Apps for Soft AC streams

[davideduardo]

Before you accuse links of being "bogus", dig further. Check out things such as their "about us" pages. They might just simply be using different methods of research than you guys do.
http://www.newsgeneration.com/about-us/
http://www.newsgeneration.com/about-us/meet-our-team/
www.newsgeneration.com/faqs/

That organization is a public relations firm. They specialize in getting peoples news releases published or broadcast.

They are not broadcasters, although they deal with broadcast.

No matter what kind of research you do, you will see the same demographic profiles for each station and format. In any case, there is no research behind the format descriptions on that site (and the other one of similar focus you posted). The listing shows that both organizations are vary far removed from reality when it comes to knowing about radio, so the listing is likely the product of the "impressions" of their staff of publicists and spin doctors.

Again, the "wrongness" of the listings shows that there was no research and no consultation with people who know this sort of thing.

Stations in larger markets do their own proprietary research. Nielsen does research. Many independent media researchers do omnibus studies or specific projects. A good example is the profile of country that is presented each year at the CRS and done by the CMA for its members.

Much of radio research is done to show advertisers the value of advertising on different stations. Were there any alternate and credible research available ad agencies and their clients would use it. They don't, and they use the same research I refer to as a basis for placing billions and billions of dollars in advertising each year.

We know the profile of every format, and this data is consistent across different sources and research projects. You can't present anything valid and credible that changes those facts.

 

[Music Lover]

First of all, the quote has been further edited.

Now, since it's going to be ad-nauseous because we're both skeptical of each other, we'll just agree do disagree and shut up about it then. Goodnight.

 

[Han Solo]

How much data will I use if I play radio apps such as Pandora or Tune In or Live 365 or iHeart and so on?

I'm turning this discussion back to Music Lover's questions about his/her phone and apps.

My advice would be to feel free to get whatever app you want but definitely don't do lots of streaming if you have a data limit.

As for what you mentioned about Wi-Fi, you have to have a router for that.

 

[davideduardo]

First of all, the quote has been further edited.

Now, since it's going to be ad-nauseous because we're both skeptical of each other, we'll just agree do disagree and shut up about it then. Goodnight.

I am not skeptical of you. In fact, I appreciate the interest you have in your favorite music

The point I am attempting to make, apparently without success, is that you are are getting information about radio such as format profiles, advertiser usage of stations, music selection and so on from sources ranging from the sometimes dubious (Wikipedia) to the truly inaccurate (the PR firms you linked).

Several of those on this board who have extensive radio experience have attempted to direct you to correct information or to explain the things that everyone in radio knows to be true.

Your answer has been to point us towards websites that say "Spanish" is a radio format. And you disingenuously think that we should believe that.

 

[Music Lover]

Actually, Spanish is a radio format. In my neck of the woods, we have a station that plays Spanish language music.

You may find other sources dubious but I don't. Just get used to that fact. As I said, we'll just have to agree to disagree. End of that topic now.

 

[Music Lover]

This tells some info about Pandora's app. http://www.ehow.com/info_12118618_data-use-pandora-android.html

Article mentions you can stream at low quality, 64 kbps. An hour would be approximately 28MB. On a 200MB per month plan, you can listen to over 7 hours of music at low quality before exceeding your plan, assuming you do not use other data.

The article advises to connect to local Wi-Fi networks whenever possible. I'm in a rural area, so I'm not quite sure about that.

Turning it back to my phone and apps now, I've since learned that in order to use Wi-Fi I would have to have a router. I currently have a modem and have no intention of getting rid of that unless something happens to it.

 

[davideduardo]

Actually, Spanish is a radio format. In my neck of the woods, we have a station that plays Spanish language music.

Nope.

Spanish is a language. Not a format. There are as many, if not more, possible formats in Spanish as there are in English.

"Spanish stations" are all in Spain. In the US, we have Spanish language stations, each with its specific format.

Your local Spanish-language station has a specific format... it may be Regional Mexican, Spanish language AC, Spanish language rhythmic, Spanish language Pop / CHR, Spanish language adult hits, Spanish language talk or any of a variety of other formats common among such stations in the US:

Here is a detail of the most common formats in Spanish: http://www.hispanicformats.com/index.htm

You may find other sources dubious but I don't. Just get used to that fact. As I said, we'll just have to agree to disagree. End of that topic now.

That's OK, if you want to be perpetually misinformed. While some things in radio are... and benefit from... differences of opinion, other things are facts. Returning to the example: standards / nostalgia is not a 35+ format. It is a 70+ format, born out by facts such as ratings, the age of the music and the experience of many stations that have had (and mostly dropped) the format.

 

[davideduardo]

Turning it back to my phone and apps now, I've since learned that in order to use Wi-Fi I would have to have a router. I currently have a modem and have no intention of getting rid of that unless something happens to it.

For any internet service, whether it be DSL, cable or dial-up, you need a modem to deliver a connection to your ISP to your computer.

Most people have, in addition to the modem (or built into it) a router.

Modems with built in wifi routers are commonly provided by your ISP. Routers which connect to the modem are usually items you buy and add on yourself.

A router today usually has wifi and LAN connectors. You can use a "computer cable" (the ones that look like fat phone cables) to connect directly to most desktops or laptops, but the average tablet does not have a LAN connector, using wifi only.

A wifi capable router is connected to the modem, and then it "broadcasts" the connection throughout your house or apartment. Use of a secure password is highly recommended. Your wifi device, such as a laptop, has an internal two-way radio which connects to the wifi in the router, which creates your internet connection via the router's connection to the modem you have.

WiFi routers from good brands have guided setup and are very easy to install and essentially maintenance-free once set up.

 

[Music Lover]

Radio Locator is where I saw the format being labeled as Spanish. I visit that site from time to time to check out what stations are located in my neck of the woods. A Spanish language music station on FM is labeled as Regional Mexican. On AM, there are two stations listed, one labeled as Regional Mexican and one labeled as Spanish. There's also a station on the AM band labeled as Tropical.

Radio Locator doesn't have a definition for Tropical or Regional Mexican.

Radio Locator's definition for Spanish: Regardless of the format, these stations' programming is conducted primarily in Spanish. Most major cities feature at least one such station, and often there are different varieties, such as Spanish news/talk, oldies-espanol, and CHR-espanol. Besides the obvious language distinction of these stations, much of the programming is tailored to the regional Spanish speaking community and their concerns.

Here's the link to the stations and their labels: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Danville,+VA&sid=&x=0&y=0

 

[davideduardo]

Radio Locator is a site I use from time to time to check out what stations are located in my neck of the woods. A Spanish language music station on FM is labeled as Regional Mexican. On AM, there are two stations listed, one labeled as Regional Mexican and one labeled as Spanish.

There's also a station on the AM band labeled as Tropical.

Radio Locator doesn't have a definition for Tropical or Regional Mexican.

Radio Locator's definition for Spanish: Regardless of the format, these stations' programming is conducted primarily in Spanish. Most major cities feature at least one such station, and often there are different varieties, such as Spanish news/talk, oldies-espanol, and CHR-espanol. Besides the obvious language distinction of these stations, much of the programming is tailored to the regional Spanish speaking community and their concerns.

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Danville,+VA&sid=&x=0&y=0

Obviously, you have to take the source and its purpose into account.

Radio-locator uses the FCC database to create signal maps, and that is its primary purpose. In that function, it takes the official data and makes it easy to visualize by the site's users. Although the maps are approximate, and do not really constitute true coverage maps, they are a great first step in looking at signals and coverage.

Radio-locator has to get data "on the open market" for the links to websites it provides and for the format and other data. Such information is often not updated, and format changes may be neglected or ignored for years. It's likely that this is because they depend on the radio related websites, subscription newsletters, station sites and even groups like this to get format data or to learn of format changes. As what is basically an engineering site, we have found that the format data in general is often wrong or out of date, so it's not a good idea to rely only on radio-locator for format information.

I have a little experience in Spanish language radio, and based on that I can tell you that any reference to "Spanish" as a format is inaccurate. The inaccuracy generally comes from ignorance and a lack of understanding of the fact that "Spanish" is the language of many formats, but it is not a format itself.

Would you call the stations that are in English in your area of VA "English format" stations? Of course not. There are CHR's and AC's and urbans and talkers and whatnot. But you'd never say, "I like WBTM because it's got a nice English format."

 

[Music Lover]

The fact is, your average layperson is going to be going by sites like these. If you feel they are incorrect with labels and such, that's why I advise you to contact these sites.

I'm finished with that now, so good day to you.

 

[davideduardo]

The fact is, your average layperson is going to be going by sites like these. If you feel they are incorrect with labels and such, that's why I advise you to contact these sites.

It's not my business to "fix" radio-locator which has had the outdated formats and descriptions for a decade or more; many radio professionals have emailed them to comment on the inaccuracies but they continue. Apparently the business model of radio-locator has not been successful, so the site runs with minimal attention.

My point is to say that "caveat emptor" applies and you should be aware that not everything on the web is true.

 

[Music Lover]

It's not my business to "fix" radio-locator which has had the outdated formats and descriptions for a decade or more.

Just trying to be helpful. If such sites were updated, you wouldn't complain about them when or if they are brought up in future conversations. You're in the broadcasting business so you would know more about what to tell them than the average layperson could.

Anyway, I'm moving on to another topic elsewhere on the board, so, see ya.

 

[Music Lover]

I'm turning this discussion back to Music Lover's questions about his/her phone and apps.

My advice would be to feel free to get whatever app you want but definitely don't do lots of streaming if you have a data limit.

As for what you mentioned about Wi-Fi, you have to have a router for that.

First, thank you for helping to get it back on topic.

From what I've learned about this phone, data is calculated to 2 decimals of precision. For example, you can use 1.17 mb of data one day, 120.45 mb of data the next day, and 20.12 mb of data the third day. The total amount of data subtracted from your balance would be 141.74 mb. I've learned that, when you need to use data, enable it, then disable it when you are done to conserve.

So far I've used about 212 mb.

 

[Music Lover]

I've been having trouble getting Pandora's app to play continuously. After every song, it stops as if it can't load the next one. It also freezes after it plays an ad. If it continues, I may uninstall it and try out some other apps I'm interested in.

Edited to add: Could be an issue with the connection switching between 3G and 1X at most places I'm at during the day.

 

[Music Lover]

Some stations have their own dedicated apps. I know Soft 'N Easy Net Radio has their own app.

Just recently got their app. Their app will run smoothly until the connection switches from 3G to 1X.

 

[Music Lover]

Second, actually, the post applies to the thread because I mentioned earlier in the conversation about a new phone I've gotten to run apps now.

Anyway, some more about the phone:

While I'm enjoying this new phone, I'm having an issue with the battery. For the past couple of days since I've gotten it, it has only been running for 5-6 hours before needing to be re-charged. I called Tracfone's customer service and they agreed that the charge lasting only 5-6 hours doesn't sound right. They are going to send a new battery for the phone. If that doesn't work, may have to return the phone. Today, however, it's been running longer. Maybe it just didn't get charged enough before I started using it.

Putting it in Sleep mode has helped tremendously with the battery issue.

 

[Music Lover]

I've been having trouble getting Pandora's app to play continuously. After every song, it stops as if it can't load the next one. It also freezes after it plays an ad. If it continues, I may uninstall it and try out some other apps I'm interested in.

Edited to add: Could be an issue with the connection switching between 3G and 1X at most places I'm at during the day.

Played Pandora's app for a few minutes today. It's that switching that causes the freezing problem.

 

[frankberry]

1X may not be fast enough for music streaming.

 

[vchimpanzee]

My Internet is "always on". That's what the phone company calls it. I turn off the computer most of the time. I have speakers now but when I asked my speed so I could know how to respond to people here and on the other site, I was told 128K to 256K. I'm guessing that's not fast enough.