Music Royalty Talk....

[Jay Peninger]

The RIAA and NAB are now trying to backdoor a cellphone mandate that would require FM radios in cell phones... How on earth do they even think such a mandate would be possible, do they honestly think cell phone makers are going to sit on the sideline and let it happen???

http://www.komonews.com/news/tech/101040459.html

 

[Bongwater]

What I can't understand is FM radios the size of candy bars and matchbooks are pretty underperforming as they are. Now add FM radio to a cell phone on top of everything else expected of these things and I shudder to think.....Something's got to give if they're going to make it work.

And is there an actual CONSUMER demand for this? Me thinks not. There was a time when adding a radio to a toaster sounded like a neat idea. But somehow, people were more content to keep them separate.

And finally, why go through all that hassle when you already can get all the radio you want through the various apps already offered?

It's like adding an 8-Track tape player to a ceiling fan. Might work if people actually wanted that. But I'm guessing since radios are pretty ubiquitous and cheap as they are and most die-hard high-tech fans aren't asking for that anymore than a cell phone that plays actual cassette tapes, I feel like it's all a waste of time and money on all sides.

Just let it go, NAB.

The times, they-are-a-changin'........

 

[crainbebo]

Will we have new twitter tweets and facebook messages like:

"Breaking...just got KINK 101.9 on this little tiny radio"? You never know...



-crainbebo

 

[SRP]

Uh, Nokia has been putting FM chips in their cell phones for some time now. Even the really cheap ones like you can find at Wal-Mart for $20. Apple has a FM tuner in the Nano and is rumored to have the capability built into the iPhone. So what?

Let's get back to the "good ol' days" on the board when AQH, Guru and Bongwater battled over his inability to get radio stations to put a station with his programming philosophy on the air. That was less boring than this thread.

 

[TVradioguru]

With all do respect; I vote we not revisit more of that...

Not to be too boring, but I recently read the NAB/RAB position on the motivation for putting FM tuners in phones and portable devices and is being presented to Congress. Their position, which is gaining traction in political circles, is that radio must be included so consumers have an immediate place to turn in case of natural or human-made disasters or news. In reading the draft, they actually make a good point.

I wouldn't dismiss this out of hand yet. It could very well pass.

 

[Bongwater]

Let's get back to the "good ol' days" on the board when AQH, Guru and Bongwater battled over his inability to get radio stations to put a station with his programming philosophy on the air. That was less boring than this thread.

I would, but I'm too busy enjoying Triple J on my Android to even care......

http://www.triplej.net.au

 

[Jay Peninger]

Then why not demand that they put FM chips in all fast food drive thru's I am sure more Americans come in contact with them than do cell phones...

 

[DJ Alan]

This should have been done long ago... and I for one feel that AM should be included too.

The wireless carriers have been against the plan only because it allows the user to listen to music/content/whatever without racking up huge data charges. Just one of the best reasons to add FM (and someday AM) tuners to all wireless devices is for emergency use, as traditional radio broadcasting is so much less prone to failure in some emergency situations/conditions. IT systems have too many points of potential failure that can easily 'break' during power interruptions, communication line breaks, etc., whereas radio is more reliable... plus you get all the content without the data/streaming charges.

As for my reasons to add AM to the bandwagon; 1)There is content that can only be found on some AM stations. 2) The audio quality is fine for many listeners... Admit it!- How many times have you been subjected to a friends Ipud/MP3 player/computer that had a crappy sounding song playing on it at 22k sample rate/64kbps---- and THEY THINK IT SOUNDS JUST FINE while you yourself are ready to slit your wrists in audio pain. Hell AM can sound FREAKIN' GREAT with a decent receiver. The problem with adding a decent AM tuner to the smaller handhelds will be the issue of a receiving antenna that can be made small enough to cram in there with all of the other components, and the issue of interference from the high frequency components present in current Wi-Fi and cell systems.

...I remember my Grandma had a Westinghouse can opener with an attached AM radio. It was from the early 60's. Think Canned Heat, Yummy Yummy Yummy… Any more?

DJ Alan

 

[Jay Peninger]

Then if public safety is their main concern why not mandate every house must have an emergency hand crank radio because in any disaster that is more than a few days in length your cellphone is useless when the battery is dead. And lets be realistic how many people actually know how to do more than answer a call and check messages on their phones?

The issue I have is government mandating what features my cellphone has, what is next? Do we put GPS tracking chips in all children's shoes so we can keep tabs on them at all times?

It is a slippery slope when you lobby congress to mandate rules like this because it opens a door that can't be easily closed.

 

[Bongwater]

The problem is generational to a degree. Most older folks are confused enough by all the gadgetry on a typical cell phone. Most are worried about radiation. Or the thing twittering. Or googling. Or giving them "blue teeth".

Adding a radio chip won't solve this.

On the other paw, 97.3 to anyone under 20 are the chances the name "Justin Bieber" will pop up somewhere in their social network. A radio is for "old people" (i.e. any of us over 30) that doesn't play 24/7 Justin Bieber or Insane Clown Posse (Wanna get HD noticed by the kids? 24/7 ICP should do it.)

Or that's another reason to keep things separate.

DJ Alan made some good points. But in order to accommodate a DECENT radio receiver in these things, we'll have to give up our tiny little screens and buttons and go back to those big heavy "bricks" we used to carry around back in the '80s. Radio technology has come forward in many areas. But basic AM & FM receivers hasn't really had a serious improvement since PLL. (I'm not talking about HD here because it still has yet to be taken seriously by the general public, as well as most station owners/programmers.) AM Stereo was a great idea that got bungled horribly because nobody made any technical standards and manufacturing requirements from the start.

Which brings me to an even better idea: Why not require all new RADIO receivers come with HD and see if it flies?.....

THEN we'll discuss the cell phones....

 

[bossbill]

I own a few FM stations. I have an FM tuner in my droid. I used it once or twice. I don't need it, and I certainly wouldn't want a cellphone with AM-FM on it. I have enough of an issue with email, texting, and other things co-existing on my cellphone.

 

[scott salvatori]

i own a cell phone, i use it as a phone, and nothing else. i dont text, i dont play games, and i sure the hell wouldnt listen to a radio on it. we had these in the 70's..... little transistor radios.

now, if they could invent a cell phone with a spigot that provided cool clear water, or hot coffee, or cold beer. then i would make use of that.

warning: keep that cell phone away from your head...it'll microwave/heat up your brain , and give you headaches. scott uses speaker phone only!

 

[Bongwater]

I have really no use for a radio on this thing. If I can get WiMAX and wi-fi on it and it has audio, who needs it?

Why limit myself to just a few lame local terrestrial stations when I can hear any radio station in the world with an online feed I want?

Or Pandora. lastfm, Jamendo, Jelli or iTunes?

Or download some MP3s and make my own playlist?

This is what today's radio has to compete against. User-end interactivity has replaced the program director like automation replaced the DJ.

That's the facts. And radio as we all knew it ain't coming back. It MUST evolve or die

 

[Jay Peninger]

Was nice to see that BMW is putting a RadioTime powered in dash Web Radio in the new Mini Cooper and stations like THE X will be be available on it. Hoping this is a trend that continues with other models and mfg's...

 

[TVradioguru]

That's the facts. And radio as we all knew it ain't coming back. It MUST evolve or die

Nor should it come back, the past is the past. I do (shockingly) agree with your statement that any business must evolve or die. That being said, radio is evolving. Perhaps some of you here don't like what it is evolving into, but you are in the minority because free radio listening is at an all time high.

 

[AQH]

Or Pandora. lastfm, Jamendo, Jelli or iTunes?

You know Last.fm is now owned by CBS? Careful, you might actually be paying those evil corporate radio people a compliment.

That's the facts. And radio as we all knew it ain't coming back. It MUST evolve or die

Funny line, considering the few suggestions you have had for radio today is to resurrect the past.

Radio HAS been evolving over the past dozen years, just not the way you see fit.

 

[SRP]

That's the facts. And radio as we all knew it ain't coming back. It MUST evolve or die

Funny line, considering the few suggestions you have had for radio today is to resurrect the past.

Radio HAS been evolving over the past dozen years, just not the way you see fit.

Brillant - love it, AQH! ;D