Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Smartphone Growth Is A Wakeup Call For Radio...

The radio stations that are taking advantage of the smartphone explosion are ahead of, or at least equal to, the curve of smartphone usage in this country. A new report from Nielsen indicates that smartphones will eclipse regular cell phones by the end of 2011. The numbers are eye-popping. The share of smartphones as a proportion of overall device sales have increased to 29% in the last six months. Forty-five percent of those surveyed indicate their next device will be a smartphone. Nielsen is calling this "the beginning of a groundswell"...

"We are just at the beginning of a new wireless era where smartphones will become the standard device for consumers." That's what Nielsen wrote in a new report. Oh, by the way, the percentage of smartphone users who use their device for phone calls is about 3%. Since smartphones have better speakers than cellphones, two-thirds of callers use their speaker option, as you've probably discovered by now. Better speakers mean more Wi-Fi usage. Are you listening, radio???

If I were programming a radio station, I would have my station on every ap and device available to mankind. Think of it as a Wi-Fi version of transistor radios. You remember those things don't you? They're back. They're now called smartphones...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1867] North to Alaska: The U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. The deal will be known as "Seward's Folly" after Secretary of State William H. Seward who brokered the deal for the U.S. When Sarah Palin is born, Seward is forgiven...
2.1909] Feelin' Groovy: The Queensboro Bridge aka the 59th Street Bridge, linking Manhattan and Queens opens to traffic, becoming the first double-tiered bridge...
3.1966] Back to work: Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale end a 32-day double holdout and sign with the L.A. Dodgers for equal $135,000 salaries. A bucket of balls and a fungo bat costs more than that today...
4.1967] Pass the pepper: The cover picture of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" LP is shot at Michael Cooper's photo studio in Cheslea, England...
5.1981] 'Honey, I forgot to duck': President Ronald Reagan is shot by John Hinckley. Reagan will make a complete recovery as will D.C. police officer Thomas Delahaney, also shot. Press secretary James Brady is not as lucky. Brady is left with permanent brain damage from his gunshot wound to the head. The 'Brady Law' will be passed in his name...
6.1986] "Happy Trails": Legendary actor James Cagney dies from a heart attack at 86...2002] Queen Mother Elizabeth of England dies of natural causes at 101...
7.1987] This guy's smart: Keith Smart pops a 17-foot jumper from the corner with 4 seconds left to give Indiana a 74-73 win over Syracuse as the Hoosiers celebrate their 3rd NCAA title under coach Bobby Knight...
8.1992] Musical call letters: WNSR (105.1) changes call letters to WMXV (The Mix) in New York. Today, Power 105 occupies that frequency...
9.1993] Touch 'em all Charlie: Charlie Brown hits his 1st home run in the Peanuts comic strip...
10.1999] Blood money: A jury in Portland (OR) orders Philip Morris to pay $81 million to the family of a man who died of lung cancer after smoking Marlboros for 4 decades...


Music Memories:

1989] O Solo Mio: Gladys Knight performs solo for the 1st time since her grammar school days. She sings 'Pip-less' during a Las Vegas date. Gladys says the Pips could be the "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me".

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Norah Jones (31), Celine Dion (42), Tracy Chapman (46), MC Hammer (48), Paul Reiser (53), Eric Clapton (65), Warren Beatty (73), Rolf Harris (80), John Astin (80), Richard Dysart (81) and Peter Marshall (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Easter, 6 days until Opening Day (Red Sox & Yankees from Fenway), 41 days until Mother's Day & 62 days until Memorial Day...