Radio Apps & Technology

[John FL]

Over the holidays I got a new toy – an Android HTC 4G phone. I was told I could connect a cable in an AUX jack on the car radio to the phone and via whatever downloaded radio App I chose such as Radio.com, any station offered in that app can play through the radio speakers in the car. I don't have BlueTooth either if that would be needed - it would be a waste given how little I talk on the phone while driving.

My car (2006 Toyota Camry) from what I can tell doesn’t have an AUX radio jack. I’m thinking who can bother going through all that. Seriously, I’ve never been happier with radio in Jax now that we finally have a Greatest Hits format. It’s all I listen to, especially in the car. In the future, I can see sharing my listening habits with other Greatest Hits stations across the country if I can just set it and forget it when internet radio is equipped as standard in cars.

I have to wonder if these radio apps are really as popular as all the hype. For Jax/North Florida, is there any data that shows this kind of technology making any kind of inroads in listening habits? I would think traditional radio listening is still pretty big. Maybe it's just me but I don't think about hearing radio via smart phone but then I'm a little slow on the uptake on new things.

For meter markets, I know the meter would not pick up listening that isn’t heard – like listening via a headset. I’m not sure if the meter picks up listening to radio via streaming either through a computer or through Smart Phones. If someone can clarify, that would be great. But it seems for radio stations that don’t embrace technology or encourage their talent to embrace it as well, especially with social networking with listeners, it will be tough to compete.

 

[MicroPhoney]

I think they're totally worth it and I use mine all the time. It's my understanding that in most cases if a station is encoding for PPM then it's pretty much encoded no matter the platform it's delivered on. http://www.arbitron.com/portable_people_meters/thesystem_ppm.htm This link implies that for sure.

I have an EVO 4g and the bad part is that the different companies are competing with one another in the app area. It's akin to each broadcaster inventing their own proprietary radio. I have iHeartRadio for CC station, Radio.com for CBS and then I also use AOR and WunderRadio. It'd be nice if all the stations would come through one reliable app.

The AUX thing will be a non-factor soon as older cars filter out of the market. Almost any new car has it. On that front I get alot of engine interference when I stream on my EVO. It's evolving technology but It'll happen, just takes time. more and more streams are showing up in the ratings and that's not likely to reverse.

 

[cceng1]

My wife listens to "monsters" on WTKS in Orlando every morning while she gets ready for work and also while driving to work...she plugs here Blackberry into the "aux input" on her car radio and it really sounds quite good in the car....a little "tinny" listening direct on the Blackberry's very small speaker. She uses the Iheart Radio app.

cceng

 

[John FL]

Yeah, you guys were right....I was making a bigger deal about it than it needed to be. At least for now, I have the CBS Radio app Radio.com and the CC app iHeartRadio as most of my listening involves stations in the CC and CBS Radio families. I agree with MicroPhoney though, I wish there was one universal app. 2 of my favorite Miami stations WMXJ and WLYF don't appear to have an Android app. There's enough to listen to as is.

 

[John FL]

Oops, I forgot to ask this. I noticed the spots running on WJGH (Magic 107-3) on the phone differed from what was on the air. I understand the reasons for that. But what I'd like to know is if running spots via the internet is not only cost-effective especially to small business but brings results as well. In a market like Jax, I really have no idea how much listening is taking place on platforms other than a regular car or home clock/table top radio.

When I've talked to a number of mainly small business owners to consider advertising on Magic as an example, the overall feeling is the cost is too high and some seem to prefer the Mint/Money/Folio kind of route. I'm sure the internet spots would be cheaper than tradional on-air ads but does anyone know if this means is gaining success? Just curious.