The Nashville Feed

While driving to and back from Florida last week I discovered how bad of a position radio is in; its way worse than I had thought just flipping through the dial in Nashville, TN.

There was almost nothing on while I scanned the spectrum, well almost nothing. I found repeat of Casey Kasem’s Top 40 featuring up comers of the 80s. It should have been named “Top 40 One Hit Wonders that you don’t hear from until they appear on a reality show or The Soup.” Kind of long but it would have been better.

It was so bad I almost thought of re-activating my Sirius sat radio the next time I road trip then cancel it after I’m back. It would have been worth the $12.95 for the week. Lucky for me I had a few podcasts in my iPod which got me home.

What to Do

So what is radio to do? Radio business professionals are saying HD digital radio will save them. For example:

• More variety. Nearly half of all HD channels feature formats rarely found on the dial these days, from gay-programming-oriented Pride Radio at Hartford's KISS 95.7 to "mashups" such as Cincinnati's WOFX 92.5, whose Mother Trucker pairs classic country such as Merle Haggard with rockers such as ZZ Top. "This is unique content you wouldn't get anywhere else," says Jeff Littlejohn of Clear Channel, with 800-plus HD stations broadcasting in its markets.
• Connecting to iPods. A new HD Radio feature called "iTunes tagging" lets listeners hit a "tag" button on their radio when they hear a song they like. iTunes will list the tagged songs after syncing with the iPod for previewing and purchase.
• Less expensive hardware. The first wave of HD Radios were pricey, up to $500. New radios to be announced Wednesday include sub-$100 models from Sony, Coby and iLuv and others for less than $200.

(Source USAtoday.com)

I really think the only thing that will save radio is the break-up of the major conglomerates allowing for more stations owned by more people willing to take risks. The consolidation of the radio industry has created a death spiral. And just when radio needed the funding aka ad dollars Bloomberg.com is reporting that internet ad spending will overtake radio this year.

Artists Moving On

Even if they get their act together it might be too late artists are moving on beyond radio. They are expanding and reaching out to fans online and now the mobile space. Even though getting a hit on radio today reaches large audience it’s not a profitable as it used to be. The artists are going direct to the fans and they are responding with arms open.

Changes are Happening

Whatever will happen radio will not have the power over the music industry as it once had. The artists are moving on to new opportunities. They are finding ways where they don’t need a label to get played for an audience. They are using new technologies that sidestep the establishment.

Further Reading:

• HD Radio sends strong signal, but audience weak – USA Today
• HD Radio stations tune in to everything – USA Today
• Internet Ad Spending to Overtake Radio in 2008, Publicis Says – Bloomberg.com
• Music Radio Should Be More Like Talk Radio – Nashville Feed