Apple plans HD Radio push.

[Radioman100]

Wow, now who's sounding desperate? You really fear web radio, don't you? It comes through in everything you write about the subject.

What I want to know is, which crystal ball are you gazing at that definitely says that the current CRB rates will stand and will spell the end of internet radio? And what tea leaves are you reading that says that the RIAA's efforts to impose a performance royalty on radio will meet with total defeat?

Hope, fantasy, wishful thinking? Which is it?

db

Ha! Desperate? I honestly couldn't give two flips about web radio. The only reason I care at all is the web radio contingent that just can't get enough of the HD Radio board.

Crystal ball? Try history. Every time the webcasters go toe to toe with the RIAA, they lose. Every time terrestrial broadcasters do it, they win.

You don't need wishful thinking when everything you predict keeps coming true.

 

[Radioman100]

Oh, and don't forget that the webcasters have already lost. Now they're just hoping for some relief via Congress, which even if passed would require the President's approval.

I'd put their odds of getting it somewhere between slim and none.

 

[hipporadio]

If I were the savvy Mr. Jobs, I wouldn't pass on this "opportunity" either... Just grab the latest HD chip and throw it into an Apple-marketed boom-box. 'Maybe he can get a great deal on the soon-to-be-orphaned Gen-3 series chip with a ravenous appetite for DC - install a proprietary rechargeable battery that lasts for about a year - and make some extra cash replacing owners' batteries minutes after their warranty expires. I seem to recall hearing-of a similar scenerio before ???

The "HD music tagging" feature amounts to much-more than just a fat [and free] commercial for Apple's iTunes business - it literally provides the highway for already-likely customers of that service to travel to the store [use of the term "highway" may be generous given the very-low number of HD-capable receivers - "country lane" would be more accurate]. One would think that "broadcast executives" who have been subjected to this rouge so-many times before when dealing with tertiary advertising clientele [demanding "something-for-nothing"] could see this coming... But their desperation no-doubt overpowers their common sense.

Think of the advertising prospect who is deeply-committed to his use of TELEVISION - tossing a one-time 12-spot buy to a radio station [because his cherished TV avails are sold-out]... Add to the insult, that client's demand for "added value" in the form of a "promotional tie-in" [all to secure the whopping 12-spot buy]. We've seen this over-and-over, and a confident sales department USUALLY handles such a shameless request accordingly... NOT IN THIS CASE, and the beneficiary [Apple] is in the least-likely position to offer any reciprocity to the radio industry!

'Ever heard the term "sleeping with the enemy"? In this case, this enemy gets to enjoy your new mattress - and doesn't have-to "put out"!

 

[Radioman100]

If I were the savvy Mr. Jobs, I wouldn't pass on this "opportunity" either... Just grab the latest HD chip and throw it into an Apple-marketed boom-box. 'Maybe he can get a great deal on the soon-to-be-orphaned Gen-3 series chip with a ravenous appetite for DC - install a proprietary rechargeable battery that lasts for about a year - and make some extra cash replacing owners' batteries minutes after their warranty expires. I seem to recall hearing-of a similar scenerio before ???

The "HD music tagging" feature amounts to much-more than just a fat [and free] commercial for Apple's iTunes business - it literally provides the highway for already-likely customers of that service to travel to the store [use of the term "highway" may be generous given the very-low number of HD-capable receivers - "country lane" would be more accurate]. One would think that "broadcast executives" who have been subjected to this rouge so-many times before when dealing with tertiary advertising clientele [demanding "something-for-nothing"] could see this coming... But their desperation no-doubt overpowers their common sense.

Think of the advertising prospect who is deeply-committed to his use of TELEVISION - tossing a one-time 12-spot buy to a radio station [because his cherished TV avails are sold-out]... Add to the insult, that client's demand for "added value" in the form of a "promotional tie-in" [all to secure the whopping 12-spot buy]. We've seen this over-and-over, and a confident sales department USUALLY handles such a shameless request accordingly... NOT IN THIS CASE, and the beneficiary [Apple] is in the least-likely position to offer any reciprocity to the radio industry!

'Ever heard the term "sleeping with the enemy"? In this case, this enemy gets to enjoy your new mattress - and doesn't have-to "put out"!

Apple is making a long-term commitment to radio. It's clearly it's for its own benefit, but as much as you'd like to minimize them, there are reciprocal benefits as well.

For one, Apple has a real financial incentive to promote this feature - heavily - and make sure it ends up in as many iPod related products as possible. The big win for Apple isn't in the initial advertising push they will be given by Alliance stations, it's in the millions of tagging button pushes to buy songs through iTunes while people are listening to their radio. Apple isn't in this for the little ad campaign the Alliance will give them, they're in it to sell lots and lots of music via iTunes.

Another will be the cachet Apple lends to HD Radio. The iPod is hot. The iPhone is hot. Associating HD Radio with those brands is nothing but good for HD Radio.

Yet another will be the arm twisting Apple will be doing to iPod product suppliers to include HD Radios in their own iPod dock designs. Apple has a licensing program for iPod accessories that you've probably seen. It's the "made for iPod" label. Given the financial benefit to Apple that HD Radio iTunes tagging provides, it wouldn't surprise me at all if HD Radio inclusion for ALL iPod docks with radios becomes mandatory to get the "made for iPod" label. Trust me, manufacturers want that certification. I bought a charger a while back that wasn't blessed by Apple for my iPhone, and I get a warning message on the screen every time I use it. It works, but I'm reminded every time that I bought a cheap knockoff.

Apple is in this for the long haul. The short term advertising push that radio will provide is inconsequential. The long term music buys through HD Radio iTunes tagging is the prize for Apple.

 

[hipporadio]

I shutter to reference the much-maligned Ramsey here – he IS within that dastardly Jerry DC and Mr. Buzzard-FM cadre ‘ya-know :

Maybe you should at least glance-upon his recent “take” on this... NO DOUBT, you WON’T be impressed; but maybe you’ll be informed.

http://www.hear2.com/2007/12/apple-embraces.html

 

[Chuck]

I shutter to reference the much-maligned Ramsey here – he IS within that dastardly Jerry DC and Mr. Buzzard-FM cadre ‘ya-know :

Maybe you should at least glance-upon his recent “take” on this... NO DOUBT, you WON’T be impressed; but maybe you’ll be informed.

http://www.hear2.com/2007/12/apple-embraces.html

I think this quote sums it up: "....now iPod-owning listeners will be one click away from another reason not to listen to the radio."

 

[Radioman100]

I shutter to reference the much-maligned Ramsey here – he IS within that dastardly Jerry DC and Mr. Buzzard-FM cadre ‘ya-know :

Maybe you should at least glance-upon his recent “take” on this... NO DOUBT, you WON’T be impressed; but maybe you’ll be informed.

http://www.hear2.com/2007/12/apple-embraces.html

Yup. It was definitely informative - about Mark Ramsey anyway.

Here's the guy that has been beating the radio industry over the head for years now about embracing "new media." Here's a development that does just that, and Ramsey's against it. iTunes tagging ties radio directly to the sexiest of all "new media" platforms, a move that could do nothing but bolster the image of radio with the iPod generation Ramsey says we should court, and he's against it.

It's like I've been saying all along. When HD Radio becomes ubiquitous, the anti-HD blogger-consultant types are going to look very foolish. This piece by Ramsey is just the tip of that iceberg. He's in what has to be an uncomfortable position. He has cast himself as being very pro-new media, but very anti-HD Radio. Since they're becoming one in the same, he's chosen to fall on the sword and adopt the position that tying radio to the iPod is a bad thing.

I assure you - if this had been RDS tagging, or some other delivery mechanism for tagging that didn't involve HD Radio, Ramsey's position would have been exactly the opposite. He would have hailed it as the industry wisely listening to him.

 

[dbdigital]

I shutter to reference the much-maligned Ramsey here – he IS within that dastardly Jerry DC and Mr. Buzzard-FM cadre ‘ya-know :

Maybe you should at least glance-upon his recent “take” on this... NO DOUBT, you WON’T be impressed; but maybe you’ll be informed.

http://www.hear2.com/2007/12/apple-embraces.html

Yup. It was definitely informative - about Mark Ramsey anyway.

Here's the guy that has been beating the radio industry over the head for years now about embracing "new media." Here's a development that does just that, and Ramsey's against it. iTunes tagging ties radio directly to the sexiest of all "new media" platforms, a move that could do nothing but bolster the image of radio with the iPod generation Ramsey says we should court, and he's against it.

It's like I've been saying all along. When HD Radio becomes ubiquitous, the anti-HD blogger-consultant types are going to look very foolish. This piece by Ramsey is just the tip of that iceberg. He's in what has to be an uncomfortable position. He has cast himself as being very pro-new media, but very anti-HD Radio. Since they're becoming one in the same, he's chosen to fall on the sword and adopt the position that tying radio to the iPod is a bad thing.

I assure you - if this had been RDS tagging, or some other delivery mechanism for tagging that didn't involve HD Radio, Ramsey's position would have been exactly the opposite. He would have hailed it as the industry wisely listening to him.

More weeping and gnashing of teeth against the messenger. What Ramsey is saying makes total sense.

If an iPod user is listening to downloaded music, and that includes music that's been tagged and paid for with the help of HD Radio, they're NOT listening to radio.

You think this is a synergetic relationship? It isn't. Any partnership with Apple is strictly about Apple (and marginally about iBiquity with some quick and dirty licensing money). It's not about radio and radio's survival. Don't be deluded into thinking otherwise.

db

 

[KB1OKL]

Ha! Desperate? I honestly couldn't give two flips about web radio. The only reason I care at all is the web radio contingent that just can't get enough of the HD Radio board.

They just like to come here for entertainment, it's fun watching you clueless IBOC'ers whistling in the dark. It's like a bunch of scared little boys blusteringly reassuring each other that there is no monster in the closet or under the bed at night. Face it boys, it's lights out, IBOC is a day late and a dollar short. I must say you guys have fought a valiant fight though, but too bad no one knows it.

 

[Radioman100]

More weeping and gnashing of teeth against the messenger. What Ramsey is saying makes total sense.

If an iPod user is listening to downloaded music, and that includes music that's been tagged and paid for with the help of HD Radio, they're NOT listening to radio.

You think this is a synergetic relationship? It isn't. Any partnership with Apple is strictly about Apple (and marginally about iBiquity with some quick and dirty licensing money). It's not about radio and radio's survival. Don't be deluded into thinking otherwise.

db

If people want to buy and listen to music away from radio, nobody is going to be able to stop them, no matter what. Radio might as well be part of the process.

The thing Ramsey fails to mention is the most important aspect of this deal. Radio will benefit from the coolness and desirability that the iPod and iPhone exude. Since this is an extremely beneficial deal for Apple, the next generation iPods and iPhones will also likely contain an HD Radio tuner. It's easy to see why Samsung, LG, etc. have been frenziedly developing low power consumption, all-in-one HD radio chips.

It's also his ignorance of that aspect that lets me know Ramsey is a fraud. For quite a while now, he's been pointing out all these new consumer devices that include this or include that but DON'T include HD Radio. Well, now that the 800 pound gorilla of the portable entertainment marketplace has announced a partnership with HD Radio that all but guarantees HD prominence, he sees nothing but negatives.

Remember the Ford Sync? Ramsey LOVED touting the fact that it doesn't include HD Radio (not yet anyway.) That's the last in a long line of products that Ramsey pointed out didn't include HD Radio, but now that iPod accessories, and eventually iPods themselves will, this is a bad thing because the songs people purchase are going to cause everyone's TSL to nosedive? Yeah, right...

A much more likely scenario is younger people hooked on "free" illegally obtained MP3s and who haven't spent as much time with radio as they otherwise would have will rediscover radio. People who have been used to getting their music for free are not going to suddenly start spending huge sums of money downloading it from iTunes. They'll buy a song here or a song there that they're really passionate about just as collectors of music have always done.

The significant aspect of this, which Ramsey surely knows but is ashamed to admit, is the inclusion of radio in next-gen iPod products. His argument that iTunes tagging will steal TSL from radio is as flawed as the irrational fears that preceeded it in history, that the 8 track, cassette tape, MTV, or compact disc were going to kill radio. They didn't, and this won't either.

But unlike any of those platforms for music delivery, the HD Radio-iPod relationship will help bolster radio's image.

 

[Radioman100]

They just like to come here for entertainment, it's fun watching you clueless IBOC'ers whistling in the dark. It's like a bunch of scared little boys blusteringly reassuring each other that there is no monster in the closet or under the bed at night. Face it boys, it's lights out, IBOC is a day late and a dollar short. I must say you guys have fought a valiant fight though, but too bad no one knows it.

Apparently Steve Jobs does, and the whole world knows about his products.

 

[KB1OKL]

It's like I've been saying all along. When HD Radio becomes ubiquitous, the anti-HD blogger-consultant types are going to look very foolish.

HD radio and ubiquitous should be in the dictionary as the #1 definition for oxymoron.

Ubiquitous is not the first word most people associate with HD radio, AM stereo, 8 track, and quadraphonic are more likely to be used in conjunction with HD, actually though I think the word most closely associated with HD radio is: what??

 

[Radioman100]

HD radio and ubiquitous should be in the dictionary as the #1 definition for oxymoron.

Ubiquitous is not the first word most people associate with HD radio, AM stereo, 8 track, and quadraphonic are more likely to be used in conjunction with HD, actually though I think the word most closely associated with HD radio is: what??

Oh ye of no foresight. Just like poor Mark Ramsey.

Hmmm... The word most closely associated with HD Radio? Give it a few months, but I believe it will be...iPod! Not a bad association at all!

 

[KB1OKL]

The significant aspect of this, which Ramsey surely knows but is ashamed to admit, is the inclusion of radio in next-gen iPod products. His argument that iTunes tagging will steal TSL from radio is as flawed as the irrational fears that preceeded it in history, that the 8 track, cassette tape, MTV, or compact disc were going to kill radio. They didn't, and this won't either.

Radio is in the process of killing itself with lousy repetitive programming and IBOC noise,

But unlike any of those platforms for music delivery, the HD Radio-iPod relationship will help bolster radio's image.

More likely it will be like the unused the 8 track player in the old combination entertainment centers

 

[KB1OKL]

Hmmm... The word most closely associated with HD Radio? Give it a few months, but I believe it will be...iPod! Not a bad association at all!

now you guys are hoping the enemy will help you out of the hopeless jam you're in? :

 

[Radioman100]

Someday I pray you learn how to properly use the quote feature.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. Nothing I can say will change your perspective, which is that of a DXer. You're living in the past, and have no vision for the future.

To be perfectly honest, I could care less what you think because it has absolutely no bearing on what's right for radio. We don't make any money off of out of market listeners, and we certainly don't make any money filling out QSL cards. For the purposes of this discussion, you're irrelevant.

 

[Chuck]

Remember the Ford Sync? Ramsey LOVED touting the fact that it doesn't include HD Radio (not yet anyway.) That's the last in a long line of products that Ramsey pointed out didn't include HD Radio, but now that iPod accessories, and eventually iPods themselves will, this is a bad thing because the songs people purchase are going to cause everyone's TSL to nosedive? Yeah, right...

A "usually reliable" source tells me that HD will not be standard equipment on 2009 Fords. It will remain a dealer installed option for those willing to pay the price.

We'll see if he is right.

 

[Radioman100]

A "usually reliable" source tells me that HD will not be standard equipment on 2009 Fords. It will remain a dealer installed option for those willing to pay the price.

We'll see if he is right.

Oh, I don't doubt that at all Chuck. All I'm saying is Ramsey gleefully pointed out that HD Radio was not in the first generation Ford Syncs, as he's pointed out for many other devices before. Now the iPod integrates with HD, and somehow that's not good news?

 

[Chuck]

A "usually reliable" source tells me that HD will not be standard equipment on 2009 Fords. It will remain a dealer installed option for those willing to pay the price.

We'll see if he is right.

Oh, I don't doubt that at all Chuck. All I'm saying is Ramsey gleefully pointed out that HD Radio was not in the first generation Ford Syncs, as he's pointed out for many other devices before. Now the iPod integrates with HD, and somehow that's not good news?

It may help get a little buzz going for HD. That would be a plus, since the radio industry has been a dismal failure at it to this point.

As I recall when I took a marketing class in college - that was a long time ago - the professor drilled into us that for an ad campaign to be successful you had to use multiple media. Either the rules have changed, or the HD folks skipped that class.

The thing that bothers me about the ipod alliance is I don't think it is all that great a deal for my friends in radio. It's a good deal for Apple, and probably good for Ibiquity. With some stations struggling for listeners, every person who is busy downloading a song, or listening to it is someone who is not listening to radio. It's just one more distraction.

 

[Radioman100]

It may help get a little buzz going for HD. That would be a plus, since the radio industry has been a dismal failure at it to this point.

As I recall when I took a marketing class in college - that was a long time ago - the professor drilled into us that for an ad campaign to be successful you had to use multiple media. Either the rules have changed, or the HD folks skipped that class.

The thing that bothers me about the ipod alliance is I don't think it is all that great a deal for my friends in radio. It's a good deal for Apple, and probably good for Ibiquity. With some stations struggling for listeners, every person who is busy downloading a song, or listening to it is someone who is not listening to radio. It's just one more distraction.

I'm not too worried about it, but the combined cume for my stations is over 2 million, so we can afford to lose a few if I'm wrong.

I see nothing but positives. I don't see iTunes tagging generating a lot of new consumers of music, just giving people that already buy it a more convenient method that includes radio in the process even more.

One thing that is abundantly clear is radio is not as an industry going to stop people from rolling out new products that are designed to distract radio listeners. The worthless inclusion of web radio in PSPs is an excellent example. The webcasters are going broke fast so there probably won't be much content for it, and the device requires a wi-fi connection to use web radio, but that's not stopping Sony from wasting development dollars on it.

If the "distraction" is going to happen anyway, radio might as well be an integral part of it. People have to listen to the radio to try out this new feature. Perhaps it will increase cume among iPod devotees.