Clear Channel wants you to SMS song requests
Text messaging has been particularly effective in keeping certain audiences engaged recently, with television show voting and information requests being solicited from customers using SMS. Clear Channel wants to join in the fun, as the terrestrial radio company wants listeners to all its stations nationwide to use texting to send in song requests. In addition to requests, listeners can get traffic reports along with other relevant information tidbits. With a failed trial having just been completed with AT&T where a fee was involved, the company will instead be focusing on a free model that relies heavily on text messaging. This new program will start in New York City and will expand to 100 radio stations by the end of 2008. We kinda hope Clear Channel really does not wait over 18 months to make this available to many large markets. Hear us, CC?
Filed under: Messaging
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MinceyFresh @ May 30th 2007 5:56AM
I remember years ago when I used to actually listen to FM radio, I tried calling the local ClearChannel-owned radio station to request a particular song (one that I loved but wasn't very well known). The DJ knew of the song and told me that he'd play it, but after an hour went by without hearing it, I called back and requested it again.
After calling in and bugging the DJ a number of times to play the song, he finally gave up and admitted to me that unless the song I was requesting was already in their assigned playlist, I wasn't going to hear it.
So basically, all those people who were calling in and getting their songs played were just requesting songs that were eventually going to be played anyway. They'd just get their calls recorded and then broadcast right before the song was to come up, making it sound like they were getting their request granted right then and there.
Although it was this way years ago, I wouldn't be surprised if texting requests to CC-owned radio stations would be exactly the same today as it was back in the day when I used to call in.
MikeV @ May 30th 2007 6:44AM
Big whoop. XM tried it and it seems to have bombed. XM had it where you'd send a text with the channel number to XMXMM (96966), then it would reply to confirm you got the right channel, then you'd text your request.
They don't promote it anymore, so I don't even know if it still works. But I don't think it was being used a lot. Just as I'm sure this won't.
TheWirelessWizard @ May 30th 2007 10:09AM
Actually, I think the most interesting aspect of this isn't what Clear Channel is doing with it today, but what the implications of text-to-machine possibilities are for the future. Here's a clip from a post that I've written for my blog that will appear on Friday (June 1) that specifically addresses this issue:
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This service has the capacity to get quite sophisticated. Of course, the potential for targeted advertising is huge... once you've sent in a request for a song the station knows what type of music you like so there's the possibility of sending coupons for downloads, CDs (wow - how quaint would it be to actually walk into a record store and buy a CD?? I honestly can't remember the last time I did that), movies and more. If you request a traffic report for an area at a certain time maybe tomorrow you'll get a coupon or an ad for a restaurant that's right along the way - a free dessert with dinner or an invitation to happy hour. Once you send information into the system they'll start extrapolating it into some kind of revenue-producing service.
Let's look at some things that could be done with text messaging in the near future in your everyday life:
* Waiting on line at a restaurant for a table? Why carry one of those silly coaster-like pagers that only work within a 30-foot radius of the restaurant? Shouldn't it be easier, less expensive and more user-friendly for the restaurant to send a quick text message alerting you when your table is available?
* Why does my doctor or dentist call me to confirm an appointment? Yes, they could send me an email, but I'm not always at my computer (I gave up my Blackberry years before they even started becoming popular with the masses - after sending/receiving 200+ emails/day). I do, however, always have my phone with me... so why not send me a text reminder with an option to confirm/change/please-call-me reply back to the doctor's office?
* How many times have you called the pharmacy, or actually gone to the pick-up window, only to find out that the prescription you requested isn't ready yet? Wouldn't it be easier for you - and them - if their system automatically sent you a text message when the prescription was filled? Their systems already require a prescription to be "closed out" when it's completed so that the insurance claim for reimbursement is filed - this should be an easy add-on.
* One service that I'll talk about in more detail in a later post takes real estate into the texting realm... yard signs have a special code on them for prospective buyers to request information that's sent directly to their cell phones - including photos - while they're sitting right in front of the house.
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There's more, if you're interested, here:
http://www.TheWirelessWizard.com/tips
As I said, the truly interesting part here isn't being able to request a song, but what this process may be indicating as the leading edge for the future.
Just my 2 cents.
Failedgrace @ May 31st 2007 10:17PM
Very insightful.
adelossa @ May 31st 2007 4:39PM
A local CC station here has small radio spots saying you can text a requested song to their station for a few months now (then again, they've also been butchering HD radio even when we can't get it here in Hawaii)
Robbie @ Jun 2nd 2007 4:42PM
clear channel has been letting listeners text in requests in los angeles for a long time now. many of the radio stations here do. i dont understand why theyre acting like they have this "new" idea.