Jacksonville Internet Radio

[John FL]

Internet radio has been around for a while. What I’m noticing, more and more, is it has gotten far better than just a jukebox. Local and often legendary talent is finding home there as well doing what they love to do – play great music and be themselves. Former station brands/formats are returning as well.

South Florida has this- http://www.southfloridaradio.com It’s done very well. There’s a great collection of formats and some actually bring back incredible memories. Some feature some of the legendary personalities from the area. I lived in South Florida from the 70’s to the late 90's and I remember some of these stations just as they are presented.

What about Jacksonville? Think about the talent over the last 25+ years who probably still live in the area and have name recognition. Think about all the great formats and station brands that are gone – Rock 105, Planet 107.3, Cool 96.9, 102.9 The Point, Groovin’ Oldies, Magic 107.3 or even Rooster Country.

I have no idea what it takes to pull something like this together. Other markets seem to do it. Imagine a place where displaced listeners and radio talent can come together enjoying a radio product that no longer exists commercially.

I’ve read a number of things about those who create and/or contribute to such sites. Virtually all of these are built out of frustration as to what currently exists on the air. Maybe that can be the motivator in Jax too.

The handwriting is on the wall. Let’s face it. The last move @ 105.3 didn’t bring anything unique to the market. Another terrible disappointment. The reality is there are 3-4 stations each in select format genres and that’s it. If there isn’t any room for some of us, maybe we should find our space elsewhere.

There’s lots I’d love to see happen with Jacksonville Radio. The internet may indeed be the answer. I hope someone or a few people can start with at least bringing back one station and building from there. It’s something I believe would generate some interest, especially among the nostalgia crowd. Perhaps local sponsorship can help. I don't have the answers. Thoughts?

 

[Groove1670]

Internet radio has got much better. The only issue... turning listeners into $$$$. A local advertiser isn't going to care about someone in Washington. FM radio is still hyperlocal (and still is accessed easily - Free). Now for a national talent with a following that can charge a subscription, That is a winning situation.

 

[John FL]

I posted this subject for a variety of reasons. At a minimum, I truly believed there would be interest from the techie folks for starters. This was not an easy endeavor and it took the cooperation of many independent sites to come together to build a repository as well as a currently programed site. Legendary talent from the market found a little gig for themselves. I think that’s so cool, especially for long-time listeners and fans.

For the radio enthusiasts both in and out of the business, I really thought there would be positive reaction as well. Surely, airchecks of Jacksonville’s past exist among a number of formats. That could be at least a great starting point.

There are no doubt lots of reasons why an endeavor like this would not be made. That’s the sort of thing we hear in Jacksonville – all the reasons why something/formats/music playlists would not work instead of the reasons why they possibly could work.

I’ve often said South Florida is a very dynamic radio market. It’s hard to explain but when I get to a certain mile marker & the stations come in loud & clear I’m like a kid in a candy store. Perfect it is not but at least there is some life and I still hear great songs there that are not aired here. I return there next week for a family reunion and I’m so ready to leave!

While I don’t think comparing two different markets justifies my talking points, I do believe in this case it shows a level of enthusiasm there that sadly doesn’t exist here in Jacksonville. Honestly, I see very little evidence of it on these boards.

Over the last several months there have been a number of newsworthy events that should have been reported on this board. No one bothered. Just over this past weekend, there was a Country Music Festival. I saw Cindy Spicer of WQIK on TV being interviewed. This was a big event and I’m sure the station won a number of points with listeners. Recently, Cox Media did not renew a sh*t load of contracts. Their radio news outlet has undergone a re-imaging. Nothing was worth mentioning. I can go on.

Maybe I’m feeling a little reflective. Casey Kasem’s passing saddened me. While this was expected, so much is vanishing before our ears/eyes. Jacksonville doesn’t even offer the syndicated program anywhere on the FM dial. There is no retro Top 40 format in Jacksonville. Casey’s voice will live on because repositories exist and other markets feature the program.

Our current music format offerings go from Steve & Edie to Phil Collins & beyond with nothing in between. Sad that it doesn’t appear anyone wants to do anything about that. I realize there has been lots of disappointment with the loss of some formats and what has replaced them and many of you have chosen to stifle yourselves. So, it would be nice if Jacksonville had a repository & online radio site too as a local alternative. Maybe that could help bring back some enthusiasm. I don't know anymore as things are very grim here. I’m just sayin.’

 

[bclark71.]

As terrible as this may sound, I would absolutely get involved in the creation and programming of an internet station…as long as there was some sort of revenue stream involved. I think if marketed the right way, a Jax-centric format would work. Retro-CHR. The main issue is that it wouldn’t be available via terrestrial signal, and therefore would probably require the use of a smartphone and data. So it has to be worth it for the listener to eat up data ($) to listen. Certainly, you could hear it on a home computer, but I don’t think people sit and listen to the radio anymore. Maybe bars and restaurants for the 40-plus crowd would turn it on, but usually they have sports on. Or they won’t care about the talking (interactive) aspect of it and would want straight music. We can get that from our mp3 players, right?

I have always wanted to host an all-request, phones-heavy show, Friday or Saturday nights. In a beach town like Jacksonville, this would have been a heck of a lot of fun…in 1985. Today I don’t know if people would care enough to support it (or even try to find it).

The older I get, the more I know that radio has passed me by.

 

[John FL]

The older I get, the more I know that radio has passed me by.

Don't feel that way, I don't. You presented a realistic assessment of internet radio in Jax, especially along the lines of revenue. I tend to dream. Much of what I say is also out of frustration as well and I know you and many others understand.