Last year broadcast TV went digital as stations across the country shut down their analog transmitters as per law. Not everyone owned a digital TV set, so provisions were made that allowed everyone the opportunity to get a converter box that converts digital broadcasts into analog so that everyone could continue to watch their favorite TV shows. Eventually, everyone, at some point will own a TV set with a digital receiver. As the transition takes place among consumers, the opportunity for them to own High Definition TV sets as opposed to Standard Definition TV sets, is being made possible by falling prices for High Definition sets. And, at some point, all TV transmissions well be in High Definition and all TV sets will receive High Definition.
But, what about Radio? Today, more and more radio stations are broadcasting in HD. However, the HD in HD Radio doesn't stand for High Definition. While there is a digital signal being transmitted, the analog transmission is still being transmitted as well. Radio has not been mandated to cease analog transmissions. So, everyone will always be able to receive their favorite Radio stations without the need to purchase an HD Radio receiver. But when we talk of HD with regard to Radio, the HD stands for Hybrid Digital.
Hybrid Digital allows a Radio station to transmit a digital version of their analog signal as well a a second channel, which can be used as a separate stream of programing. This is what's known as muticasting. Stations may use their second channel to broadcast news and weather or they may offer a completely different genre of music from the one that's being broadcast on their main channel
Hybrid Digital Radio makes use of what is know as I.B.O.C. or In Band On Channel. This means that Your HD Radio receiver first tunes into the analog frequency, scans for the digital signal and then locks it in once it finds it. Most HD Radio receivers are capable of playing both the analog and digital broadcasts and there are many brands available for use in your car or home.
Some have said that HD Radio sound quality is not all that the great. The truth is, is that HD Radio sound quality is very good. What people are actually talking about is HD Radio coverage. All signals that are transmitted digitally are subject to environmental obstruction. The result in digital TV broadcasts is what's known as pixelation, where the picture breaks up into small cubes or freezes altogether. HD Radio can suffer from a similar problem. But, since HD Radio receivers can play both broadcast signals, if the HD drops out, the analog signal is always there as a backup.
Actually, in all honesty, as a songwriter, I don't listen to as much radio as maybe you might think. The reasons why are enough for a blog post all it's own. Suffice it to say, my opinion is that HD Radio has a lot to offer, especially if stations are willing to use their second broadcast channels to air commercial free music or news and information. I know that this may not always be economically feasible, but for those stations that do, there is a greater chance of increasing their listenership, which, I think would be great for everybody.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
It's Here!
This week, Spotify landed in America. What is it, and why should you care? For years now, e-business has been trying to find a successful model for providing content at zero cost to consumers, as a way to promote their products or subscription services.
Of course iTunes and Rhapsody have been offering streaming of music files with great success for quite a while now. But, in the case of Spotify, the music is being made available to cell phones and other mobile devices, for free. Spotify is significant because it comes in two flavors, free ad supported and a two tiered subscription service. The trick has always been, figuring out how to make the free service pay for it self while attracting enough consumers to make a profit from the paid service.
Ever since the introduction of the iPhone, streaming media has been increasing in it's popularity. In my opinion, nothing could replace owning your own copy of an album or single. Streaming, however offers computer, laptop, and mobile users an opportunity to access music files that may not be readily available, otherwise.
One other thing that has also been problematic, seems to solved as well. That's the issue of paying artist for the use of their songs. Earlier this month, Soptify reached a licensing agreement with ASCAP (American Society of Composers Authors & Publishers) for the right to stream some 8.5 million musical works in ASCAP's repertory. This should not only serve to make everyone happy, but it meets the needs of everyone from the content provider to the artist and the consumer.
To try Spotify you have to be invited. You can either wait until they send you one or you can visit their website and place your email address on a waiting list. Or if you still can't wait, you can pay $4.99 a month for their unlimited tier which gets you hours of ad-free listening. For $9.99 a month the premium option gives you the unlimited hours, plus you get mobile device support and the ability to listen to music offline.
OK. Streaming is not new. iTunes is working. So why Spotify? Because it's working too. Europeans have been using it for years. If things go well here in America, it may be just the incentive to induce illegal down loaders to stop downloading illegally.
Of course iTunes and Rhapsody have been offering streaming of music files with great success for quite a while now. But, in the case of Spotify, the music is being made available to cell phones and other mobile devices, for free. Spotify is significant because it comes in two flavors, free ad supported and a two tiered subscription service. The trick has always been, figuring out how to make the free service pay for it self while attracting enough consumers to make a profit from the paid service.
Ever since the introduction of the iPhone, streaming media has been increasing in it's popularity. In my opinion, nothing could replace owning your own copy of an album or single. Streaming, however offers computer, laptop, and mobile users an opportunity to access music files that may not be readily available, otherwise.
One other thing that has also been problematic, seems to solved as well. That's the issue of paying artist for the use of their songs. Earlier this month, Soptify reached a licensing agreement with ASCAP (American Society of Composers Authors & Publishers) for the right to stream some 8.5 million musical works in ASCAP's repertory. This should not only serve to make everyone happy, but it meets the needs of everyone from the content provider to the artist and the consumer.
To try Spotify you have to be invited. You can either wait until they send you one or you can visit their website and place your email address on a waiting list. Or if you still can't wait, you can pay $4.99 a month for their unlimited tier which gets you hours of ad-free listening. For $9.99 a month the premium option gives you the unlimited hours, plus you get mobile device support and the ability to listen to music offline.
OK. Streaming is not new. iTunes is working. So why Spotify? Because it's working too. Europeans have been using it for years. If things go well here in America, it may be just the incentive to induce illegal down loaders to stop downloading illegally.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Free! Free! Free!
I bet that got your attention. I must admit that the lure of getting something for nothing is a very powerful one. A free CD or download is almost sure to get noticed. Before the internet, there was some free music but not like we find it today. The whole idea of offering free music via the internet, was as a way for independent artists to promote their latest CD releases or their up coming live shows. Their hope was to increase their audiences and in so doing, make a living making music.
One the earliest websites to host free music, was IUMA.com. The letters stood for, Internet Underground Music Archive. The site offered bands and artists free web pages from which they could showcase their music and network with other artists and musicians, as well as meet their fans. At one point the site had the largest selection of independent music on the internet. However, having found no clear business model to generate the revenue needed to keep the site online, it officially ceased operations in 2006, two years after being abandon by it's parent company, Buongiorno UL Ltd in 2004.
So, if money has always been an issue, how is that the notion that music should be free become so pervasive?
The internet has been the home of free stuff for most of its existence. There's been free utilities, free graphics, free email, and the list goes on. But, during the dot com boom of the mid to late 1990s, scores of businesses offering all kinds of products and services came online. While many never made a penny, one thing was clear. Making money via the internet had arrived. In the mid 90s Mp3.com was almost synonymous with free music. That, was until the company went public in 1999. While you can still get free downloads, they've put more emphasis on the offerings of major label artists.
What's the big deal anyway? Recorded music has nearly always had a price tag. And, there was a time that no one thought twice about how much their favorite artists' releases would cost. They were just glad to have new music. Today, at a basic cost of $.59 to $.99 per download of a single, getting that song that you can't get out of your head or the one that you'd be searching for a long time, sounds like a steal to me. I know that one of the biggest draw backs to buying anything on line is having the means to make the payment.
What I talking about, is eCommerce. One way to get that prized item that you've found online, is by setting up a PayPal account. PayPal is company that allows you to establish an account with funds taken from your credit card or bank account. It was founded in 1999 by Max Levchin and Peter Thiel. Payments are made via email. In its infancy, the company was closely linked to eBay users, but anyone can get a PayPal account.
Another, and very popular way to make online purchases is by using your credit or bank debit card. But, if you don't have either, fear not. Prepaid debit cards appear to be the way to go. Prepaid debit cards offer those with poor or no credit, as well anyone wishing to make purchases online, an easy way to buy goods or pay for services online. For about two dollars per transaction, a prepaid debit card can be loaded with any dollar amount that you specify. You don't over spend, because the limit is set by the amount that you place on the card. Walmart, netSpend, and Green Dot are just a few of the prepaid providers.
A recent Bloomberg article stated that recorded music sales rose by 8.5%, which is up from last year at this time. A lot of the increase was due to digital music sales. I think that it's too soon to tell whether a better product is the reason for this. It might mean that more and more artists are resisting the temptation to give their music away. Or, it could be that stronger measures are being taken against those who download illegally. Or, maybe recorded music is finally being viewed as something of value again.
One the earliest websites to host free music, was IUMA.com. The letters stood for, Internet Underground Music Archive. The site offered bands and artists free web pages from which they could showcase their music and network with other artists and musicians, as well as meet their fans. At one point the site had the largest selection of independent music on the internet. However, having found no clear business model to generate the revenue needed to keep the site online, it officially ceased operations in 2006, two years after being abandon by it's parent company, Buongiorno UL Ltd in 2004.
So, if money has always been an issue, how is that the notion that music should be free become so pervasive?
The internet has been the home of free stuff for most of its existence. There's been free utilities, free graphics, free email, and the list goes on. But, during the dot com boom of the mid to late 1990s, scores of businesses offering all kinds of products and services came online. While many never made a penny, one thing was clear. Making money via the internet had arrived. In the mid 90s Mp3.com was almost synonymous with free music. That, was until the company went public in 1999. While you can still get free downloads, they've put more emphasis on the offerings of major label artists.
What's the big deal anyway? Recorded music has nearly always had a price tag. And, there was a time that no one thought twice about how much their favorite artists' releases would cost. They were just glad to have new music. Today, at a basic cost of $.59 to $.99 per download of a single, getting that song that you can't get out of your head or the one that you'd be searching for a long time, sounds like a steal to me. I know that one of the biggest draw backs to buying anything on line is having the means to make the payment.
What I talking about, is eCommerce. One way to get that prized item that you've found online, is by setting up a PayPal account. PayPal is company that allows you to establish an account with funds taken from your credit card or bank account. It was founded in 1999 by Max Levchin and Peter Thiel. Payments are made via email. In its infancy, the company was closely linked to eBay users, but anyone can get a PayPal account.
Another, and very popular way to make online purchases is by using your credit or bank debit card. But, if you don't have either, fear not. Prepaid debit cards appear to be the way to go. Prepaid debit cards offer those with poor or no credit, as well anyone wishing to make purchases online, an easy way to buy goods or pay for services online. For about two dollars per transaction, a prepaid debit card can be loaded with any dollar amount that you specify. You don't over spend, because the limit is set by the amount that you place on the card. Walmart, netSpend, and Green Dot are just a few of the prepaid providers.
A recent Bloomberg article stated that recorded music sales rose by 8.5%, which is up from last year at this time. A lot of the increase was due to digital music sales. I think that it's too soon to tell whether a better product is the reason for this. It might mean that more and more artists are resisting the temptation to give their music away. Or, it could be that stronger measures are being taken against those who download illegally. Or, maybe recorded music is finally being viewed as something of value again.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Internet Radio?
What can I say? I spend so much more time at sites like YouTube and MySpace, that I really haven't listened to much of it. I know about Last.fm, Live365, Jango, and Pandora. They all do a very good job, and some stations play totally commercial free. But, I also know, however, that a lot of broadcast radio stations are streaming their on air programming over the internet these days.
So, how does anyone feel about that? I know that broadcast radio is still very popular and the way to go if you really want to break through to a wider audience. It would seem that internet radio is really about availability and connectivity. While it's true that portable devices and hand held mobile unit use is on the rise, when it comes to internet connectivity North America ranks third behind Europe and Asia, which is ranked number one.
Though the price of a new desk top or lap top continues to fall, not every one appears to be interested in computing, or at least, not enough to spend an inordinate amount of time surfing the Web. Those with connectivity through the use of their cell phones may still not be using them, to do so. So, if we're continuing to go digital, and continuing to connect our TVs and audio devices to the Web, when and how can and/or will everyone join in the "digital revolution?"
Broadband usage continues to rise, but so does it's cost. Broadband is the speed which an internet service provider offers with speed of access at about 10Mbbs for DSL (digital subscriber line) or 30Mbps for Cable modem. These greater speeds offer users the opportunity to download the larger file sizes of video and music clips with relative ease, allowing the user to experience the Web without the interruptions caused by re-buffering. Otherwise, it can be frustrating trying to listen to a song or watch a movie poking along at 56kps. Currently, America is number twelve behind the the UK and Canada, with Korea leading the pack in Broadband usage. If we're going to get everyone onto the internet it, perhaps we should seriously consider bringing everyone up to speed.
3D and smart TV sets are making their way into the market, but who but the more affluent will actually be able to afford them. I'm not against new technologies. I love technology. I just think that it's a little like putting the cart before the horse. With that being said, it's safe to say that maybe the market for these emerging technologies are those who are already using them. It's estimated that about 77% of the American population is using the internet on a daily basis. That's a little over 3/4 of all Americans. Sounds like enough to do the trick, right? But, still, I could name 10 people right off the top of my head who don't have internet access, or even a computer for that matter. So, how do we arrive at that figure? Anytime your name appears in someones database, you are considered to be an internet user. That's whether you used a computer at the library or local internet cafe or someone typed your name as you applied for a loan or credit card online.
What's any of that have to do with internet radio? If traditional radio is still the best draw, it says a lot about how access to a computer and the internet hasn't made a dent in broadcast radio's territory. In fact it's estimated that 284 million people tuned into traditional radio in 2010. That's a little more than the total number of internet user for this year so far.
While internet radio offers a wider variety, less commercials, and an opportunity to actually buy the music that you're listening to, just like the internet it uses, it represents a business model that will take time to reach our population at large. Meanwhile, just about everyone has a radio in their car.
Still, if you haven't listen to internet radio yet, you may what to give it a listen. Some sites allow you to make your own station that plays the music of your favorite artist and those who are similar to them, for free and without registration. It might be something that you only do while you're surfing the web, or it might just be something you find your self doing a lot more often.
So, how does anyone feel about that? I know that broadcast radio is still very popular and the way to go if you really want to break through to a wider audience. It would seem that internet radio is really about availability and connectivity. While it's true that portable devices and hand held mobile unit use is on the rise, when it comes to internet connectivity North America ranks third behind Europe and Asia, which is ranked number one.
Though the price of a new desk top or lap top continues to fall, not every one appears to be interested in computing, or at least, not enough to spend an inordinate amount of time surfing the Web. Those with connectivity through the use of their cell phones may still not be using them, to do so. So, if we're continuing to go digital, and continuing to connect our TVs and audio devices to the Web, when and how can and/or will everyone join in the "digital revolution?"
Broadband usage continues to rise, but so does it's cost. Broadband is the speed which an internet service provider offers with speed of access at about 10Mbbs for DSL (digital subscriber line) or 30Mbps for Cable modem. These greater speeds offer users the opportunity to download the larger file sizes of video and music clips with relative ease, allowing the user to experience the Web without the interruptions caused by re-buffering. Otherwise, it can be frustrating trying to listen to a song or watch a movie poking along at 56kps. Currently, America is number twelve behind the the UK and Canada, with Korea leading the pack in Broadband usage. If we're going to get everyone onto the internet it, perhaps we should seriously consider bringing everyone up to speed.
3D and smart TV sets are making their way into the market, but who but the more affluent will actually be able to afford them. I'm not against new technologies. I love technology. I just think that it's a little like putting the cart before the horse. With that being said, it's safe to say that maybe the market for these emerging technologies are those who are already using them. It's estimated that about 77% of the American population is using the internet on a daily basis. That's a little over 3/4 of all Americans. Sounds like enough to do the trick, right? But, still, I could name 10 people right off the top of my head who don't have internet access, or even a computer for that matter. So, how do we arrive at that figure? Anytime your name appears in someones database, you are considered to be an internet user. That's whether you used a computer at the library or local internet cafe or someone typed your name as you applied for a loan or credit card online.
What's any of that have to do with internet radio? If traditional radio is still the best draw, it says a lot about how access to a computer and the internet hasn't made a dent in broadcast radio's territory. In fact it's estimated that 284 million people tuned into traditional radio in 2010. That's a little more than the total number of internet user for this year so far.
While internet radio offers a wider variety, less commercials, and an opportunity to actually buy the music that you're listening to, just like the internet it uses, it represents a business model that will take time to reach our population at large. Meanwhile, just about everyone has a radio in their car.
Still, if you haven't listen to internet radio yet, you may what to give it a listen. Some sites allow you to make your own station that plays the music of your favorite artist and those who are similar to them, for free and without registration. It might be something that you only do while you're surfing the web, or it might just be something you find your self doing a lot more often.
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