Radio stations have seen their online listening skyrocket lately because of — believe it or not — cell phones. Stations have developed smartphone apps and are discovering that listeners love them.
The story continues:
“With the help of apps, smartphone users can listen to live broadcasts from hundreds of radio stations as well as services such as Pandora that offer music tailored to the listener’s taste.
” ‘It’s extremely meaningful,’ Clear Channel Executive Vice President Evan Harrison says. About a year after the No. 1 radio company introduced its iHeartRadio app for iPhones, phone users account for 10 percent of its digital audience.
” ‘We expect to at least double that number’ in 2010, he says. ‘That’s a modest goal.’ “
Radio stations need the help. Earlier this week, Citadel, the nation’s third largest radio group owner, filed for bankruptcy. The action involves such mammoth stations as WLS in Chicago, WABC in New York, KGO in San Francisco and KABC in Los Angeles.
Resources:
- Last.fm is a free app that can be accessed in and out of the United States.
- AOL Radio has more than 200 stations and genres.
- FlyCast has about 2,000 channels listed. Look at this amazing lineup.
- Tuner Internet Radio acts like a big radio tuner for the world. Choose a country and start looking. Download the apps you want.
- Macworld reviews Radio Paradise, Slacker Radio, College Radio Tuner