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Digital Revives the Indie Pop Star

By David Hadden

In this new age of satellite radio and personalized playlists, only 35 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds are turning to the once mighty FM radio to find new artists. Meanwhile, online music sales nearly doubled last year to about $2 billion, or 10 percent of all sales. The reason, says Ben Zalman, radio promotion manager of the Planetary Group, a Boston based… return to article

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    “If someone is in the mood to listen to Modest Mouse, they no longer have to hear the new Red Hot Chili Peppers hit five times before they can.”

    Much as I like the Chili Peppers, the repetition of radio programming is truly irritating. Last summer I took two car trips into Central California to visit my brother and his wife. First time, I had only the radio (tape deck too, but no tapes), and spent most of the trip switching about to find something interesting to hear, or in frustrated silence. Second time, I brought my iPod mini and RoadTrip gadget along, so I could hear hundreds of songs from a dozen genres piped through the radio’s speakers.

    Guess which was the more enjoyable trip.

    Also, I’ve utterly lost patience with DJs. Especially the endless blab of morning radio programs. Not funny, not interesting, not informative, not worth my time.

    Philippines Posted by Kuya on Apr 20, 2007 at 2:31 AM

    MP3 technology has allowed me to transfer some 6000 songs onto flashdrives. My car and truck stereos have card readers which allows me to change music to fit the mood. Heavy traffic needs Maria Callas and Mozart...Ahh the Magic Flute keeps the road rage down. Long trips need Iron Maiden or Slayer to keep the speed up. Commuting requires Willie Nelson, Los Tigres del Norte, and Rage Against the Machine. I haven’t listen to the radio in almost two years..... Technology sometimes is a wonderful thing.

    United States Posted by texasindependent on Apr 25, 2007 at 10:24 AM
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