Bill Virgin's Radio Beat September 7, 2006

Includes archive of Bill Virgin's columns fromJ une 2006 - March 2009

Postby radiofan » Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:53 pm

Thursday, September 7, 2006

On Radio: Podcasts, traffic, live radio and more may soon be just a cell phone call away

By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER


The day when your cell phone doubles as a radio is getting closer.

Clear Channel Radio and Cingular Wireless said this week they are launching a service that will provide live streaming of broadcasts, as well as on-demand delivery of podcasts.

The service will start with a Clear Channel station in New York, but the broadcaster said it expects to offer the service "on up to 100 more of its radio stations in the next 12 months." The company wouldn't say what stations are on the list, but since it operates a cluster of music stations (including KUBE-FM, KJR-FM and KFNK-FM) in the Seattle-Tacoma market, the nation's 14th largest, at least one would be a good bet to get the service.

The service costs $2.99 a month for downloads, with an additional fee of 99 cents a month for streaming. What customers get are podcasts of interviews and features, title and artist information for the last 10 songs played and local traffic reports. Sponsor announcements also are included.

Facing competition from other entertainment and delivery channels (satellite, portable music devices, Internet radio), traditional broadcasters have been looking at ways to extend their reach. The Clear Channel-Cingular deal is merely the latest of an attempt to marry radio and cell phones and other portable communications devices. In some instances, the cell phone as a method for transmitting text messages is eclipsing voice phone calls as the primary link between stations and listeners.

Earlier this year, CBS Radio and Vibes Media announced a partnership to provide text-messaging services such as contests and song requests via cell phones.

KBKS-FM (106.1) already is offering the Vibes service, says Dave McDonald, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Radio's Seattle stations. "Particularly with younger demographics, texting is becoming a ubiquitous method of communication," McDonald says. "It's really important the station reflect the lifestyles of its listeners."

KBKS got a powerful demonstration of texting's popularity at a station-sponsored concert at KeyArena. Morning hosts Jackie & Bender announced, from the stage, a contest to win a guitar autographed by the concert performers, and invited members of the audience to send a text message to enter. McDonald says there were 5,600 text entries.

Another local CBS station, KJAQ-FM (96.5), is about to roll out a cell-phone service (although not provided by Vibes). Listeners can peruse the station's playlist on the Jack FM Web site, pick their favorite songs, then sign up to get an alert when those songs are about to be played on the air.



Last year Nokia, Hewlett-Packard and radio broadcasters and wireless companies unveiled Visual Radio, which sends images and text synchronized to the over-the-air broadcast, which also can be heard through a receiver included in the handheld device. A Visual Radio information sheet indicates that the service is in use in other countries but hasn't been introduced yet in the United States.

In other radio notes:


KEXP-FM (90.3) will be broadcasting from Chicago today, Friday and Saturday with in-studio performances by bands all three days.


Rob "T-Man" Tepper's morning show on KUBE-FM (93.3) also will be heard on a San Francisco station starting Sept. 18.


KBCS-FM (91.3) will hold a community meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Museum of History and Industry, at which listeners are invited to offer ideas for the future of the station.


Don Riggs' guests on "Introspect Northwest" at 7 a.m. Saturday on KPTK-AM (1090) and 7 a.m. Sunday on KMPS-FM (94.1) include Seattle writer John Saul, author of "In the Dark of the Night."


"Audioasis" at 6 p.m. Saturday on KEXP-FM features electronic music from Northwest festivals and performers.


Percussionists Bob Rees and Greg Campbell perform on "Sonarchy" at midnight Saturday on KEXP-FM.


Lizz Sommars' guests on "Conversations" at 6 a.m. Sunday on KISW-FM (99.9), KBSG-FM (97.3) and KKWF-FM (100.7) include Tom Zoellner, author of a book on the diamond industry, "The Heartless Stone."


Kate Daniels interviews Lisa Nichols, co-author of "Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul," on "Inspirational Women" at 6 a.m. Sunday on KRWM-FM (106.9).


Kirby Wilbur of KVI-AM (570) will host his talk show from Ground Zero in New York on Monday, and will appear later in the day with "The Commentators" and on Bryan Suits' show.


Former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart discusses the five-year anniversary of 9/11 on "Weekday" at 10 a.m. Monday on KUOW-FM (94.9).


"Voices of Diversity" at 6 p.m. Wednesday on KBCS-FM looks at racial health disparities.

P-I reporter Bill Virgin can be reached at 206-448-8319 or billvirgin@seattlepi.com.

Bill Virgin's Radio Beat, Thursdays in The Seattle P-I
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.
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