audio files through the internet, how will radio continue
to market to this younger generation if the sequence of music doesn't
appeal to them and they can create their own broadcast streams with
all the new software available?
|
"People
turn to Internet radio in droves because it offers something
different ..."
--
Barry Scott, DiscJockey.com
|
February
24 , 2000 11:45:59 AM
|
Sorry to disagree...but
internet radio should not be programmed exactly like terrestrial (re:
old) radio stations. Listeners are bored and fed up with the same
songs over and over and that's the only diet terrestrial radio has
to offer. People turn to internet radio in droves because it offers
them something different, less commercials and a chance to hear a
wider variety of songs.
Unless terrestrial radio wakes up a bit (and I think they've been
sleeping too long by now), they will become even more of a dinasour
than they are currently.
Add your
opinions here.
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