I am in Minneapolis to speak to a group of radio executives at the Marketing Technology Summit. Over the last two years, when asked, I have gone on record that podcasting will not kill radio. However, something interesting just happened on the bleeding edge. I am in a cab heading to my hotel and the driver asked if I’d like to listen to the radio. I have never been to this city before and don’t really care to spend my time trying to find the local stations I like. Instead, I just flipped open my laptop and using my EVDO card “tuned” to the most recent episode we posted on the GigaVox Media Network. So here I am in the back of this cab listening to “my” radio station that travels with me everywhere I can find the Internet. If the cab had a line in, like my car does, we could all hear it. Next year 70% of US manufactured cars sold will be iPod compatible. What happens when iPods and similar mobile devices are WiFi or EVDO enabled? Where does radio stand then? I can pick from content produced worldwide rather then my local broadcast area. This is not far off. Makes the upkeep on those huge transmitters and the required licenses a big disadvantage. Don’t get me wrong, if you love the wacky morning crew from Minneapolis, they have the same ability to compete (assuming they can work out their music issues with the RIAA.) Meanwhile, we are set to compete on an even playing field with little to no overhead. Content will win the day. Pretty exciting.
About Michael
Michael W. Geoghegan is founder and CEO of GigaVox Media. NewMedia Entrepreneur & Podcast Pioneer/Pundit. Author of two books. Creator of two time James Beard Award winner GrapeRadio.com
My Books on Amazon / GigaVox Media / Grape Radio / Podcast Academy / Reel Reviews Radio
Five Hundy says
8/8/2006 at 2:52 pmI live in Minneapolis. Other than 89.3 FM (The Current, a public radio station), there’s nothing here worth listening to. During the morning, there’s nothing remotely entertaining. Even The Current sucks in the morning.
You made the correct choice when you popped open your laptop.
Steve Holden says
8/10/2006 at 4:25 pmI think that EVDO (mobile comms) with an always on ability is disruptive to many current models, not just the radio business. I think the new Sony mylo is a form factor that is pretty feature rich for tweaking current handheld/gaming devices markets including MP3s. – Steve
David Jacobs says
8/11/2006 at 10:07 pmI have been waiting for “connected cars” for a long time for just this reason. A few years ago I thought it would be great for listening to streaming Internet radio, but that was before podcasting. Put an aggregator into the built in navigation system. I do sometimes listen to my XM radio but I think it has been well over a year since I tuned into a terrestrial radio station.
Don The Idea Guy says
8/14/2006 at 3:49 amAs one of those guys in the audience at your CSS presentation, I was excited to hear you speak, enjoyed the fact you shared so many ideas with the group, and (in some cases) was completely vindicated when you called-out the industry on allowing old-fashioned CPM rates to be linked to new media, instead of establishing firm value on access to the audience when they had the chance.
My favorite line from the presentation regarding podcasting?
“Fourteen-year old kids are doing this stuff in their basements. What’s your excuse?”
Common-sense (yet brilliant!) stuff that needed to be said. Thanks for your time and willingness to share the info. I know I’ll be working to put a lot of your ideas into action.