Podcast Survivor: Entrepreneur Jason Calacanis invests $250k in podcast app Swell
Just about one year ago internet entrepreneur and paid blogging pioneer Jason Calacanis announced that he was getting out of the podcast business, declaring “moderate success is the enemy of breakout success.” Although his podcasting company ThisWeekIn.com was already breaking even, he said that it wouldn’t scale, concluding “Very, very few podcasts have made it […]
REC Networks Questions 245 LPFM Applications Filed by Hispanic Christian Community Network President
LPFM advocate REC Networks has been cranking out reports and analysis in order to make sense of the nearly 3,000 LPFM applications that were filed in the October-November, 2013 window. In the course of that, it has been flagging applications that seem to have errors or that look to be masquerading as local applicants. Today […]
FCC Offers Guidance for LPFM Hopefuls and Begins to Dismiss Faulty Applications
Low power FM (LPFM) applicants are on pins and needles as they await word about applications that were filed in the recently closed window. In order to answer some of the burning questions and give a sense of timing, today the FCC released a notice (PDF) offering guidance for LPFM applicants. The notice also provides […]
Eight California Radio Stations Miss FCC License Renewal Deadline
The FCC just released a list of eight California radio stations that did not submit license renewals by the August 1, 2013 deadline this year. Per FCC regulations, as of December 1, 2013, all eight of these licenses are considered expired. The disappearing stations include two FM stations, three LPFM stations, and three FM translator […]
With 241 million users radio kicks Facebook and Twitter ass
Twitter has 49 million users every month in the US. Facebook has 198 million. There are about 6 million US Spotify users. What about terrestrial broadcast radio, that old-school, supposedly dying analog medium? Radio has 241.8 million listeners per week, not just per month. Take that, Silicon Valley. Those numbers are according to Nielsen’s December […]
Patent trolls target HD Radio, Innovation Act targets trolls
First podcasts, and now HD Radio. Patent trolls are looking at new radio forms as potential cash cows to milk. Earlier this year we covered a company called Personal Audio that is suing independent podcasters like Adam Carolla along with big companies like CBS for allegedly violating its patent for a “disseminating a series of […]
UK digital radio transition effort holds lessons for AM revitalization
To say that public comments on the FCC’s AM revitalization proposals are barely trickling in could be charitably called an understatement. As of yesterday there were a total of three comments filed. Two of these are from amateur radio operator Nickolaus Leggett, which Matthew reviewed last week. In the absence of more commentary on the […]
Remembering WABC radio’s 1963 “Mona Lisa” contest
Much of what you read about radio station contests these days is depressing. At best, some operation botches a game by misrepresenting the rules or winnings and winds up paying the Federal Communications Commission a fine. At worst, a signal launches an ill-advised water drinking marathon that literally kills a contestant. To be fair to […]
Amazon’s $179 Cyber-Monday Kindle Fire HDX deal makes a great internet radio
For today, Cyber-Monday, Amazon has its high-end 7″ tablet, the Kindle Fire HDX, on sale for a very low $179. As portable, multi-function devices, tablets make great internet radios, as Matthew explained when he received his first generation Kindle fire. Tablets are well suited for both listening and producing podcasts, too. Amazon also happens to […]
Holiday Gift Guide for Radio-Lovin’ Fashion Mavens
Every year I love the challenge of tracking down unique radio-themed gifts. This time around, my first gift guide of the year has a fashion focus. Even if the people on your gift list aren’t radio diehards like you are, no doubt they’d appreciate the way that radio is incorporated into these stylish items. 1. […]