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RAIN SITE OF THE WEEK: NORFOLK FM PLAYS ONLY LISTENER-SUBMITTED PLAYLISTS: 100.5 Max-FM (WXMM-FM) Norfolk-VA Beach has launched a new programming strategy which lets listeners pick the tunes, hoping to perhaps mimic the customization of online radio.Rather than request a single song, listeners head online and choose a list of songs from the station’s database to create an up to 20-track playlist, which then may be played in its entirety by the station on-air. While the stations’ alternative rock database is lacking in some areas — hosting just one track from some artists and only the well-known singles from most others — adding and ordering tracks is easy through a simple column-based interface. Users can manage their previous playlists and create as many as they want, but no feedback comes after submission as to when a playlist will be aired. Are the playlists played in order of submission, or is there still someone at MAX-FM’s end picking and choosing? In any case, our RAIN playlist (including the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Cherub Rock” and Led Zeppelin’s “Misty Mountain Hop”) hadn’t aired by the time of publication. The system is currently in Beta, and 100.5 MAX-FM hopes to implement playlist commenting and voting, as well as music sampling and purchasing soon. — MS

RAIN Analysis: While the idea of “all-request” radio is compelling, using FM as the distribution method seems problematic. After all, their site says, “100.5 MAX-FM serves well over 100,000 weekly listeners,” but at, say, 90 min. per 20-song playlist, MAX-FM only has enough time to play 112 playlists per week! This leaves 99,888 listeners with a non-interactive, traditional FM. (Although it’s great show-biz!) — KH

AOL RADIO OKAY, BUT CNET BLOGGER PINES FOR PANDORA ON iPHONE: In the wake of application developments that bring AOL Radio and even XM Satellite radio to the iPhone (RAIN coverage here and here), CNET blogger Donald Bell can’t help but wish for Pandora and other net radio streams as well. “The thought of listening to terrestrial and AOL online stations doesn’t exactly get my blood pumping. The larger story here is that Apple and AT&T have shown a willingness to integrate streaming media into the iPhone, opening a door for streaming audio services such as Pandora, Last.fm, Muxtape, and others.” Bell doesn’t expect net radio on his iPhone immediately, but does envision a future where even the iPod Touch would feature streaming audio. Read his full blog post here.

EBAY SHUTS DOWN ITS ONLINE MEDIA MARKETPLACE: According to reports, eBay is abandoning its Media Marketplace, where TV and radio ad could be bought and sold online. The service began last year. EBay will continue to work with Bid4Spots on a separate, but similar service solely designed for radio. The Media Marketplace never got the support it sought from the cable and broadcast television networks. Get more details from CNet here.

FCC CHAIR SUPPORTS XM-SIRIUS MERGER: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin voiced support of the merger of satellite radio companies XM and Sirius on Sunday, reports the Washington Post. Martin’s decision moves the merger further towards approval, which requires three of the four FCC commissioners’ support. Martin decided to support the merger after XM and Sirius agreed to “voluntary commitments” that would avoid adverse monopolistic results. The companies agreed on a programming price-cap, broadcasting content to satellite radio receivers made by any radio-device manufacturer, and setting aside 4% of their spectrum for educational and public safety programming among other commitments. Martin is expected this week to order the commission to vote on the merger. The Washington Post reports that it is “unclear how the other commissioners would vote.” The satellite radio companies would need two other commissioners’ support in addition to Martin. Read more here.

FORMER AOL-er EDSON HEADS TO INTERNET BROADCASTING: Former AOL exec Luke Edson has taken the Chief Revenue Officer post at Internet Broadcasting. The company calls itself “the leading local Internet solution provider for broadcast publishers and local advertisers.” Edson will oversee national advertising sales, business development, revenue strategy and ad systems. He’ll be based in New York. A press release is here.

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