2008 Woodie Awards
Music in the new millennium
Internet radio is on the rise; traditional stations could be in trouble
Kenneth Long
Issue date: 7/23/08 Section: A&E
Instead of tuning in dials, radio listeners are now accessing their music through keystrokes and mouse clicks.
With the introduction of programs like Pandora and streaming radio from Web sites, some broadcast radio stations have been put in a precarious position of either switching to the new formats or sticking to their CD collections.
Colin Katrenek, sophomore music education major of Troy, is the host of SIUE's Web Radio show, "Radio Free Mars," a show formatted for both talk and music, where Katrenek said he has come to appreciate Internet radio.
"It's so much easier than regular radio," Katrenek said. "Plus, it's crystal clear."
Music on the Internet has expanded with many sites that allow the purchase of music online, but radio streams on the Internet have expanded as well.
Katrenek said when compiling the list of songs for the automation playlist, he uses Pandora, a free music program that allows site users to access the Music Genome Project.
"People can acclimate themselves to new music," Katrenek said. "(Pandora) is really useful."
Katrenek said when preparing to host the band Helacon on his show, he used Pandora to find artists who sounded like them to get his listeners prepared for the band.
The Music Genome Project, created in 2000, tries to compile a database of songs where users can find specific songs and other, similar sounding songs.
Jeremy Clinton, SIUE mass communications alumnus, said programs like Pandora show how the Internet and radio are coming together.
"I see the Internet and radio not colliding, but intertwining," Clinton said. "There may be a slight decline in broadcast radio, but I don't see the industry shrinking."
Ross Gentile, music director and DJ of "Standards in Jazz" on 88.7 WSIE, said while pop and rap-themed stations may be switching to a completely digital format, primarily jazz-themed stations may be slower to switch.
"We could play MP3s, but most of our music is on CDs," Gentile said. "I don't think the jazz world will be affected for a while."
With the introduction of programs like Pandora and streaming radio from Web sites, some broadcast radio stations have been put in a precarious position of either switching to the new formats or sticking to their CD collections.
Colin Katrenek, sophomore music education major of Troy, is the host of SIUE's Web Radio show, "Radio Free Mars," a show formatted for both talk and music, where Katrenek said he has come to appreciate Internet radio.
"It's so much easier than regular radio," Katrenek said. "Plus, it's crystal clear."
Music on the Internet has expanded with many sites that allow the purchase of music online, but radio streams on the Internet have expanded as well.
Katrenek said when compiling the list of songs for the automation playlist, he uses Pandora, a free music program that allows site users to access the Music Genome Project.
"People can acclimate themselves to new music," Katrenek said. "(Pandora) is really useful."
Katrenek said when preparing to host the band Helacon on his show, he used Pandora to find artists who sounded like them to get his listeners prepared for the band.
The Music Genome Project, created in 2000, tries to compile a database of songs where users can find specific songs and other, similar sounding songs.
Jeremy Clinton, SIUE mass communications alumnus, said programs like Pandora show how the Internet and radio are coming together.
"I see the Internet and radio not colliding, but intertwining," Clinton said. "There may be a slight decline in broadcast radio, but I don't see the industry shrinking."
Ross Gentile, music director and DJ of "Standards in Jazz" on 88.7 WSIE, said while pop and rap-themed stations may be switching to a completely digital format, primarily jazz-themed stations may be slower to switch.
"We could play MP3s, but most of our music is on CDs," Gentile said. "I don't think the jazz world will be affected for a while."
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