CC TARGETS YOUNGER DEMOS WITH ONLINE MUSIC PORTAL/SOCIAL NETWORK: Clear Channel has launched an online music service and social network called eRockster, targeted to 13-34-year-olds. The service was actually introduced over the weekend at the California rock festival Coachella by the actor Eric Szmanda (from the CBS show “CSI”), who is credited as “producer and inspiration” for the service. Beginning May 2, eRockster will reportedly be made available from Clear Channel station sites including KYSR-FM/Los Angeles, WWDC-FM/Washington, D.C. and WRFF-FM/Philadelphia. ERockster content may also be ported to HD2 side channels and as an on-the-air syndicated show. “We want to be be playing everything from indie rock to hip-hop to classic rock to soul to dance rock,” Szmanda explained in a press statement.

HERE ARE XM’S, SIRIUS’S TOP 10 CHANNELS: Tom Taylor, in his Radio-Info newsletter, used the recently-released listening measurements for Sirius and XM satellite radio to compile “Top Ten” channel lists, based on weekly cume, for each service.

At Sirius:

1. Howard Stern’s “Howard 100”: 1,200,000
2. “Hits 1” (CHR): 584,800
3. “Howard 101” (description here): 501,100
4. “New Country”: 468,300
5. “Big 80s”: 417,900
6. “Octane” (hard rock): 383,700
7. “Classic Vinyl” (early classic rock): 347,100
8. “Classic Rewind” (later classic rock): 335,500
9. “The Pulse” (90s and contemporary hits): 330,000
10. “Totally 70s”: 309,400

At XM:

1. “Top 20 on 20” (CHR): 1,049,200
2. “Flight 26” (modern AC): 741,600
3. “80s on 8”: 698,300
4. “70s on 7”: 687,400
5. “60s on 6”: 581,300
6. “Highway 16” (new country): 579,500
7. “Top Tracks” (classic rock): 534,900
8. “The Blend” (Lite pop hits): 532,400
9. “The Heart” (love songs): 493,400
10. “Fox News” (news/talk): 464,800

CONSUMERS WANT MUSIC, NOT SUBSCRIPTIONS: Music subscriptions services aren’t catching on with consumers, according to figures released by the RIAA. Subscriptions to services like Rhapsody and Napster grew from 1.7 million subscribers in 2006 to just 1.8 million in 2007 — an increase well under 1%. Revenues actually fell 2.6% over this same time span (from $206.2 million to $200.9 million). As Digital Music News reports, there are fewer companies competing in the space. Rhapsody has taken over MTV’s Urge, and RealNetworks (Rhapsody’s parent) is assuming control of Yahoo Music.

KSL MEDIA TO LAUNCH ONLINE BARTER SERVICE: Independent media services agency KSL Media is launching an online barter service that will allow ad buyers to exchange excess consumer goods for ad avails. The new service will be called eWorld Asset Trading. KSL Media is based in New York and buys media for Bacardi USA, NBC Television, and Calloway Golf, according to an article in MediaPost here.

Comment

1. Why do you say consumers want “music, not subscriptions”? The fact is that consumers want music they don’t have to pay for as long as they can get away with it. I have resolved not to steal music. Once one makes this decision, subscription music becomes the best option if you listen to more than the same 100 songs over and over. P2P is destroying the music business and it will ultimately destroy the creativity as well. It is illegal for a reason — the creators and investors who made it possible deserve a return on their work and investment. Wake up.

   — wyly · Apr 29, 03:14 PM · #

2. Curious…from a brief looking-over of the eRockster site, it almost looks like Clear Channel has resurrected the same site framework they obtained when they bought out Enigma Digital back in 2001.

   Well, “waste not, want not”, I guess…

   — Art Marriott · Apr 30, 05:57 PM · #

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