INFINITE DIAL REPORT: THE NET RADIO/SOCIAL NETWORK CONNECTION The full Infinite Dial 2008 report is due out next month, and a “first look” estimates that 33 million Americans age 12 or older listen to a radio station over the Internet during an average week – up from 29 million listeners one year ago. According to the study, which will be released by Arbitron and Edison Media Research, “there is also a strong connection between online radio listening and social networking sites according to the study.” The full study is expected to report extensively on online radio/social network connections, but one item in the preview says that “nearly two-thirds (63%) of online radio listeners have a profile” on sites like MySpace, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Read RAIN coverage of previous Infinite Dial reports here. and here.

HERE ARE THE MAIN POINTS OF THE RECENT WEBCAST APPEAL BRIEFS Industry attorney David Oxenford has laid out some of the main points of the webcasters’ and broadcasters’ appeals briefings that were filed within the last week and mentioned in coverage such as the recent Boston Globe article (see RAIN here). There were four briefs filed: a combined brief from large and small commercial webcasters (DiMA members plus Accuradio, Radioio, Digitally Imported Radio and Radio Paradise); one from commercial broadcasters (Bonneville, the NAB, and the National Religious Broadcasters Association); one from a collection of non-commercial broadcasters (college radio, NPR, and non-comm religious broadcasters); and a brief from Royalty Logic, a SoundExchange competitor. Oxenford boils down appellants’ claims as: (1) CRB failed to consider a flat-fee option, (2) CRB did not adopt a flat-fee for non-comms, even though SoundExchange and NPR had negotiated one, (3) CRB held that small commercial webcasters weren’t really concerned about a “percentage of revenue” option, (4) the $500 minimum fee is arbitrary, (5) the use of on-demand service agreements as a basis for the non-interactive webcast royalty determination, and (6) CRB decided it couldn’t craft a compromise decision but had to pick one side as “the winner” and adopt its plan. Oxenford explains the briefs will be answered by the Department of Justice (which defends the CRB) and SoundExchange. The process will continue for several months, followed by oral arguments which may not take place until fall. It’s very possible there will not be a final appeal decision until 2009. Read David Oxenford’s post in the BroadcastLawBlog here.

EA EXEC: ‘WE’RE WHERE THE KIDS ARE, NOT RADIO’ “It’s just a new way of going to where kids are, versus where they’re not – like radio… I want someone to hear a song in a game that they’ll hear on the radio two years from now. We want to be ahead of the curve.” That’s Steve Schnur, a music and marketing exec at video game publisher Electronic Arts, on a South By Southwest panel last week. More than radio these days, gaming is now providing a “solid promotional platform,” writes Paul Resnikoff at Digital Music News, ideal for “a younger demographic with larger amounts of free time.” There’s more in Digital Music News here.

VOIP PHONE DOUBLES AS INTERNET RADIO DEVICE The new Thomson Symbio VOIP phone not only sports an interesting visual design, it’s a full-feature Internet radio device. According to the manufacturer, for its Net radio features, the Symbio comes with stereo speakers, stations directory with listings by location and genre, station memory and presets, and a display for artist/song info. Like so many of these new products we hear about, we don’t yet know if or when this item will appear in the U.S., nor a suggested price.

TAZMEDIA CONFERENCE DATES The TazMedia WebCamp for Managers workshop is taking place April 25-27 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 2 1/2 day workshop reviews case studies of stations already realizing significant revenue and the methods that got them there. Guest experts in the field will be on hand presenting recent innovations in Radio/Web selling. One of the workshop’s stated goals is to educate management about these innovations and encourage them to put them to use at their own stations.

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