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Leading Radio Broadcasters Unite to Bring FM Song Tagging to Everyone
Microsoft Zune Portable Media Player with Integrated FM Radio Tuner is First Device to Instantly Retrieve Tagged Songs
Available From More Than 450 FM Radio Stations Today
NEW YORK – September 8, 2008 – Nine of the country’s leading radio broadcasters today announced their commitment to broadcast programming on FM stations that include song tags using existing broadcasting infrastructure. The announcement comes in conjunction with Microsoft Corporation’s announcement here today of a new set of features for all Zune portable media players that takes advantage of the built-in FM radio tuner to let people instantly tag and retrieve songs broadcast from any Song Tagging enabled FM radio station.
“Radio is one of the primary ways people discover new music, which is why we have built an FM tuner into every Zune portable media player,” said Chris Stephenson, General Manager of Global Marketing for Zune at Microsoft. “The leadership of these radio broadcasters has played an integral role in enabling millions of Zune users to tag and purchase songs directly from FM radio.”
More than 450 FM radio stations operated by Beasley, Bonneville, CBS Radio, Citadel, Clear Channel Radio, Cox Radio, Emmis, Entercom and Greater Media – including many that are #1 in their local market – will be broadcasting the FM song tags. More than 450 of those are live today, with the remainder rolling out over the next several weeks.
A song tag is an encrypted digital code identifying a specific song and embedded in an FM broadcast. When a listener “tags” a song, the code is stored on their MP3 player. Developed by Jump2Go and Clear Channel Radio, FM song tags use RDS technology – a feature that is available on most FM radio broadcasts today, whether analog or digital.
With Microsoft’s Zune, the integrated FM tuner and wireless connectivity enables the player to immediately retrieve the song from the Zune Marketplace music service when in a WiFi hotspot – creating instant gratification for FM radio listeners with Zune media players.
In a recent study commissioned by Microsoft, some 61% of respondents say their primary source for discovering new music is radio broadcasts. As music is increasingly purchased through digital and online means, the announcement today strengthens the link between the discovery process and purchase process, providing instant gratification for consumers and an interactive listening experience.
“Radio has always been the leader in embracing the newest technologies, and bringing the newest artists and music to America’s small towns and big cities. Beasley Broadcast is very excited to be among the broadcasters on the leading edge of this breakthrough technology which will enable our listeners to hear a song, love it, purchase it and add it to their music library - instantaneously.”
"The combination of encrypted digital code with Microsoft's Zune and the outstanding products our stations broadcast daily, we are now able to give consumers a fully-integrated digital experience," commented Bruce Reese, CEO of Bonneville International. "It offers instant gratification for our listeners who tune in daily to hear their favorite music and the possibility of new discoveries that happen when each song is played.”
“Song tagging is yet another example of radio’s use of expanded digital technology,” said Bruce Reese, Bonneville International president and CEO: It will give our listeners the added benefit of being able to instantly download a song they hear on the radio, and we will be pleased to offer this value-added component to our listeners’ overall entertainment experience.”
“Radio’s decision to push the digital envelope doesn’t mean that our analog broadcasts need to be left behind,” said John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. “Clear Channel Radio will have 450 stations live with RDS song tagging at launch. And we applaud Microsoft’s leadership and shared commitment to making cutting-edge entertainment experiences available to the masses.”
“The connection between the music discovery radio has always provided, and its resulting sales, make this interactive radio feature a natural for the radio industry,” said Bob Neil, president and chief executive officer of Cox Radio.
“We are thrilled to be a part of bringing music tagging to Zune listeners,” said Jeff Smulyan, chairman and CEO of Emmis. “This is the next step in the evolution of radio: providing our listeners with the ability to download music instantly.”
“We are moving toward a future where music discovery, purchase and fulfillment is a convenient and seamless experience,” said David Field, chief executive officer at Entercom Communications Corp.
“This innovative technology is yet another compelling example of how radio is embracing today's interactive world," said Greater Media president and CEO Peter Smyth. “We are thrilled to be able to offer our listeners the opportunity to further interact with our stations through tagging and ultimately purchase their favorite music.”
About Beasley
Founded in 1961, Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. is a radio broadcasting company that owns or operates 44 stations (27 FM and 17 AM) located in 11 large- and mid-size markets in the United States. For more information, please visit www.bbgi.com.
About Bonneville
Founded in 1964, Bonneville International (www.bonneville.com) owns and operates 29 radio stations in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Salt Lake City markets, as well as KSL-Television (NBC affiliate) and operating divisions of Bonneville Communications and Bonneville Satellite in Salt Lake City. Bonneville's motto is "Do good, do well, make a difference, and have fun." In addition to competing aggressively in major-market broadcasting by structuring its business model on the three principles of building its people, making a difference in the community, and meeting aggressive financial goals, Bonneville also enjoys a long-standing reputation and is known industry-wide for its nationally recognized and award-winning commitment to serving the communities where it broadcasts. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Bonneville is known for its innovative business model and is a national leader in providing quality, values-oriented media products.
About CBS
CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market operators in the United States with stations covering news, sports, talk, rock, oldies, country, adult contemporary and urban formats, among others, offers audiences an enhanced and customized listening experience through the combination of on-air, online and new media platforms. CBS RADIO operates 140 radio stations throughout the nation’s top 50 markets and broadcasts play-by-play coverage of 26 of the country’s leading professional sports franchises. CBS RADIO also has embraced interactive programming through the use of streaming, HD Radio, podcasts and mobile messaging. The division maintains an exclusive agreement with AOL Radio through which CBS RADIO powers AOL Radio and distributes its stations to its network of listeners. Home to the nation’s most listened to news (1010 WINS), sports (WFAN-AM), rock (KROQ-FM) and country (WUSN-FM) stations, CBS RADIO is a division of CBS Corporation. For more information on CBS RADIO, please visit www.cbsradio.com.
About Citadel
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation is the third largest radio group in the United States, with a national footprint reaching more than 50 markets. Citadel is comprised of 165 FM and 58 AM stations in the nation’s leading markets, in addition to the ABC Radio Network business, which is one of the three largest radio networks in the United States.
About Clear Channel Radio
Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company's content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods and cell phones and used via navigation systems from BMW, Volvo, TomTom, Garmin and others. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCMO), a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at www.clearchannel.com.
About Cox Radio
Cox Radio is one of the largest radio companies in the United States based on revenues. Cox Radio owns, operates or provides sales or marketing services for 86 stations (71 FM and 15 AM) clustered in 19 markets, including major markets such as Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa. Cox Radio shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: CXR.
About Emmis
Emmis Communications – Great Media, Great People, Great Service®
Emmis is an Indianapolis-based diversified media firm with radio broadcasting and magazine publishing operations. Emmis owns 21 FM and 2 AM domestic radio stations serving the nation’s largest markets of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, as well as St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Ind. In May 2005, Emmis announced its intent to seek strategic alternatives for its 16 television stations, and has sold all of them. Emmis also owns a radio network, international radio stations, regional and specialty magazines, an interactive business and ancillary businesses in broadcast sales.
About Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corp. (NYSE: ETM) is one of the five largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States, with a nationwide portfolio of 110 stations in 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento and Kansas City. Known for developing unique and highly successful, locally programmed stations, Entercom is home to some of radio’s most distinguished brands and compelling personalities. The company is also the radio broadcast partner of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Kansas City Royals, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Sabres. Entercom focuses on creating effective integrated marketing solutions for its customers that incorporate the company’s audio, digital and experiential assets. Additionally, the company has a long-standing commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and environmental stewardship. Entercom stations play a vital, hands-on role in improving their communities, providing over $100 million in annual support for local charitable organizations. The company’s radio stations have received numerous awards, including multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Marconi Awards for excellence in radio broadcasting. In 2007, Forbes magazine named Entercom one of America’s “Most Trustworthy Companies.” For more information, please visit www.entercom.com.
About Greater Media
Greater Media is the parent company of 23 AM and FM radio stations in Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, Philadelphia and New Jersey, a group of weekly newspapers in central New Jersey; and several telecommunications towers throughout the United States. |