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Radio Station Websites

D

DavidZ

Just curious what everyone thinks about the importance of station websites. Are they important to the overall station image? Do stations that lack regular updates or have little or no content impact on-line listening? Do you think that on-line listening translates to more listeners for a terrestrial radio station?

Some examples of incomplete websites in the Boston area that I can think of are WPLM-FM (under construction forever), WCRN-AM (under construction since Mike Roberts was shown the door), and WNEB-AM (under construction since a format flip earlier this year). I know that these stations are in smaller station groups and/or are independent stations but I would think in this day and age of everyone getting their information from the web, more of an emphasis would be placed on an updated web presence.

Speaking of on-line listening, is there any tracking done of those of us that primarily listen on the web? Also wondering if on-line listeners are included in any ratings.
 
raccoonradio said:
speaking of on-line listening, WMWM finally starts webstreaming on Monday though beta testing is going on
Click to expand...

Now you'll have to start following the Digital Millennium Copyright Act regulations for broadcast stations that also stream on the web, or risk a huge fine:

* Not more than four tracks played by the same artist or group within any three hour period, and the fourth track played by the same artist or group must be separated from the first three by a different artist or group.

* Not more than three tracks played from the same album, CD, or compilation within any three hour period, and the third track played from the same album, CD, or compilation must be separated from the first two by a track from a different album, CD, or compilation.

Some stations comply, and some don't. At WMBR (and at WUMB when I worked there), the managements choose to comply, better to be safe than sorry. Other college stations WZBC, WMFO and WHRB don't. As for the commercial stations, it sounds to me like the Greater Media stations comply, but the CBS stations don't. WATD in Marshfield doesn't. Don't know about the others.
 
Station websites are important, as a listener I believe they should have the following:

  • online streaming
  • list of artists/music that they play
  • Air shifts and bios of personalities
  • Location & a list of actual call letters
  • A link for either feedback or equests
 
You're on the honor system with requests (they're afraid someone may actually record a song someone wants,
off the air!) Did that person call in at 1:30, or 12:30, or did they see you on the street at 11 and they asked
you then for the song after you told them you'd be on at noon?
 
Well yeah, I never said that they would actually play the request, just that they would take them instead. ;D

BTW, I was listening to a certain 80's radio show a few years back and made an equest that they play "We Close Our Eyes" by Go West. They emailed me back saying sorry, we do not have that one. I was surprised, but happy that the radio announcer would take the time to write back. I even wrote a follow up and he even wrote back then as well.
 
Eli Polonsky said:
"Your program must not be part of an 'interactive service.' For your purposes, this means that you cannot perform sound recordings within one hour of a request by a listener or at a time designated by the listener."
Click to expand...

Can't you just say "We are legally prohibited from playing requests. So if you ask me to play something, I CANNOT PLAY IT! However, I'm always interested in learning what songs and artists Wxxx listeners enjoy."
 
So far the thread has been music-centric. What features would you expect to find on the website of a news/talk station?
 
Eli Polonsky said:
raccoonradio said:
http://wiki.live365.com/pmwiki.php?n=Broadcasting.DMCA
Click to expand...

Whoa, I didn't know about this one:

"Your program must not be part of an 'interactive service.' For your purposes, this means that you cannot perform sound recordings within one hour of a request by a listener or at a time designated by the listener."

Screw that. Maybe I just won't say that a song is by request when I play it. How would they know?
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats a dumb rule, however is that only online though? I made a request on Oldies a while back and Mighty Mike had it on within 20 minutes!
 
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
So far the thread has been music-centric. What features would you expect to find on the website of a news/talk station?
Click to expand...

These as mentioned before:

online streaming
Air shifts and bios of personalities
Location & a list of actual call letters

Plus Top News Stories.
Podcasts (if a newstation.)
Special interests stuff.
Links to syndicated programs and times aired.
Traffic and weather information.
 
Retro said:
Eli Polonsky said:
raccoonradio said:
http://wiki.live365.com/pmwiki.php?n=Broadcasting.DMCA
Click to expand...

Whoa, I didn't know about this one:

"Your program must not be part of an 'interactive service.' For your purposes, this means that you cannot perform sound recordings within one hour of a request by a listener or at a time designated by the listener."

Screw that. Maybe I just won't say that a song is by request when I play it. How would they know?
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats a dumb rule, however is that only online though? I made a request on Oldies a while back and Mighty Mike had it on within 20 minutes!
Click to expand...

It's for broadcast stations that also stream their audio on the web. They don't have to comply on the airwaves only, but they would have to either shut off their stream, or run a different program on the stream.

There are some stations that shut off their stream for an hour every weekend so that they can legally do a weekly album feature in its entirety over the air only (public radio station WFUV in NYC does that).

At MIT's non-comm WMBR, the management will agree to shut off the stream for a show if a DJ has a special artist feature or tribute planned that would exceed the DMCA artist airplay regulations.

However, as I mentioned, the CBS stations (WODS, WZLX, etc...) don't seem to comply with the DMCA at all. I know they're not shutting off their streams for that 10:00 PM Beatles feature on 103.3 or the 8:00 PM "Box Set" on 100.7.

Greater Media does seem to comply. WROR trimmed their "Beatle Break" down to three songs from four or five when they started streaming.
 
MarcB said:
Speaking of radio station websites - Is it just me or has WPLM's website been under construction for 10 years?
Click to expand...

Well they did have more of a website a couple years ago that I know at least had a schedule of the airstaff on it. There wasn't much other than that though. The site has been in it's current configuration since after Christmas in 2006, when they adjusted their format somewhat, going more towards mainstream AC.
 
Retro said:
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
So far the thread has been music-centric. What features would you expect to find on the website of a news/talk station?
Click to expand...

These as mentioned before:

online streaming
Air shifts and bios of personalities
Location & a list of actual call letters

Plus Top News Stories.
Podcasts (if a newstation.)
Special interests stuff.
Links to syndicated programs and times aired.
Traffic and weather information.
Click to expand...

That's a good list.

Reading through this thread, and thinking of all the station websites I have visited, it has dawned on me what is missing.

Everything flows one directions. What can we do for the listener. Particularly in the case of niche stations, including news/talk, there doesn't seem to be a lot of focus on what can we get flowing from the listener to the station.

Making a music request by e-mail comes up now and then. I can't remember seeing a good on-line mechanism to get news tips, traffic info, community events notices, rain gauge readings, high school sports scores, funneled into the station. Why not a page where the listener could try their hand at writing a commentary or editorial to submit for consideration? Why not a "how to" page showing listeners who would like to prepare audio bits to submit.

How about a puzzle or quiz question that you would submit your answer, your guess on line, and then be incentivized to be listening when the correct answer or the winner is announced.

...
 
Some stations comply, and some don't. At WMBR (and at WUMB when I worked there), the managements choose to comply, better to be safe than sorry. Other college stations WZBC, WMFO and WHRB don't. As for the commercial stations, it sounds to me like the Greater Media stations comply, but the CBS stations don't. WATD in Marshfield doesn't. Don't know about the others.


Funny I asked someone I know (on air at WMBR) if the station complied with the
DMCA rules and he looked at me like I had two heads. I think the quote was. I go in I do my show no one ever told me anything about that. I do my show I don't keep track of what I play and then I go home.
If they do comply with DMCA at WMBR they are keeping it a secret. I think he thought they have an exception because it's MIT. Ha HA HA !!
 
buick59 said:
Funny I asked someone I know (on air at WMBR) if the station complied with the
DMCA rules and he looked at me like I had two heads. I think the quote was. I go in I do my show no one ever told me anything about that. I do my show I don't keep track of what I play and then I go home.
If they do comply with DMCA at WMBR they are keeping it a secret. I think he thought they have an exception because it's MIT. Ha HA HA !!
Click to expand...

Is it one of the fairly new staff members? The WMBR management (actually, the alumnus who is the President of the Board of Trustees) lectured the staff about complying with the DMCA a few years ago, but they haven't kept it up. I wouldn't be surprised if newer staff (especially newer students) haven't heard about it.

I have heard some of the newer shows, especially ones that are on late at night, violate the DMCA. There was a late night show just last year that was playing whole CD's all the way through.

I'm still complying on my show, as are just about all the other longtime community members. I don't want any chance for the station to be fined on my watch, and you know that these regulations are all about greed and collecting fines from violators... because they can.
 
MarcB said:
Speaking of radio station websites - Is it just me or has WPLM's website been under construction for 10 years?
Click to expand...

I look at that site once in a while and wonder what the problem is with finishing it. Could it be money? They really should put something up there.
 
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