Enjoy great online radio at AccuRadio

BROADCASTERS VIE FOR MOBILE STREAMING EARS: Traditional broadcasters like Greater Media, CBS Radio, and Entercom are starting to chase mobile listeners — especially those using the Apple iPhone. Both CBS Radio and Entercom stream their stations to the device, with Greater Media providing a few stations and planning to expand to BlackBerry devices soon. “Radio has lost a lot of its portability gift…We need to make ourselves available on as many wireless devices as possible as a way to plant the flag and not lose any more portability function,” said Greater Media senior VP/GM Tom Bender. “[The real goal is to] service the core customers of the radio stations in new and different ways. If we don’t get across to them that we understand what their demands are and what their lifestyle is like, they’ll find somebody that does. It’s really that simple.” For more on traditional broadcasters’ expansion to mobile platforms, read R&R’s coverage here.

UK’S VIRGIN NOW “ABSOLUTE RADIO”: Virgin Radio’s £53 million sale to Indian conglomerate TIML did not include the Virgin brand-name, which Sir Richard Branson retained (possibly intending to relaunch Virgin Radio either in the UK or in North America; RAIN coverage here and here). The Virgin Radio UK offerings have thus been renamed after TIML’s UK radio partner, “Absolute Radio.” The new operator reportedly plans to build a national brand around Absolute Radio while also pushing it internationally. For more, read Tom Taylor’s coverage here.

PODCASTING CAN MAKE MONEY, SAYS PODCAST “VISIONARY”: Vice President of Edison Media Research Tom Webster (pictured), previewing his NAB Radio show panel, spoke with IndieFeed’s Chris MacDonald to show traditional broadcasters that podcasts can be monetized successfully. “Downloadable media affords new audio consumption habits that are more personal and intimate, and therefore create very compelling brand and monetization opportunities,” said MacDonald, “Consumers who self-select downloadable media are willing to accept different types of marketing messages. You don’t need to ‘yell’ at them…In this sense many ad units used in terrestrial radio may need to be reworked, but with the upside of better yields.” Read the full interview at The Infinite Dial here.

AD SOLUTIONS PROVIDERS STILL SAY REVENUES CAN CARRY NET RADIO THROUGH ROYALTY CRISIS: E-Commerce proposes that mobile Internet radio applications and highly-specific advertising could carry the industry through the royalty crisis. Ad solutions vendors like TargetSpot are naturally optimistic as well: chief executive officer Doug Perlson states, “I think the growth induced by the iPhone will make the labels more willing to accommodate reductions in royalties.” But webcasters and SaveNetRadio are more wary. “They won’t survive; that’s the short answer,” said Jake Ward of SaveNetRadio, “A lot of these stations won’t make it under the current royalty system.” E-Commerce notes that the wait for mobile apps to substantially aid Internet radio may be “painful,” but with the royalty rates where they are, it may be downright deadly. Read the full article here.

Comment

Commenting is closed for this article.

Other stories
RAIN has upgraded (and moved)!
RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today!
RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow
RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year
RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on
RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week
RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora
RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio
RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings
RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago