A new poll conducted by Inside Radio offers evidence that terrestrial radio needs to customize its website programming. One respondent says "Digital media as it moves forward is all about the user being able to customize and control the content. Without the ability to customize, online radio will just be a red-headed stepchild to Pandora and others." Another person says "Radio has great brands and needs to get out ahead of the competition on this." There were others that agree, like this respondent: As long as it's cost effective, why not. We do need to get ahead of the tech curve and stop being the 'me too bunch'." Not everyone agrees with those wanting personalization: "We have hundreds of TV choices available, but just watch a handful of channels - same with radio. Listeners listen for a presentation, not to do the work themselves." Another respondent agrees: "Most listeners prefer to just listen rather than getting involved with the programming of their music - playing their CD or MP3 player is their choice if they choose to play specific songs." ...
Six-in-ten (60%) polled say terrestrial operators need to make the investment and offer personalized webcasts to stay competitive. There are those though that believe that radio should offer it's own content: "Programmers need the guts to stand behind their programming concepts and the courage to set trends, not follow them." Others say it will make radio sound just like an internet jukebox: "Radio is about relating with the audience via great music and brilliant personalities. Anyone can program an iPod or Pandora to just play music. Radio is interactive." ...
I tend to agree with the latter comments. In my view, it's way too late to out-Pandora Pandora and if all people want to hear is music, won't they just get an MP3 or iPod? Can terrestrial radio offer a better product? You bet, but the answer is not to imitate but to innovate. It's been a long time since radio has done that but you still have to go with what brought you here - just do it better...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1947] Rookie Number One: Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson is named the first 'Rookie of The Year' (9/17)...
2.1960] Fidel visits the Apple: Fidel Castro stays at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem where he meets with Malcolm X. He also makes TV appearances and is generally treated like the hero he wasn't (9/18)...
3.1966] Premiered on this date: "Mission: Impossible", which will enjoy a phenomenal run until 1990 (9/17)...1972] "M*A*S*H", which airs for 11 seasons, ending in 1983 as a 2 1/2 hour special viewed by the largest TV audience to ever watch a single program (9/17). That record wasn't broken until the 2010 Super Bowl...
4.1969] No tip-toeing around: Tiny Tim announces his engagement to "Miss Vicki" on the "Tonight Show With Johnny Carson." Johnny invites the lovely couple to get married on his show, which they will do in December (9/18)...
5.1975] "Happy Trails": Jimi Hendrix dies of a drug overdose at 27 (9/18)...
6.1975] Gotcha: Patty Hearst is captured in San Mateo (CA) (9/18). She will be convicted and sentenced to 7 years in prison for her role in SLA crimes. Jimmy Carter will commute the sentence and she only serves 22-months...
7.1977] Captain Courageous: Ted Turner captains the Courageous to victory, sweeping Australia in the 24th 'America's Cup' in Newport (RI). Twenty years later on this same date (1997) Turner announces that he will donate $1 billion to the U.N. over the next 10 years (9/18)...
8.1994] There she is. Walking on air she is: Heather Whitestone, Miss Alabama becomes the first deaf Miss America (9/17)...
9.2003] AO-What?: Time Warner drops the "AOL" from its name. The merged company becomes Time Warner Inc. The company started including 'AOL' in 2000 (9/19)...
10.2004] The 700 Club: Barry Bonds hits his 700th home run for the Giants, joining Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only 700 home run hitters (9/17)...
Music Memories:
- 1964] Released on this date: "Baby Love" - Supremes (9/17)...1976] "More Than A Feeling" - Boston (9/18)...1978] "Living in The U.S.A." - Linda Ronstadt (9/19)...2002] "A Moment Like This" - Kelly Clarkson (9/17)...
- 1968] Gold Standard: "Born To Be Wild" - Steppenwolf (9/19)...1974] "Bad Company" LP (9/19)...
- 1977] Number One on this date: "Rumours" LP - Fleetwood Mac. This was the 19th of 31 weeks on top of the charts (9/17)...
Timeline Countdown: Yom Kippur arrives at sundown tonight, 6 days until autumn arrives, 19 days until the MLB playoffs begin, 41 days until the World Series begins & 44 nights until Halloween...
