RadioUpdate1

=__A Fifteen Year Old Song Causes Issues in Canada__=

There seems to be more and more regulations being applied to explicit language on the radio all around the world. Although the FCC regulates the airwave in America, in Canada a different body of councils controls the airwaves. In Canada, Broadcast Industry Standards Council meets to discuss and decide on rules over the airwave. But it seems that radio stations around Canada do not think highly of the council.

When “Money for Nothing”, a Dire Straits song was talked about by the Broadcast Industry Standards Council, they decided that due to “antigay slur” they would ban it from being played on the radio. Some stations weren’t happy. In response to the ban, at least three radio stations in protest played marathons of the song. Which showed Canada the lack of power the Canadian Broadcast Industry Standards Council has.

The song “Money for Nothing” is about a store employee’s hate and anger towards the wealthy celebrities and stars. In three parts of the song, the store employee uses the words “the little faggot” to describe the wealthy rock stars. The case had started when a listener in the Newfoundland area who was disgusted by the lyrics of the song filed a complaint to the council. According to the council, this has been only the third time that they had banned a song on the radio.

But many stations including operations manger at CIRK-FM believes that although the word is offensive, he believes that it is ok as long as it is used in an appropriate context. Even the keyboard member of the Dire Straits, Guy Fletcher was surprised that after the song being released in 1985, they are banning the song now. Either way, the stations that had played the song in protest don’t seem to be in any trouble and believe that as long as no more complaints are sent that there will be no issues.

For more information on the topic read __[|this]__.

For the song click __[|here.]__



//Posted By: Noah Kipnis// //02/03/2011//

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=__**'Chirp' Radio Gets No Help From The Local Community Radio Act**__=

Chirp Radio, otherwise known as Chicago Independent Radio Project, is still awaiting to be awarded their own frequency in Chicago. Obama recently signed the Local Radio Community Radio Act which lowers the requirements for the amount of frequency space between radio stations. However the act doesn't actually help local stations such as Chirp get their own frequency. Stations like Chirp are based in big markets with jammed airwaves leaving less frequecny space for low-power fm stations. They are petitioning to the FCC for alternative methods of gaining access.

To read more about Chirp radio and the Local Community Radio Act [|click here].

//Posted By: Alicia Burcham// //2/1/11//

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This story was suggested by Arceneaux. It is a New York Times article about the positive social impacts low power FM programing has on some local communities. Apparently some inhabitants of small communities were pleased when Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act, an act allowing the FCC to give out more 100- Watt licenses. Posted By: Sydnee Brooker 02/01/11
 * [|NYT Low Power FM Radio Story]**

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Dial Days are Numbered The radio we have always known, but not necessarily loved, is changing. New formats are sprouting up all over the place. The internet, the television, even in automobiles with satellite radio, the industry has expanded to companies that didn't even know they were revolutionizing it.

The old formats of sharing syndication between markets because they worked are giving way to a much more personalized approach to tuning in. Satellite radio was the first to step on the feet of national broadcasters such as CBS and Clear Channel. Now the internet is abuzz with websites such as Pandora, Lastfm, and IHeartRadio.

All of these have slightly different formats. Pandora and Lastfm both allow you to type in and artist or song title and will choose music based on this selection. Without a paid subscription fee however, Pandora will play ads about every three songs.

IHeartRadio is Clear Channel's attempt to keep up with the changing times. Basically this is a one stop shop for any type of radio station you want to listen to, that is owned by Clear Channel. This does not change the standard format of radio, however it does allow you to browse for an existing station that you may be unaware of. This move by Clear Channel shows that they are still major players in the radio industry, but this will not last long as personalization is gaining speed.

For more information on this read [|The End of the "Radio Industry"]

Posted By: J.T. Katavich 02/02/11

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**Livio's Car Internet Radio Project**
In the radio industry, there seems to be a lot of competitiveness and controversy between traditional radio and Internet Radio. However, Livio Radio seems to be taking innovative measures in order to capitalize the radio industry.

Livio is a company that develops simple and easy-to-use Internet radio products. Their most successful product is Livio Radio Featuring Pandora. According to their website (http://www.livioradio.com/pandora-radio-by-livio/), this device is an Internet radio solution designed for home use. It offers unlimited access to Pandora and 20,000 other radio streams from around the world without a computer or monthly fee, just a compatible Livio product. Livio prides themselves on making their products very user-friendly and simple.

Lately, Livio has made the shift to providing the same accessibility of Internet radio while driving. They have created an iphone app that gives its users accessibility to over 42,000 AM, FM and Internet-only radio streams from around the world. Their user-friendly Car Internet Radio project allows people to access radio stations by category, location, language or genre. What's awesome is that there is still no monthly fees or subscriptions. Livio's Car Internet Radio is an affordable alternative to satellite radio and I see it as a major concept for the future of radio.

To learn more about the Livio's Car Internet Radio iphone app success, read [|Livio Shifts to Car Internet Radio]. (This is the article)

To learn more about Livio and their innovative products, visit their [|home page].

//Posted by David Ritchie// //February 2, 2011//

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New Technology & Social Media Give Radio a Second Chance
Most think of radio as a dying medium struggling to hold on but just when we thought it was over, technology and social media came to the rescue. Smart-phone apps like //Shazam// have helped keep radio relevant by helping users identify songs they hear on the radio. This was also seen as a great way to allow listeners to also interact with radio promotions as well. === Another company used the radio to promote different events events over the radio which helped the use of mobile media. They were able to get listener data via text messaging by asking fans to text a code to them if they wanted more information on upcoming events. The company saw a huge growth in their mobile following with the help from their radio promotion. === Even though radio isn't as popular as it used to be, it shouldn't be brushed under the rug. We just need to learn how to adapt with ever changing technology. We need to take advantage of every new piece of technology.

 For more information [|click here].

//Posted by Erica Ferguson // //February 3, 2011 //

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