More Podcasts In More Places by Paul Sylvester

20Apr

As well as increasing the amount of content that Absolute Radio makes available via podcast, we’re also committed to making sure you can access the content from as many places as possible.

iTunes remains the favourite method for download with nearly 70% of all Absolute Radio podcasts downloaded via this ever popular interface. Direct downloads to devices such as the iPhone and Zune are increasing in numbers, plus we’re already seeing an increase in the number of downloads direct to the Apple iPad. It’s always great to see new clients/devices requesting downloads of our podcasts and here’s just an example of some which you may or may not recognise, Banshee, blinkx, Google Listen, gPodder, Juice, Miro, MPlayer, MyPOD, Newsgator, NSPlayer, Stitcher, Winamp and the Zune.

Podcasts have fast become the Sky+ for radio with research showing huge increases across the globe for this ‘listen again content’. With growing numbers of mobile devices the expectation of content availability has never been greater. Podcasts allow users to listen to the content when and where they want and with or without connectivity. Commuters are one of the largest groups of users who regularly download podcasts, enforcing the importance of this on-demand content as a fast growing advertising medium.

We now have two brand new distribution points for all Absolute Radio podcasts. These are Stitcher and Google Listen.

Stitcher is a great mobile app, compatible with Apple, Blackberry, Google Android and Palm that turns your mobile device into a smart radio allowing users to listen to favourite podcasts and radio programs on-demand. Stitcher will ‘stitch’ your favourite entertainment and news podcasts together providing an easy to use content portal. Stitcher will also alert users when new updated content is available, bringing it direct into your stitcher app.

Google Listen, available for Android powered devices allows users to search, subscribe and download their favourite audio content including Absolute Radio podcasts. Like Stitcher, users subscriptions, can be configured to display an alert as soon as new content is available to download.

Take a look at the video’s below of how we’re using Stitcher and Google Listen.

Categories: Absolute Radio Music Technology podcasts 0

Posted by paul on April 20, 2010

Swiftcover.com to Sponsor Absolute Radio Live by Chloe Brand

19Apr

We have some exciting news to share from the Sales floor - from next Monday Absolute Radio Live will have a new partner in the form of Swiftcover.com.

Swiftcover first worked with us last year when they sponsored weekends, and since then the team have been developing an exciting new opportunity for them to sponsor. Swiftcover want to make getting car insurance quicker and easier so that their customers have more time to “get a life” and what better way to get a life than to get out into the summer sunshine and enjoy all the great live music that Absolute Radio will be broadcasting across the summer. Not only that, but Swiftcover will be partnering with the station on all the great music events we organise here, as well as having signed up to be our media player partner so that all our online live music content is sponsored by Swiftcover too.

It all starts next Monday with the launch of this year’s One Last Dream competition, in which bands will re-unite for the opportunity to open the Isle of Wight Festival.

by Chloe Brand

Categories: Absolute Radio Absolute Radio Live 0

Posted by rhiannon on April 19, 2010

Compare My Radio Set To Grow by Duncan Amey

19Apr

It’s been an interesting first six months for Compare My Radio. It has been quoted as being many things : “Pure anorak gold” (The Guardian), “The greatest website in the history of everything… Proof that good really can come from evil” (Popjustice) and “The most innovative radio station in the world” (The Infinite Dial). It has provoked debate and provided visual comparisons to aid the Save 6 Music campaign. It was even been shortlisted for the 2010 Music Week Awards.

So, in an effort to continue forward and improve the value and accuracy for our visitors, we’ve not only added 29 new stations, but also incorporated two new methods for data harvesting. Firstly, we have opened up the data import process and we’re now receiving data direct from radio stations. This means that these stations have direct control over their data within Compare My Radio.

Then we have something a little bit different. We’ve teamed up with Radiomonitor to be able to include now playing data based on audio fingerprinting. This allows us to add stations who are unable to supply us with any data and, in addition, provide more accurate data for stations who are unable to track everything they play on their specialist shows.

If you’d like us to add your station to Compare My Radio or want to find out more, please get in touch.

- Duncan Amey

Categories: Absolute Radio Compare My Radio Technology labs 0

Posted by rhiannon on April 19, 2010

Find out about mflow with Absolute Radio by Dan Thornton

16Apr

From Monday, you’ll be able to find out about new music service mflow on-air and online at Absolute Radio as part of a media promotion partnership.

We’re always interested in new ways to purchase and share music, and you’ll be able to follow the Absolute Radio profile on the mflow system to automatically receive ‘flows’ of all the tracks we recommend.

The system works by allowing you to follow other users, and when they buy or recommend a song, you’ll automatically receive an update (or ‘flow’) in your inbox.

When you get a flow, you can listen to the track and decide whether or not to buy it quickly and easily.

From Monday you’ll be able to find out more on the Absolute Radio website, including how one person will win a fantastic prize…

Categories: Technology 0

Posted by dan on April 16, 2010

Playlist: 13th April

13Apr

The playlist is out now.

Arno Carstens – Heartbreak Monday (26/04)
Co-written by Paulo Nutini, this is the new song from the South African singer-songwriter’s album ‘Wonderful Wild’. It joins New Order, The Bangles and The Mamas & The Papas on the list of songs about Mondays.

Categories: Music playlist 1

Posted by carrie on April 13, 2010