KUBE Tune into Technology seminar

[Steenman]

In case you weren't there thought I'd update the board on the seminar KUBE held on Thursday. It was in the Clear Channel Theater, I'd guess close to 100 in attendance, all clients or partners of the station. The main gist of the event was how KUBE is using technology like text messaging, and the integration of my space, face book and other web sites with the kube93.com site. They are also making proprietary content available to their listeners via that platform. Eric Powers made a nice presentation as did Gus Swanson, I had heard most of it before but it was worth hearing again. The only glitch was that they decided to do a giveaway via text messaging and a number of people (including me) couldn't get cell service in that room and then the gal that won the prize wasn't really the winner. The lesson being that technology is still pretty darn fickle at this point. The larger picture is how radio stations can use the power of the internet to further their relationship with their listeners, and also how media is looking to continue to monitize (as in make $$) from their website ventures. Clear Channel has as least a good a grasp on it as anyone else and is putting dedicated attention to it. I think the future or radio is very closely connected to the internet, especially if you're a younger demo station like KUBE.

 

[AQH]

Good post, very informative.

I hope the people who strut around here and think the only thing to do is program the hard drive's music and spin the voicetracks realize there IS a lot more stuff to do in the house. It might not be as sexy and you might not get all the freebies you want, but it is essential to taking stations to another level.

Props to Powers at KUBE. No, the technology isn't brand-new, but being involved in this is very good, and demonstrates that KUBE is serious about being a station that is not afraid to use other technologies to grow its brand.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

I don't mean this as a detraction from what CC and others are doing ... but specifically on the subject of text messaging, I'm not sure I get why it's so critical!! KUBE and KISS (and END) can benefit to some degree because texting is in their demo; but the "older" guys who run text messaging companies are trying to push things like "do your recruiting on text messaging" ... or "text the audience when their song is about to play" and so forth. Those aren't show-stopping applications. Texting people to avoid serious traffic issues ... now it gets interesting.

My biggest complaint about techology and media (and I'm smack in the middle of all that) is that just because a toy is FUN doesn't always mean it is relevant. I constantly preach that the solutions that SOLVE A PROBLEM are the ones that have a chance. Steenman's reference to "proprietary content" is MORE interesting and relevant, I think, than the texting issue. Think of how many things we have flushed through that aren't being used or never got traction simply because they were pushed as "this is COOL".

I could go on for pages here about why internet + media struggles so much. Bottom line is it's an ideal marriage, but the culture within the media side tends to screw up any forward momentum. That could be anything from "we're not going to SPEND on the internet...we're just going to wait until we can MAKE money with it" to "everyone can post anything on their from their desktop ... it's part of their job". In the same way that "anyone can go down the hall and talk on our station" --- it needs to have some EDITORIAL vision too with regard to making it cohesive and appropriate to the audience the station reaches. Jamming a bunch of ads, revenue initiatives, and a link to "weather.com" isn't going to do it.

So kudos to Swanson et al for at least making the effort to get the people in the room, raise the flag on what they are doing ... and raising awareness at the same time. The only bummer is all this should have happened about ten+ years ago!!! CBS was saddled with Mel who held them back for years ... CC went through a bunch of corporate initiatives that held them back ... and no one else wanted to spend any $$ to make it go.

Good news is there is STILL a sliver of time for players to make it right.