From Edison Media Research's Infinite Dial blog: "A few days ago we commented on this site about the first Jack-FM in the UK, and how its stream comes up immediately when one launches the site. [Alas, the Jack stream won't work for Americans — the stream is blocked from American IP addresses].

"This has led to a lively discussion among many of our radio friends — why do we support this practice?

"First — let me discuss the most common reasons I hear about why it should not be done:

"1. People tell us they get annoyed when unasked-for audio pops up on a web site: This may be true in certain situations... But our research has shown that by far the biggest reason people go to a radio station is to listen to your station. Why are we making that act any more difficult on the Internet than it is on a radio? It seems hard to believe that many people who venture to your site would be surprised or angered by hearing audio...

"2. It is expensive: Fair enough. You have to pay to serve each of those streams. But otherwise you are sacrificing potential listenership? Which is more 'expensive' in the long run?

"3. Your stream should not be served unless people sign up for your 'frequent listener club': ...The stream should be one thing, the benefits of joining a 'VIP Club' another. I should not have to give you my social security number or have to submit other information for the privelege of listening to the stream. The stream should be perceived as no different from the over-the-air signal. Isn't the goal of radio to get people to listen to it?"

Read the entire post at the Infinite Dial blog.

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From Mark Ramsey's Hear 2.0 blog: "Last week Apple's Steve Jobs announced that a software development kit will be made available for the  WiFi-enabled iPod Touch (and iPhone) next February.

"What this means is that developers will be able to build third-party applications designed for the iPod...

"And I have no doubt that very high on the list of priorities will be to empower the new iPods to provide radio via streaming.

"So the good news is that radio will once again become portable in 2008...

"If anyone has an edge here, what do you want to bet it's the streaming stations already indexed on iTunes?"

Read the entire article at the Hear 2.0 blog.

From Digital Media Wire: "Universal Music Group will begin offering singles on USB memory sticks later this month in the U.K., which will be priced at  about $10.14 each and initially include offerings from artists such as Keane and Nicole, lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, the Times Online reported.

"'This is aimed at the younger, 12 to 24 year olds, who no longer believe that the CD is as cool as it used to be,' Brian Rose, the commercial director for Universal UK, told the Times Online...

"[T]he format was recently approved for inclusion on U.K. sales charts by the Official U.K. Charts Company."

Read the entire article at Digital Media Wire .

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