Thursday, February 10, 2011

Radio And Social Media - A Two-Way Street...

Now that social media has radio's undivided attention and support, there is some concern over who benefits more - radio or Facebook? Why it should matter is beyond me but the headlines pose the question, nevertheless. What the advent of social media has done in just a short period of time is give everyone a voice - an opinion. "The advent of social media (and online publishing) has dramatically highlighted the importance of understanding the mechanics of the two-way conversation between a brand and the consumer," Chris Moerdyk, head of strategic planning and public affairs for BMW South Africa tells Biz Community. Moerdyk adds "because virtually every marketing communications medium, consisted of a one-way conversation, not many strategists and copywriters worried too much about consumer response - simply because there wasn't any." Whether it's an ad or just ordinary radio content, that one-way conversation has been "socialized" into a two-way conversation...

"It doesn't matter whether it is Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Radio, TV or print advertisements. Quite simply, consumers have now got so used to responding to messages that no longer do they simply accept an advertising message, commercial SMS (short message service), or tweet, for example, but subconsciously reply without possibly even realising that they are replying. Talking back has become a consumer imperative. What happens, in effect, is that the basics of human communication are now major influencing factors in marketing" says Moerdyk. He adds, "In every conversation there are keywords that act as triggers. And when these triggers are activated in the mind of the consumer, the conversation stops right there and a reaction takes place." ...

To put it in simple terms, the influence of social media has changed the ground rules. To paraphrase Marshall McLuhan, the medium is now a two-way message. Get used to it...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1870] Not celebrated in song: The YWCA is founded in New York City. I always thought there should’ve been an answer hit to the Village People’s “YMCA” by a group called the Village Girls and titled “YWCA“…
2.1897] The Gray Lady: The New York Times begins printing the slogan, “All the News That’s Fit to Print”, upper-left, front page. 114-years later it’s still there…
3.1933] Hmmmmmm: The singing telegram is introduced by the Postal Telegram Company of New York City. Roughly 53 trillion terrible birthday songs will follow...
4.1942] That sinking feeling: The Normandie, the former French liner capsizes in New York Harbor after catching fire while being fitted for the U.S. Navy the day before…
5.1968] Ice queens: Peggy Fleming wins a gold medal in women’s figure skating at the Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France…1992] Bonnie Blair wins gold in 500-meter speed skating at Albertville, France becoming the first woman to win gold medals in consecutive Winter Olympics…
6.1981] Death in the casino: Fire breaks out at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino, killing 8 and injuring 198…
7.1992] “Happy Trails“: “Roots” author Alex Haley dies of a heart attack at 70…2005] Playwright Arthur Miller succumbs to heart failure at 89…2008] Veteran actor Roy (”Jaws”) Scheider dies from a staph infection at 75. Scheider had previously been treated for multiple myeloma…
8.1992] Guilty as charged: Mike Tyson is convicted in Indianapolis of raping a Miss Black America contestant...
9.2005] The arms race: North Korea publicly announces for the first time that it has nuclear arms…
10.2007] Vote for me: Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill) announces his bid for president…

Music Memories:

Events: The Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar/Retreat will take place March 18 - 20, 2011 at Jim Oliver's Smoke House, 850 West Main Street, Monteagle (TN). Registration is $150 per person. Additional information is available on Facebook. You can search "Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar"...

Book It: Bill Young, Director of Programming for the legendary KILT AM/FM Houston, has written a new book titled "Dead Air - The Rise & Demise of Music Radio." In it, Bill takes us on a "deeply personal tour through back rooms, control rooms and memories long remembered." For more information on the book and to learn get a copy, click here. Bill was one of the most respected program directors of all-time and has been a radio bud of mine since the 60s...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Emma Roberts (20), Laura Dern (44), Glenn Beck (47), Lenny Dykstra (48), George Stephanopoulos (50), Greg Norman (56), Jim Cramer (56), Mark Spitz (61), Jimmy (Teenagers) Merchant (71), Roberta Flack (74), Robert Wagner (81) and Leontyne Price (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until pitchers & catchers report, 4 days until Valentines Day, 11 days until Presidents' Day, 31 days until Daylight Savings Time (forward one hour) & 38 days until the beginning of spring...

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