Comments on: I want to hear human voices http://james.cridland.net/blog/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/ Radio futurologist and beer drinker Mon, 21 May 2012 11:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rusty Hodge http://james.cridland.net/blog/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-506 Rusty Hodge Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:31:21 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/05/14/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-506 I manage SomaFM, a mid-size net radio service. I think the people who listen to internet radio now listen to it for completely different reasons than people listen to over-the-air radio. Net radio listeners are looking for less DJ chatter and more music. It's almost like a background music service. We tried doing more DJ talk and personality, and our audience complained loudly. We also asked them in a survey what they wanted and didn't want, and one o the least asked for things was more human DJs. I think this is because most people listen to internet radio at work. We know that from seeing our stats: the work day is when most people tune in. And when people are at work, they're around other people, and are probably talking to each other. Compare that to a typical over-the-air listener, who is in their car, quite possibly alone. They're looking to the radio to keep them company. There are two uses for radio that seem to work: radio to keep you company, and radio as a musical background service for the other things you're doing. The bits between the music don't have to be DJs talking; they can be other personality elements (liners, sweepers, dropins etc). People are using music much more than they did in the past, so I think we'll see a variety of different formats that are successful. I don't think there is one "best" way to do "radio" anymore. Rusty / SomaFM I manage SomaFM, a mid-size net radio service. I think the people who listen to internet radio now listen to it for completely different reasons than people listen to over-the-air radio. Net radio listeners are looking for less DJ chatter and more music. It’s almost like a background music service. We tried doing more DJ talk and personality, and our audience complained loudly. We also asked them in a survey what they wanted and didn’t want, and one o the least asked for things was more human DJs.

I think this is because most people listen to internet radio at work. We know that from seeing our stats: the work day is when most people tune in. And when people are at work, they’re around other people, and are probably talking to each other.

Compare that to a typical over-the-air listener, who is in their car, quite possibly alone. They’re looking to the radio to keep them company.

There are two uses for radio that seem to work: radio to keep you company, and radio as a musical background service for the other things you’re doing.

The bits between the music don’t have to be DJs talking; they can be other personality elements (liners, sweepers, dropins etc).

People are using music much more than they did in the past, so I think we’ll see a variety of different formats that are successful. I don’t think there is one “best” way to do “radio” anymore.

Rusty / SomaFM

]]> By: Adam Lynch http://james.cridland.net/blog/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-505 Adam Lynch Fri, 18 May 2007 05:18:55 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/05/14/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-505 They are getting rid of DJs from 10 - 4 pm on all Xfm Stations. Hmmm They are getting rid of DJs from 10 – 4 pm on all Xfm Stations. Hmmm

]]> By: Paul Easton http://james.cridland.net/blog/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-504 Paul Easton Wed, 16 May 2007 07:16:36 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/05/14/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-504 It looks like the stories about XFM are true, judging by John Plunkett's piece on the Media Guardian website this morning. No presenters on XFM 10.00am - 4.00pm. It looks like the stories about XFM are true, judging by John Plunkett’s piece on the Media Guardian website this morning. No presenters on XFM 10.00am – 4.00pm.

]]> By: Paul Easton http://james.cridland.net/blog/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-503 Paul Easton Mon, 14 May 2007 21:23:09 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/05/14/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-503 A wise man once told me that while it's the music that brings in the listeners it's the bits inbetween that keep them listening. A wise man once told me that while it’s the music that brings in the listeners it’s the bits inbetween that keep them listening.

]]> By: Suw http://james.cridland.net/blog/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-502 Suw Mon, 14 May 2007 16:34:49 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/05/14/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-502 James, just to clarify, it's not that I don't discover new music first on the radio, but that's not *why* I listen to the radio. If all I wanted was to discover new music, then there are more efficient ways to do it than listen to the radio, such as use Last.fm or Pandora. Or, even more pragmatically, just borrow my fiance's iPod! I'd wager, however, that most people who listen to the radio are doing so because they want to be entertained in some way. For me, the most important part of that entertainment is the DJ, probably because I work mainly from home and so I like hearing another voice in between the music. (Can't work through talk radio though. Yeah, I know, fussy.) So I've ended up being caught between banal DJs and limited playlist (XFM) and absent DJs and a bit more of a playlist (Virgin Xtreme). Still undecided which way I'm going to go long term on this one though. Adam, stories? Erk, that doesn't sound good. What stories? James, just to clarify, it’s not that I don’t discover new music first on the radio, but that’s not *why* I listen to the radio. If all I wanted was to discover new music, then there are more efficient ways to do it than listen to the radio, such as use Last.fm or Pandora. Or, even more pragmatically, just borrow my fiance’s iPod!

I’d wager, however, that most people who listen to the radio are doing so because they want to be entertained in some way. For me, the most important part of that entertainment is the DJ, probably because I work mainly from home and so I like hearing another voice in between the music. (Can’t work through talk radio though. Yeah, I know, fussy.) So I’ve ended up being caught between banal DJs and limited playlist (XFM) and absent DJs and a bit more of a playlist (Virgin Xtreme). Still undecided which way I’m going to go long term on this one though.

Adam, stories? Erk, that doesn’t sound good. What stories?

]]> By: Adam Bowie http://james.cridland.net/blog/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-501 Adam Bowie Mon, 14 May 2007 11:40:19 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/2007/05/14/i-want-to-hear-human-voices/#comment-501 So if the stories about daytime Xfm are true, she's going to love it even more! So if the stories about daytime Xfm are true, she’s going to love it even more!

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