Are Artists The New Gatekeepers? Clear Channel Radio & Front Line Mgt. Think So.
Both broadcast and online radio are searching for new ways to engage listeners in the iPod age and radio giant Clear Channel is betting that name artists may be the answer.
In a partnership with Irving Azoff's Front Line Management, Clear Channel is is launching artist personal experience a.p.e. radio ( artist personal experience), a stand-alone company that will produce artist driven own online channels, according to Billboard. The new broadcasts will launch in July with The Eagles, Weezer & Christina Aguilera. Each 24 hour channels will play music chosen by the artist along with interviews and commentary.
Sirius XM has found success with both short and long term artist channels that range from a Sinatra driven station featuring duaghter Nancy as a host to a shorter term Dave Mathews channel celebrating the release of a new record and tour. Other artists have also launched their own online broadcasts…
using very affordable streaming services like Live365.
"We feel that the old model of trying to get radio airplay and some
video play is broken," Front Line founder/CEO Irving Azoff who also
serves as CEO of Ticketmaster and chairman of a.p.e. told Billboard.
"We were looking for a seven-days-a-week, 24-hour artist online
venture, and the radio channel seems to make real sense."
Aguilera's playlist reportedly ranges from Santigold to Black Sabbath and Etta James.
But will people listen?
Hey Bruce,
I don’t think that many people are going to care about these artist’s radio shows. Just my opinion. And as a manager, these shows are going to be either:
(1) a nightmare to organize if the artist really does choose the selections
or
(2) selected by an intern or an aide
Bob Dylan’s shows on Serius were (are?) cool, but I’d rather listen to KCRW (holler @ Tom Schnabel, Garth Trinidad – best DJs in the US!) or something like WCPE classical (all avail on iTunes radio). I think music is about USE for a lot of people, and weather an artists has their name on a radio show doesn’t make it that useful for listeners, but having a constantly great selector who you can expect to have a style of music you like IS useful.