If you own a DVR and have realized that watching television is an entirely new and fresh experience when you truly are in control, then have I got a product for you.
In case you missed the announcement yesterday, one of the many features of the new iPod Nano is an FM tuner. But not just any FM tuner mind you. Side note: I honestly think those in the industry clamoring for an FM transmitter to be added to everything from your toaster to your blow dryer are wasting their time. The need still exists to think of your radio station beyond your terrestrial FM signal.
Having said that, I underestimated the power of a company like Apple to completely reinvent the experience. If you’re like me and own a DVR, or listen to podcasts often, or generally appreciate the power of time shifting the content you consume, you too may have found yourself reaching for your radio dial attempting to do the impossible: rewind the feed to confirm you did indeed just hear the phrase “F hole.”
Guess what? You can do that now. Interrupted while listening? Pause the song that’s playing and pick up where you left off. If the station allows song tagging, you can even “bookmark” the song so that the next time you sync your Nano with iTunes, you can go through your list of tagged songs, preview them and purchase the ones you want.
I’ve recently begun to notice more and more the “radio is not where it’s at” montra. If you’re an artist or a label, replacing radio as a destination for your music is not only unwise, it’s just plain dumb. Why would you when radio listening could directly result in the purchase of one of your songs?
Don’t look now but I think listening to the radio just became cool again; for the average consumer as well as the industry. Thanks Apple.
Am I wrong? Do these seem like cool features to you as a consumer? Do you like the idea of being able to pause your radio? Rewind it? Fast forward it? Tag a song? What difficulties does this present for advertisers, if any?
Filed under: Music Industry, The Future of Radio | Tagged: Apple, iPod, Nano, radio, tags, YouTube | Leave a comment »
Truth...Justice...All That Stuff... 