Shouldn't stations be promoting FM-friendly devices?

[Nate Wesley]

The ' FM chip in iPhone' thread got me thinking that stations are missing a great opportunity to hang onto listeners. Why not promote a list of wireless phones and portable music players on your station's website:

"Don't buy a new phone or a new music player without visiting our website. We've got a list of the latest wireless phones and digital music players that have an FM radio, so you can take Hot Hits Talk Radio Z-98.6 with you, and we WON'T charge you data charges or downloading fees."

The genie is already out of the bottle on technology making the listening experience more personalized--much in the same way that radios tune to competing individual stations. So there's nothing for stations to lose by being right there as an option on the same device, I say. (At least with the wireless phones, there's an opportunity to work with a sponsor or two.) Thoughts? ???

 

[adma]

"Don't buy a new phone or a new music player without visiting our website. We've got a list of the latest wireless phones and digital music players that have an FM radio, so you can take Hot Hits Talk Radio Z-98.6 with you, and we WON'T charge you data charges or downloading fees."

And you'd be viewed like this

 

[SirRoxalot]

Let's face it - it's in the cell phone manufacturer's best interest to PROMOTE higher data charges and downloading fees. I suspect that the cell phone manufacturers don't care either way about including FM. The cell phone companies want to sell minutes and service packages, and FM radio reception could reduce both. Cell phones are sold mostly by cell phone companies, so the manufacturer's will support their sales channel.

 

[Roger That]

In my opinion, we still have to fix the product. There's still a TON of bad radio out there.

If the content is good, your audience will find a way to get it. Everyone assumes that radio is not marketed well. While that's part of it, what good is excellent marketing if you check out the product and it sucks?

The problem isn't that they don't have access to the product. It's that they don't care about it.

 

[Nate Wesley]

"Don't buy a new phone or a new music player without visiting our website. We've got a list of the latest wireless phones and digital music players that have an FM radio, so you can take Hot Hits Talk Radio Z-98.6 with you, and we WON'T charge you data charges or downloading fees."

And you'd be viewed like this

It. Still. Doesn't. Hurt. To. Mention. The. Fact. That. You. Can. Take. Your. Favorite. Station. With. You.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Let's face it - it's in the cell phone manufacturer's best interest to PROMOTE higher data charges and downloading fees. I suspect that the cell phone manufacturers don't care either way about including FM. The cell phone companies want to sell minutes and service packages, and FM radio reception could reduce both. Cell phones are sold mostly by cell phone companies, so the manufacturer's will support their sales channel.

I can't disagree, but to me that's still [overall] separate from radio in the fact that not all of those phone apps are music-based. They're all distractions that could keep one from listening to the radio, yes. But radio itself isn't really interested in taking away pure market share from Verizon, T-Mobile, etc. (who, it should be noted again, advertise with radio). They want your money, radio mostly wants your attention.