James Cridland is Managing Director of media.info, and an Australia-based radio futurologist. He is a consultant, writer and public speaker who concentrates on the effect that new platforms and technology are having on the radio business. Find out more or subscribe at http://james.cridland.net
James Cridland sends us his weekly links with this note:
It’s been fun listening in inRadio, the new (UK-focused) radio station for radio people. I’m on it: at least, I’m sending them a new piece of audio every week, and hopefully Mr Roy is actually using them. As a concept, it’s interesting to see how new technology is making it easier to launch real niche radio stations like this. And, of course, inRadio’s audio advertising won’t get stripped out by the ad-blockers: for now, anyway.
Meanwhile, media.info’s AdSense revenue hit a new low last month; and I read that UK mobile operator 3 is to automatically block all ads on its network. I wonder how many radio stations are still earning sensible revenues from ad banners, and who are going to drop them in the next site redesign?
Good luck to all involved in the upcoming digital multiplex launch in the UK. Loads more choice for UK listeners, which is great news.
James Cridland’s articles
- My column from this week – Finland – a radio app that does more than you’d expect. And if you’d like to hear this column, then, here it is on Audioboom.
- In case you missed it, my previous column – Radio and Cars, the best of friends
- Watch: new advertising for Fox FM in Melbourne. I like these, though strangely under-whelming.
- Goodbye bandwith bills? BitTorrent is testing live streaming
United States
- Tom Taylor Now was a fascinating read in this issue last week – court cases galore with really dirty washing being aired from US radio
- Nice comparison of Las Vegas stations: who’s doing a good job, and who doesn’t care much. (Most are the latter)
- “Let’s talk about audio” says Mike Mignano – telling us that radio isn’t interactive, which is, politely, bollocks. However, this app, Anchor, looks good. It won’t work on Android, nor an iPod Touch, so I can’t see it. But is it any good?
- For Radio Programmers, Streaming Data Is Key Audience Insight – this is a ten year-old observation, at the very least, but even so, repetition is a good thing.
- Why Radio Still Shapes Elections in 2016 – interesting story about power of radio to change opinions
- Many small TV stations may soon be forced off the air – this is sad, though perhaps IPTV can’t come fast enough for these services
- How covering the Flint water crisis has changed Michigan Radio
- The NYT covers a podcast that’s three hours long, and the guy who runs it doesn’t care whether anyone hears it. Vanity broadcasting at its very best, and the NYT gives them credibility. Hmm.
United Kingdom
- Good thoughts from Adam Bowie on the new UK commercial multiplex; and the new Virgin Radio UK
- Ofcom study on how children use media. The word ‘radio’ appears three times in a 49 page document. Just saying.
- “STOP THE PRESSES! The Independent is Dead. Long Live the Independent.” Jeff Jarvis celebrates the UK newspaper’s print demise. Meanwhile, Trinity Mirror are apparently launching a new one, because, er, ah.
- ‘Video didn’t kill the radio star’ – slightly random Buggles quote from my ex boss Ashley Highfield, who’s response to me on Twitter made it clear he doesn’t know I collect them
- Woeful user experience tests from Rupert Brun about DAB+ in the UK. Because DAB+ didn’t help the 50% target, nobody bothered with it. And this is what we’ve now got.
- Have 24-hour TV news channels had their day? Surprisingly naive and at times utterly wrong piece (albeit a little old)
Australia
- Watch: new advertising for Fox FM in Melbourne. I like these, though strangely under-whelming
- Audiocraft – interesting looking Sydney conference about radio and podcast storytellers
- Amazing, challenging, writing from Craig Bruce. I don’t know any better programming thought leader
Elsewhere
- Canada: Another US$2.1m from the community radio fund of Canada to stations.
- Nordics: Bauer Media extends KISS to Norway and Finland (If you’ve seen me talk, remember the ‘brand consolidation’ bit?)
- Vatican City: Vatican Radio is 85 years old
- UAE: In the internet age, radio still rules the world – nice piece for World Radio Day
- Europe: Useful and interesting figures from the EBU as to how radio is doing. (Stable reach, tiny decline in hours).
- New Zealand: Paul Henry – carried on both radio and TV in New Zealand – is slightly unhappy at the newspapers
- South Korea: Lazy Buggles headline. Also: think the whole internet is going mobile now? It isn’t – not even here.
- Geneva: EBU’s Mathias Coinchon elected as new RadioDNS Chair – congrats!
- South Africa: Reports of radio’s death are greatly exaggerated – good piece we should remember. With bonus Buggles quote.
- Japan: What was once Nokia MixRadio is just about to be closed. Another Pandora-a-like that can’t pay its bills.