iHeart Nonsense

[vadar]

My 12 year old daughter asked me an interesting question the other day. She said "daddy, does anyone really win those contests?" You know the 1000 promos that run on all CC stations saying be the 25th nationwide caller, or text this and that to get a chance to see 30 artists perform in Miami or Vegas or Timbuktu.

Seriously, aren't we just being flooded with all this iHeart nonsense. I know this is a big part of the overall CC strategy but I don't get it. I think the app is confusing and these promos just sound so unrealistic.

Thoughts please, am I way off or is this a legit programming/revenue strategy?

 

[gamefreak]

You could listen to hundreds of stations on iHeartradio, oh forgot, Clear Channel doesn't have any stations that really interest me. In Seattle, Richmond, New York or anywhere. The only station CC has that I think is worthwhile is Mix 100.7. Nationwide phone contests are also stupid, Cox Radio sucks but I must say that one thing that not even Cox gets into.

However I will grant C.C one thing, it does make it easier to listen to stations from other cities all on one site. However couldn't you just use a site like tunein.

 

[badjef]

Years ago, radio stations were owned individually with contests to intice you to listen. With companies owning so many radio stations throughout the Country, they are making use of them for one, or more, contests.

I have no problem with contests as it helps to make the listener feel more involved.

I don't think your odds of winning are any worse coast to coast, than it would if you were running a contest in New York only.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[frankberry]

I find it a bit odd that many other broadcasters has signed on to stream their stations on clear channels iHeart.. why?
Just line your biggest competitors pocket with your money.
It seems that Clear Channel has grown to the point where they have the clout to control the entire radio industry.

 

[frankberry]

Sorry about the poor English. Too many edits and not enough proof-reading.

I find it a bit odd that many other broadcasters have signed on to stream their stations on clear channels iHeart ... why?
Just line your biggest competitors pockets with your money.
It seems that Clear Channel has grown to the point where they have the clout to control the entire radio industry.

 

[badjef]

Sorry about the poor English. Too many edits and not enough proof-reading.

I find it a bit odd that many other broadcasters have signed on to stream their stations on clear channels iHeart ... why?
Just line your biggest competitors pockets with your money.
It seems that Clear Channel has grown to the point where they have the clout to control the entire radio industry.

At some point there will have to be some type of standardization for streaming audio in all facets of studio to listener. There will be bumbling and stumbling along the way. Iheart is not a fool proof method, but show me one that is besides conventional analogue radio.

Patience, my boy...

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[BIGRIGGER]

Jeff is correct. We're building a new spectrum, similar to analogue radio, where all the stations will live with one easy name to remember. Technology moves forward and so are we. As with anything I know it's easy to critique from the outside but you don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Sure we're gonna make some money from these other companies but bringing us all together on one easy to use website is no different than having us all on the same radio dial...it's just MUCH bigger. Even my 74 year old Mom uses it because it easy.

rig

 

[vadar]

Hey Biggy, how does a die hard 98 listener get a XL shirt? Will pay cash...........

 

[BIGRIGGER]

Lemme see if we still have some at the station. Shoot me an e-mail [email protected]

 

[DToTheJ]

...I will grant CC one thing, it does make it easier to listen to stations from other cities all on one site. However couldn't you just use a site like tunein.

CC yanked all of their streams from TuneIn so they were exclusive to iHeart. Likewise, CBS pulled all of their stations from TuneIn, only to reinstate the talk/spoken word stations to that app.

 

[radiofan11]

My 12 year old daughter asked me an interesting question the other day. She said "daddy, does anyone really win those contests?" You know the 1000 promos that run on all CC stations saying be the 25th nationwide caller, or text this and that to get a chance to see 30 artists perform in Miami or Vegas or Timbuktu.

Seriously, aren't we just being flooded with all this iHeart nonsense. I know this is a big part of the overall CC strategy but I don't get it. I think the app is confusing and these promos just sound so unrealistic.

Thoughts please, am I way off or is this a legit programming/revenue strategy?

Amen brother. I have TuneIn on my nook Color and iTouch and have no plan to get iHeart. Why?
1) TuneIn fulfills my radio listening needs. On TuneIn, I can get everything from BBC Radio 1 to my local radio stations. All for free.
2) No iHeart nonsense. Frankly, I don´t care if Elvis and the Beatles in hologram form are there, its all you hear on CC stations now and I´m sure its driving other people besides me away from their stations until late September.
3) I do question how much of it are actual ¨listeners¨ versus ¨music people¨ are there. Seems to me CC is more concerned about pimping iHeart versus Joe Schome music fan. After looking up ticket prices (Averaging $450), I´m going to stick by my guns and CC doesn´t just give away the good seats and gives the nosebleeders to the ¨winners¨.
4) Ryan Seacrest has his fingerprints all over this, and he just makes me : .

 

[badjef]

I figured by the title this would be a topic of unfounded complaints. I read it anyway.

I am glad some of you "meow-meows" didn't disappoint me.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Slinmet25]

Vadar, you make an excellent point. I posted the paragraph below on the Atlanta board when a similar topic came up.

I agree completely that the amount of air time dedicated to promoting these various companies online endeavors is way out proportion. The terrestrial companies online offerings are years behind what is available by internet specialists. It seems radio is becoming what many ad agencies wished for all along; simply promotional vehicles for selling a product at the cost of irritating or annoying listeners.

And radiofan11, there are many that share your perspective and "radio" usage. The NAB/RAB and the like, can put out propoganda all they want about terrestrial radio and its health but times have already changed. A generation or two now satifies much of their musical appetite with online options. The diversity of choices is just too great for many under the age of 35 (or even older) to resist. The online offerings of the big companies are mostly just inferior versions of their on-air signals. The losers are terrestrial and in the long run satellite radio. Satlelite's winners will only be Howard and Mel.

I recently stayed in a decent 3 star hotel (you could argue that's not possible lol) with NO clock radio in the room. The hotel industry is already figuring out the diminishing importance of traditional radio. Flat screen TVs and smartphone docking stations go in and good old radio goes out. In 3 years or less most hotel rooms will probably be without alarm clock radios.

 

[badjef]

...I recently stayed in a decent 3 star hotel (you could argue that's not possible lol) with NO clock radio in the room. The hotel industry is already figuring out the diminishing importance of traditional radio. Flat screen TVs and smartphone docking stations go in and good old radio goes out. In 3 years or less most hotel rooms will probably be without alarm clock radios.

The reason the radios are not being included in the rooms anymore is that they were being stolen.

...Sometimes you guys look too deep into things.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[BIGRIGGER]

better yet ...when was the last time anyone listened to a hotel radio anyway?? Those things were trash...Oh...that's another reason we're on iheart so when you're docked you CAN listen static free, and most of the time, COMMERCIAL free

r

 

[HadYourPhil]

I disagree that they were being stolen. They weren't worth more than $10. BigR is right.. they were crap radios.

 

[badjef]

I disagree that they were being stolen. They weren't worth more than $10. BigR is right.. they were crap radios.

You can disagree all you want with my assertion. I stick with and by it. I was very close to personnel in the hotels. Radios, micro/frigs, TVs, all get stolen the radio is the smallest and easiest.

They were crap radios but, I guess they make good Christmas presents for the youngsters...

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[vadar]

Try staying at a four or five star joint. Nicer radios than you've ever seen, trust me. I once stayed at a hotel with a Grundig FM/AM/SW radio on the nightstand. Impressive and yet tempting to walk out with it. Other hotels I have seen Bose, Sony and iHome units. They are nice units.

Long live terrestrial radio and not some pre-recorded, compressed and hyped garbage!!!

 

[badjef]

Try staying at a four or five star joint. Nicer radios than you've ever seen, trust me. I once stayed at a hotel with a Grundig FM/AM/SW radio on the nightstand. Impressive and yet tempting to walk out with it. Other hotels I have seen Bose, Sony and iHome units. They are nice units.

Long live terrestrial radio and not some pre-recorded, compressed and hyped garbage!!!

At $200/night and up, those hotels can afford a percentage of loss.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[flwfg]

If anything ends up missing, they add the inflated replacement charge to your credit card... At least I have seen a couple of signs in room indicating that...