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| Which
vendors are still active
in the Internet radio space? Our new "RAIN Vendor
Guide" will reveal the companies that have at
least a limited marketing budget and want your business
in 2002! |
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| These
firms are "IN!" (more coming...) |
| Ad
insertion |
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| Aggregators/portals |
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| Audio
processing |
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| Automation
systems |
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Custom
music
channels |
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| E-commerce
partners |
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| E-mail
management |
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| Internet
radio devices |
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| NTR
opportunities |
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| Production
elements |
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| Promotion
(music) |
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| Research
& ratings |
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| Streaming |
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| Website
design |
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Vendors:
To add your firm, call RAIN
today at 1-312-527-3879 or e-mail us here.
Whether or not it is a true sign of a turnaround in our industry,
we'll take it!
The hardships faced by many in Internet radio, the economy
in general, the holiday season, and the events of September 11 all
contributed to a "hibernation" of sorts in our field. There
was simply much less "happening" than ever before.
But with the launch of XM Satellite Radio (and Sirius' upcoming
launch), efforts by non-commercial webcasters to get special consideration
under the DMCA, the upcoming CARP decision on webcasting royalties,
and our own launch of our RAIN Radio enhancements, the amount
of activity seems to be picking up significantly in the new year.
And this trend is reflected in the amount of feedback we've received
over the past week or so.
Thus, today is a special RAIN "Reader Feedback
Monday." Enjoy, and as always, if you have a comment to share,
please use the "Send a quick message" form below.
Thanks to everyone who
shared their thoughts on our latest incarnation of RAIN Radio
(announced in RAIN here).
Here is just a sampling of the feedback we received...
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"Really
engaging and terrific..."
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Wanted to give all your stations a listen but I haven't left
[Swingin' Pop Standards]. I have been listening for the past 3 hours.
It's great. I never would have believed that I would like it. It's
really engaging and terrific to listen to.
I guess I have crossed over to my parents demographic without
knowing it until now.
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"There
are enough fans...to support the channels..."
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Thanks!
There are enough fans of Indie rock, electronica, and British/Brit-influenced
rock and pop out there to support the channels you program! Please
continue programming the latest sounds (there are so many sub-genres
within that particular niche)!
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"That
excludes us poor Linux and HP-UX users..."
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 It's
a shame that you use a proprietary format for RAIN Radio.
That excludes us poor Linux and HP-UX users.
Why not use something like MP3, or better Ogg Vorbis?
BTW, BBC tests OGG streams currently at http://support.bbc.co.uk/ogg/
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"I
have been wanting to do a blues streaming channel..."
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 Congratulations
on the launch of RAIN streaming. I must admit to a bit
of jealousy. I have been wanting to do a blues streaming channel since
early Internet days, but the project never made it past the late night
"wouldn't that be fun" stage. Congrats!
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Larry Bruce
dmg Radio Australia |
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"An
attempt to run a radio business?.."
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Were the Rain Radio channels developed as an experiment in
just radio programming, or an attempt to run
a radio...business? If you looked at each channel as a separate business,
what would be your plan?
Many Internet radio initiatives have failed because they have
ignored the business strategies of targeting audience, serving them,
and advertising to them. Just curious about your thoughts.
Congratulations on your efforts and ideas. Keep up the good
work.
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Harry Nelson, President
Harry Nelson Communications |
| Editor's reply: "Thanks, Harry! RAIN Radio
was originally conceived simply as a learning experiment for
editorial purposes, but it's working out well enough that we
plan on experimenting with marketing approaches and establishing
affiliate relationships as the next step in its development.
So in a sense, the answer to your question is "Both!"
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And more feedback on other topics...
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"How
does conceding to the RIAA benefit the public?.."
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Thanks for running the story [in RAIN here]
concerning the problems faced by Educational and Community broadcasters.
For all interested, http://www.rice.edu/cb/sos
is the address to save the streams of these stations.
One of the interesting aspects of your story is the inclusion
of Jonathan Potter...If Dima and Mr. Potter want to proclaim that
they have acted in PUBLIC'S best interests, they should think again!
How does conceding to the RIAA benefit the public? How does ignoring
the concerns of Educational and Community broadcasters benefit the
public? How does forcing stations off the Internet benefit the public?
If you take the time to read the position paper at http://www.rice.edu/cb/sos,
you will realize that we are only requesting what is due to us under
precedent, not a gift or a free ride.
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Will Robedee,
Rice University |
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"Place
his energies on changing the DMCA..."
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...The destruction created by a letters published in RAIN
[here, coverage
here] and elsewhere
by Rob Johnson, the  general
manager of KTOZ-AM in Springfield, Missouri...
The charges made against BMI are not new...The problem here
is timing. According to Representative Rick Boucher's web site [here],
part of HR2724 would allow the money collected from webcasters to
be paid directly to musicians' unions instead of automatically being
turned over to the RIAA.
In other words, for HR2724 to have a chance of passing, support
from artists and musicians is needed, and this clause appears to guarantee
their support. Mr. Johnson's two letters on the BMI subject may well
have the effect of moving BMI and other artists' unions away from
supporting the Boucher-Cannon bill.
The letter to Hilary Rosen is even worse...The argument about
broadcasters paying additional fees to the RIAA to stream online is
over -- at least until changes are made to the DMCA. The "big boys"
(led by Cumulus, if I remember correctly) took this issue to court
and lost in district court and on appeal...I strongly suggest that
Mr. Johnson place his energies on changing the DMCA to allow broadcasters
and webcasters to have an easier time than playing the blame game.
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"I'm
excited to listen to the radio again..."
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As a radio professional for 19 years and a subscriber to XM
since October of 2001, I agree on some of your thoughts about XM,
many I don't. Listening to it everyday including a Thanksgiving road
trip
that lasted 45 hours and over 2500 miles, I've spent more than the
average amount of time with the system...
As for too many wrong formats...as a 38 year-old, I like the
diversity. Many people would say I am the exception because of my
music tastes. But I say, look at people's personal CD/record/cassette/8
track collections, and 8 times out 10 you'll see everything from country
to Korn...especially people my age who weren't exposed to Top 40 and
that was it...
As for narrowing the formats down -- that's exactly what they
shouldn't do. Just think if the cable and satellite stations offered
up the same fare as free TV: boring. I listened to "Fred"
(we'll talk more) for almost 45 hours straight and only heard one
song repeated...In the era of 162 song formats, what a breath of fresh
air! Besides, if you want the hits, they have that...
I agree that being local helps radio thrive in its own market.
However, when you have the Clear Channels of the world having one
jock voicetrack 13-plus markets, how local are
they?
I agree about the commercials as well -- but I don't feel subscribers
will pay the bills. You're going to need commercials to be profitable.
Let's hope management doesn't get greedy.
It's not just for the car. I specifically bought the Sony unit
so I could go from car to home and pay for only one box. It works
great...
Weak spots for me: Weak production values between the songs,
and the lack of aggressive marketing of the product to the consumer...
I'm excited to listen to the radio again. Lately, every time
I get in the car I listen to a new station.
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Richard Murphy, Production
Director
KDJM-FM/Denver |
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Update...
From Telecom: "Sharman Networks Limited, a privately
held company, has purchased certain assets of KaZaA BV, including
the popular consumer site KaZaA.com,
distributor of KaZaA Media Desktop software. KaZaA BV is
the Netherlands-based software and products company that founded
KaZaA.com. The transaction was announced by Sharman CEO Nikki Hemming...
"Included in Sharman's purchase of assets are the license
for the FastTrack P2P Stack, the KaZaA.com Web site, name, and logos...
"KaZaA BV will continue to operate its remaining assets.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed."
Read the piece in here.
In November, KaZaA was ordered by a Dutch court to block
illegal file-trading or shut down (in RAIN here).
It had appeared the company was ignoring the court mandate until
last week's suspension of software downloads.
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Inside Radio is reporting today that an unidentified individual
or group has co-opted Crawford Broadcastings' Chicago Urban outlet
WPWX's call letters and published a racially insensitive
website -- including an obscenity- and epithet-filled site guestbook.
The station itself does not yet seem to have an official website (and
apparently, neither does Crawford Broadcasting).
Inside Radio reminds readers that "WPWX-FM just turned
in number one ratings in their target demographics in the latest Arbitron,
beating competitor Clear Channel’s Urban WGCI-FM in less than one
book."
See the story in Inside Radio here.
Seems like we need the Martin Luther King observance now as much as
ever.
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| Feb. 7-10, 2002 |
RAB
2002: Orlando, FL |
| Feb. 20-24, 2002 |
Gavin
Seminar: San Francisco, CA |
| Feb. 21-23, 2002 |
R&R
Talk Radio Seminar: Washington, DC |
| Mar. 1-3, 2002 |
ConXis:
Conference and Expo for Internet Streaming: Rosemont,
IL |
| Mar. 14, 2002 |
16th
Annual Bayliss Radio Roast: New York, NY |
| Apr. 5-8, 2002 |
Broadcast
Education Association 2002: Las Vegas, NV |
| Apr. 6-11, 2002 |
NAB
2002: Las Vegas, NV |
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