RDS commercials

[johnbasalla]

For a long time, WZAK and WENZ has had commercials "printed" on the RDS screen while driving. Recently, they've had some time when the name of the song and artist are listed (a welcome sign).

Also, recently, a few other FM stations have been, occasionally, placing commercials on their RDS. I wonder how much advertisers pay for this.

These ads have no impact on me. While driving, I can't take the time to really consume what's there. Even when I actually read the whole thing (a rarity), I don't remember it by the time I get to my destination. If I cared, I might be able to remember.

It seems to be a little bit dangerous to take your eyes off of the road long enough to focus on the message.
Looking at song and artist goes faster, imo, and often I don't remember everything with that either. For example, today I heard a song by Benson Boone that was not the oft-played "Beautiful Things". I saw the title. It was a longer one, but I can't tell you what it is.

 

[skiwest]

There are way too many distractions for drivers already. They don't need any more.

 

[yeoldeschool]

There are way too many distractions for drivers already. They don't need any more.

I see them on stations in Los Angeles. They are usually for sleazy accident attorneys. Right now, 93.1 is advertising iaccidentlawyer.com. The irony.

The full text is "iaccidentlawyer.com - alrt - 2.8m win biker w leg injry frm bus". It's like they're trying to make people squint long enough to crash.

 

[delgriffith]

Frankly, for me most advertising is in one ear and out the other….unless it’s something I’m considering purchasing. I guess that’s what the advertiser is looking for. Enough people needing what they provide and thus responding to the advertising. Probably the same with the RDS.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

For a long time, WZAK and WENZ has had commercials "printed" on the RDS screen while driving. Recently, they've had some time when the name of the song and artist are listed (a welcome sign).

Also, recently, a few other FM stations have been, occasionally, placing commercials on their RDS. I wonder how much advertisers pay for this.

These ads have no impact on me. While driving, I can't take the time to really consume what's there. Even when I actually read the whole thing (a rarity), I don't remember it by the time I get to my destination. If I cared, I might be able to remember.

It seems to be a little bit dangerous to take your eyes off of the road long enough to focus on the message.
Looking at song and artist goes faster, imo, and often I don't remember everything with that either. For example, today I heard a song by Benson Boone that was not the oft-played "Beautiful Things". I saw the title. It was a longer one, but I can't tell you what it is.

If you have one of these snazzy new cars with the big stupid TV screen in the middle of the dashboard, you'll also see graphics along with the text. Album art, a graphical ad, etc. These would be delivered via HD radio. The text-only stuff is RDS (analog FM).

 

[johnbasalla]

If you have one of these snazzy new cars with the big stupid TV screen in the middle of the dashboard, you'll also see graphics along with the text. Album art, a graphical ad, etc. These would be delivered via HD radio. The text-only stuff is RDS (analog FM).

And all of that is just distraction from driving. Even if you're looking at the screen at a stop light, there's a bigger chance that you'll get a honk from the driver behind you because you didn't notice the light had changed. It's worse to have accidents with it. I agree with your "big stupid TV screen". In this case, HD radio can also be called "How Dumb" radio.

 

[snowdog88]

If you have one of these snazzy new cars with the big stupid TV screen in the middle of the dashboard, you'll also see graphics along with the text. Album art, a graphical ad, etc. These would be delivered via HD radio. The text-only stuff is RDS (analog FM).

DJs are too lazy to announce the name and artist anymore. I hated the automated song/artist announcement that WDOK had at the end of a song when they went to New 102, and even that was pointless given the RDS, HD Radio, website/app readouts and playlist history provided at the time. Back in the day before any of that stuff existed or I had access to it, I found such songs by simply Googling a lyric/hook that was stuck in my head.

And all of that is just distraction from driving. Even if you're looking at the screen at a stop light, there's a bigger chance that you'll get a honk from the driver behind you because you didn't notice the light had changed. It's worse to have accidents with it. I agree with your "big stupid TV screen". In this case, HD radio can also be called "How Dumb" radio.

The big stupid screen that looks at if someone gorilla-glued an iPad to the dash.

 

[crainbebo]

Noticing this on some Boise FMs. They will scroll a full-length advertisement for 7-Eleven DURING the songs. So you have to wait until 1/2 way through to figure out the title and artist.
Can they get greedier? We already have commercial breaks lasting nearly 10 minutes in some markets.

DJs aren't too lazy. They are just voicetracked far in advance. They gab about downloading the app and "Tell your smart speaker to play 97.1 the (whatever)", but what was the song by Billy Joel that just aired? Boy, they have no idea.
How long before Portland's "AI Ashley" becomes the norm on FM radio? No live DJs, no voicetracking. Just AI voices and an unmanned transmitter site...

 

[MediaLover]

For a long time, WZAK and WENZ has had commercials "printed" on the RDS screen while driving. Recently, they've had some time when the name of the song and artist are listed (a welcome sign).

Also, recently, a few other FM stations have been, occasionally, placing commercials on their RDS. I wonder how much advertisers pay for this.

These ads have no impact on me. While driving, I can't take the time to really consume what's there. Even when I actually read the whole thing (a rarity), I don't remember it by the time I get to my destination. If I cared, I might be able to remember.

It seems to be a little bit dangerous to take your eyes off of the road long enough to focus on the message.
Looking at song and artist goes faster, imo, and often I don't remember everything with that either. For example, today I heard a song by Benson Boone that was not the oft-played "Beautiful Things". I saw the title. It was a longer one, but I can't tell you what it is.

WZAK and WENZ have both always been bad with RDS displays. Having the commercials displayed (and constantly misspelled) is too much and they also seem the have the imaging displayed as well. My guess is bad engineering, but it could be another issue.

DJs are too lazy to announce the name and artist anymore. I hated the automated song/artist announcement that WDOK had at the end of a song when they went to New 102, and even that was pointless given the RDS, HD Radio, website/app readouts and playlist history provided at the time. Back in the day before any of that stuff existed or I had access to it, I found such songs by simply Googling a lyric/hook that was stuck in my head.


The big stupid screen that looks at if someone gorilla-glued an iPad to the dash.

Mix 106.5 and the old 87.7 Cleveland's Sound also had that automated song and artist announcement too and it was just as bad as WDOK's.

 

[johnbasalla]

Mix 106.5 and the old 87.7 Cleveland's Sound also had that automated song and artist announcement too and it was just as bad as WDOK's.

To be honest with you, I prefer that the names of songs and artists be announced before or after they are played, even if it is a robo-voice.
I am ok with the robo-voice providing that service if the personality who is on-the-air can't or won't do it. Having to go on-line, and dig around for title and artist information is bothersome and, often, not worth the time.

This whole problem of not sharing title/artist information on-the-air started in the mid to late 1970s when radio stations began to receive promo copies of new LPs, and sometimes smaller stickers on 45 rpm sleeves, saying: "WHEN YOU PLAY IT, SAY IT".

 

[radiofollower]

Title and Artist is fine. I can glance at that. But when they start posting a long, scrolling message, I'm trying to drive! I can't read that!

 

[snowdog88]

DJs aren't too lazy. They are just voicetracked far in advance.

Even before voice-tracking was even implemented?

They gab about downloading the app and "Tell your smart speaker to play 97.1 the (whatever)",

Yes, and even related news and stories that the vast majority of listeners or the station's primary coverage have nothing to do with.

...but what was the song by Billy Joel that just aired? Boy, they have no idea.

Let me guess... Piano Man.

How long before Portland's "AI Ashley" becomes the norm on FM radio? No live DJs, no voicetracking. Just AI voices and an unmanned transmitter site...

Auto pilot with AI? I cringe to think about it. Wonder how many things it will manage to get wrong, or worse, who the AI voice will sound like?

 

[Yabadabado1]

Even before voice-tracking was even implemented?


Yes, and even related news and stories that the vast majority of listeners or the station's primary coverage have nothing to do with.


Let me guess... Piano Man.


Auto pilot with AI? I cringe to think about it. Wonder how many things it will manage to get wrong, or worse, who the AI voice will sound like?

Pee Wee Herman? Bobcat Goldthwait? Eddie Deezen?

 

[davideduardo]

DJs are too lazy to announce the name and artist anymore.

It's not the DJ's decision. Most PDs think that anything other than newer songs do not need to be announced, and doing so just adds talk in an era when most listeners want less of that.

 

[Negin]

I noticed that on the readout of my rack mount DaySequerra M4 receiver's when it's reading RDS.

 

[skiwest]

Let me guess... Piano Man

🤣🤣🤣

 

[johnbasalla]

It's not the DJ's decision. Most PDs think that anything other than newer songs do not need to be announced, and doing so just adds talk in an era when most listeners want less of that.

I understand. However, for casual listeners to a station, they need the title and artist information as the many songs don't get "ingrained" in their memory, even though they may like the sound.