Posts Tagged ‘Pandora’

The Wisdom of Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) CEO Mel Karmazin

Posted 10 Feb 2012 — by Tom Taylor
Category Howard Stern, Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News

By Tom Taylor

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) CEO Mel Karmazin

Mel Karmazin

The following article comes from Tom Taylor’s newsletter, Taylor on Radio-Info.

Sirius XM chief Mel Karmazin says making mobile media pay is a big challenge.

The difficulty of converting mobile usage – which is sprouting like the proverbial beanstalk – into hard cash revenue came up near the end of the satcaster’s quarterly call. But Karmazin says something that’s probably also true about broadcast radio – “there’s just too much supply out there”, because there’s no barrier for people to get on the Internet. So there’s probably too much content competing for attention, and that makes it very hard to monetize the usage. Mel says “it puts the power in the buyer of advertising.” That’s why Mel is very pleased with his own subscriber-based model. Read More

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Why Spotify Can Never Be Profitable: The Secret Demands Of Record Labels

Posted 07 Feb 2012 — by Michael Robertson
Category Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News

By Michael Robertson

Why Spotify Can Never Be ProfitableImagine a new hot-dog selling venture. Let’s also say there’s only one supplier to purchase hot dogs from. Instead of simply charging a fixed price for hot dogs, that supplier demands the HIGHER of the following: $1 per hot dog sold OR $2 for every customer served OR 50 percent of all revenues for anything sold in the store.In addition, the supplier requires a two-year minimum order of 300 hot dogs per day, payable all in advance. If fewer hot dogs are sold, there is no refund. If more than 300 hot dogs are sold each day, payments to the supplier are generated by calculating $2 per customer or 50 percent of total revenues, so an additional payment is due to the supplier. After the first two years, the supplier can unilaterally adjust any of the pricing terms and the shop can never switch suppliers.

Would this imaginary hot dog establishment be able to generate a profit? Never, because the economics are one-sided. The supplier will always elect the formula that captures the largest amount of money for themselves, completely disregarding the financial viability of the store. If the store miraculously managed to generate a profit, the supplier would simply raise the rates after two years. Read More

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Pandora (NYSE:P) Conquering the World? Clear Channel’s (PINK:CCMO) Bob Pittman Says “Not a Chance in Hell”

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Posted 18 Jan 2012 — by Tom Taylor
Category Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry

By Tom Taylor

Pandora (NYSE:P)The following article comes from Tom Taylor’s newsletter, Taylor on Radio-Info.

Pandora hits 125 million registered users – and it’s thinking “global.”

Pandora (NYSE:P) founder Tim Westergren, talking at last week’s CES in Las Vegas and quoted by USA Today, has an impressive update on his numbers – registered users up from about 100 million last quarter to 125 million. Average monthly usage of 18 hours. Partnerships with 16 different carmakers. But USA Today checks in with Bob Pittman at Clear Channel (PINK:CCMO) about the scenario of Pandora conquering the world, and Pittman says “Not a chance in hell.” Pittman does his universal-coverage rap (radio is “in every car and most homes, it’s embedded in the world”). And he points out that CC’s iHeartRadio can now perform some Pandora-style personalized radio tricks. Pittman’s brought new visibility to Clear Channel and to broadcasting. He’s also scouting for new revenue, with the support of an old friend — Read More

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New Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) Satellite Radio 2.0 Tuner Launched at CES

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Posted 12 Jan 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News

By Amy Gilroy

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) Satellite Radio 2.0 Tuner - SXV100Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) launched a new version of its tuner for car radios that is now capable of receiving 2.0 extra channels at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Like its predecessor, the SXV100, the new SXV200 does not need a special smart cable to interface with a car radio.

The new tuner can receive 20 new Sirius XM Radio channels, including many Latino channels. It will ship this spring/summer at $79.99.

Most major car audio brands will offer compatible radios for the SXV200 including Alpine, which will bundle the tuner with a new CDE-124SXM2 for a total package price of $229. The radio has front USB with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPod/iPhone control, and Pandora (NYSE:P) control. Read More

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Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) Retail Product Partner VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ:VOXX) Heads Up Market

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Posted 11 Jan 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News, Technology

By Amy Gilroy
VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ:VOXX)
Sirius XM Radio’s retail product partner VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ:VOXX), formerly Audiovox Corporation, said it will head upmarket on car audio head units and refrain from the current “race to zero” to drive prices into the ground, said President Tom Malone.

Retailers are asking suppliers to refrain from price cutting, said Malone, adding  “The way some of the bigger manufacturers are driving prices down is a concern for dealers.” As a result, Audiovox’s Jensen-brand radios will be positioned as a value-added profit line.

“The retailers we speak to don’t understand why price needs to be driven this way,” Malone said. Instead retailers want unique features and more controlled distribution. Read More

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Sony (NYSE:SNE) Introduces Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) and Pandora (NYSE:P) Ready MirrorLink Aftermarket Car Radios in U.S.

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Posted 11 Jan 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Media, Sirius XM (SIRI) News, Technology

MirrorLink

By Amy Gilroy

Sony (NYSE:SNE) announced 4 new car radios on Monday including 2 models with MirrorLink (formerly known as Terminal Mode). It lets the car radio screen literally mirror the display on your smartphone screen, and controls many of the phone’s apps from the radio. Read More

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Pioneer Announces AppRadio 2.0

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Posted 09 Jan 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Radio Industry, Technology

Pioneer App Radio 2.0

By Amy Gilroy

Since its introduction in June, the Pioneer AppRadio—that displays key apps on the radio—has performed well, says Pioneer (TYO:6773), so it introduced at CES 2012 a full family of AppRadios, including the new AppRadio 2.0 that works with Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android AND Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone apps. Read More

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General Motors (NYSE:GM): OnStar Announcements Due at CES

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Posted 21 Dec 2011 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

General Motors (NYSE:GM) - OnStar - Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI)General Motors’ (NYSE:GM) OnStar division said it will issue some announcements about its retail FMV mirror just prior to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The company also plans to release some research about 4G cloud technology in the car, and some future apps for the car.

Last year OnStar demonstrated a prototype 4G system that showed traffic camera views on your dash screen so you could see traffic patterns ahead on your route. It also permitted Skype video chat in the car.

This year, OnStar will collaborate once again with Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) to demonstrate 4G LTE cloud features including some in rear seat entertainment. Read More

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Pandora (NYSE:P): Arbitron Says Don’t Mix and Match

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Posted 20 Dec 2011 — by Tom Taylor
Category Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry

By Tom Taylor

The following article comes from Tom Taylor’s newsletter, Taylor on Radio-Info.

Arbitron says – Don’t compare its numbers to those of “Internet music services”

Pandora (NYSE:P)Pandora (NYSE:P), true to the original Greek myth, has opened up a box-full of controversy with last week’s report titled “Pandora increases listenership in top radio markets.” It began issuing listening estimates from the top 10 radio markets in July, showing market-by-market AQH ratings. There was a followup release in September, but the December 13 release was the first one that added cume ratings to AQH ratings. Suddenly, the metrics are starting to look very “radio”-like. As Arbitron says (without naming Pandora), they “use the same labels and descriptions as Arbitron radio estimates.” TRI believes that’s the context for yesterday’s extraordinary release that Arbitron calls “a clarification…about whether Arbitron’s radio audience estimates are equivalent to those derived from Internet music services’ in-house server log files.” Its answer – with 10 bullet points – is “no.” Arbitron’s now hearing a dull roar of protest from its own paying clients about something strange out there. By sheer coincidence, Triton Digital yesterday announced its new “Webcast Metrics Local” service, breaking down its national monthly numbers for local radio markets. Again, TRI believes that the unnamed trigger for Arbitron’s “clarification” wasn’t Triton Digital, but Pandora. (There’s a story coming up soon about the Triton Digital service.) So what’s Arbitron saying about these “Internet music services”? Read More

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Harman’s (NYSE:HAR) Aha Radio to Announce Deals with Five Automakers at CES

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Posted 15 Dec 2011 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News, Technology

Aha Radio Screen

By Amy Gilroy

Aha RadioWe already expected to see more of Harman’s (NYSE:HAR) Aha Radio in-car car-app system in aftermarket radios at CES next month. And now Harman says we’ll be seeing the system eventually in over 20 percent of new cars.

Harman announced Wednesday its Aha business unit has won contracts with five premium car manufacturers who’s identities will be announced at the CES show next month. These are Aha’s first OEM partnerships.

Aha claims to make apps in the car as easy to use as AM/FM radio.

Its handful of new car partners will use Aha’s cloud-based platform to bring Internet content into new autos starting in 2012. Read More

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Katz Radio Group’s Mary Beth Garber To Weigh In On The Radio Industry Tonight At 8:00PM ET

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Posted 14 Dec 2011 — by Demian Russian
Category Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News

By Demian Russian

Mary Beth Garber

Mary Beth Garber

Mary Beth Garber, Executive Vice President for Radio Analysis and Insights for Katz Radio Group, will be the special guest on Playground Radio tonight at 8:00 pm Eastern for an exclusive, live interview. Garber will be sharing her thoughts on terrestrial radio, internet audio streaming services such as Pandora (NYSE:P), Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) satellite radio, and the radio industry as a whole.

Mary Beth Garber is the Executive Vice President for Radio Analysis and Insights for Katz Radio Group. Ms. Garber is responsible for collecting, analyzing and generating research and other materials to educate a variety of constituencies – from major advertisers to media, sales forces and market analysts – on the continuing power and value of radio, as well as implementing partnerships that both provide accurate research and measurement metrics across a variety of platforms and enhance the industry’s ability to communicate those results.

Ms. Garber is the former President of the Southern California Broadcasters Association, a position she held for 13 years. During her tenure, she co-produced, in conjunction with Arbitron Inc, three behavioral studies about media usage and helped create the first $1 billion radio market in the nation by promoting the strength of radio and the critical role it plays for both advertisers and consumers.  Her background includes senior positions at advertising agencies, radio stations and the marketing department of a division of the Walt Disney Co.

Ms. Garber has received industry recognition of her many career achievements, including “Broadcaster of the Year” by Radio Ink Magazine in 2008 and was the recipient of the 2000 Southern California Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television Genii Award for Excellence in Radio. In 2011, she was named one of Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women in Radio. Also, Ms. Garber is the chair of the Philanthropic Committee for (think)LA Los Angeles Advertising Association, the Executive Board of the Los Angeles Media Research Council, the Equal Access Board of Directors, and on the Board of Variety Children’s Charity, Tent 25.  

Mary Beth Garber will be interviewed this evening by Satellite Radio Playground’s Demian Russian and Spencer Osborne from SiriusBuzz. Following this week’s special guest interview, a discussion on all of the latest news in the world of Sirius XM Satellite Radio will follow. Listeners are welcome to call in and join the live discussion by dialing (347) 934-0239 Read More

Sirius XM Radio’s (NASDAQ:SIRI) Competition: Pandora (NYSE:P) Brags Listenership Increase

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Posted 14 Dec 2011 — by Tom Taylor
Category Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News

By Tom Taylor

The following article comes from Tom Taylor’s newsletter, Taylor on Radio-Info.

Pandora brags about gains in the top 10 markets, and it’s got evidence.

Pandora (NYSE:P)For New York-market 18-34s, it’s gone from 0.7 AQH ratings in both July and September to a 0.9 in November. That translates into 0.9% of the market’s entire 18-34 cordon listening to Pandora – a personalized music or talk stream – for at least five minutes during the broadcast week. The weekly Cume rating for November is a 19.9, and that means Pandora’s reaching 1 in 5 18-34s. We started getting Pandora’s AQH ratings for the top ten markets in July, based on Edison Research analysis. Here are the rest of the top 10 markets, for 18-34s – In L.A., the AQH rating has improved from 0.9 to 1.0 to 1.2. In Chicago, it’s grown 0.7 to 0.8 to 1.0. In San Francisco, 0.9 to 1.0 to 1.2. In Dallas, 0.8 to 0.9 to 1.0. In Houston, 0.8 to 0.9 to 1.0. In Atlanta, 0.7 to 0.8 to 0.9. In Philadelphia, 0.7 to 0.8 to 1.0. In Washington DC, 0.9 to 1.0 to 1.2. And in Boston, 0.8 to 0.8 to 1.0. Read More