On The Dial: Google Play Music Radio launches; Bianca Dye exits i98FM; Hughesy & Kate get feedback; ARN’s new National Legal & Business Affairs Director
Google Play Music Radio launches
If the space wasn’t crowded enough, without all the hoopla that we saw with Apple’s launch of Beats1, Google lifted the wraps off Google Play Music Radio.
While only launching in the US now, here’s the spin from the Googleplex.
“Need some music right now to make whatever you’re doing better? Even if you’re not already a Google Play Music subscriber, we’ve got you covered. Google Play Music now has a free, ad-supported version in the U.S., giving you a new way to find just the right music—and giving artists another way to earn revenue. In less time than it takes you to read this sentence, you could be exercising with Drop-a-Beat Workout, cooling off with Poolside Chic, or spending quality time with Songs To Raise Your Kids To.”
Cutting to the chase, Google is delivering curated radio stations. That curation comes from the people and smarts behind Songza. Google brought Songza back in 2014 for around $39 mil, its app allowed users to craft a “station” (read playlist) by mood.
But they have gone a little further with Google Play Music with the ability to not only have a curated station say by a genre, mood, decade, artist or activity; you can also upload to the cloud your own library of songs, even your iTunes library. The system will learn what you are into and craft a station around you.
And here’s a nice feature from Google, with or without a subscription, you can store and play up to 50,000 songs from your own collection for free.
With Google delivering the Android operating system on the vast majority of mobile devices, most will come pre-loaded with Google Play Music Radio out of the box. That is a bit a of head start compared to the Pandora’s,Spotify’s and Rdio’s in the same space.
While Google is yet another player in the music space, is it yet another wake up call to define a stations point of difference beyond just a music proposition?
The Fox: Work It
Across the hit Network it’s now RNB Friday – it’s a few weeks in, where from 8am they kick with RNB tracks and “Booty shakin” mash-ups. FOX FM have taken it one step further with an old school video with Missy Elliot’s Work It.
Bianca Dye exitsi98FM
Have you ever had a Hotel California experience in your career?Ever been in a good gig for years – but somewhere deep inside there’s a niggling voice of future regret whispering "You’d better be brave and chase all your other dreams now – or you’ll settle in and you will never leave!”
Here’s some news from someone courageous enough to take the plunge that most of us would be too afraid to …
After sevenextraordinary years as co-star of the breakfast show she helped build to a dominant #1 position, Bianca Dye is making the rare move to face her fear of future regrets head on. But the downside is she's had to make the tough decision to leave the comfort of her beloved breakfast show on the Illawarra’s number one station, i98FM.
So, Bianca, what’s with the sudden decision to move on?Or has this been a long time coming?
96fm, Hughesy & Kate
Hughesy & Kate added Perth to their network list only last week.Now, the 96FM Facebook page asked “how the show was going”.
Pretty brave stuff and there are already close to 400 comments. ARN seems to have taken an open approach on it all. We asked ARN Goup CD Duncan Campbell a couple of quick questions on how it’s all going at 96FM.
Blair: You’re now nearly one week down with Hughesy & Kate on 96fm… we noticed today you’ve asked for people's feedback on the show via Facebook.
Holidays for some…
With survey holidays on now for most, Nova’s Lewis & Lowe are working. They’ll be covering Nova’s breakfast show for Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide from today.
Lewis & Lowe said, “When we first heard the news we thought we were being stitched up by Fitzy & Wippa…We’re still not sure it’s real but enormously excited by the chance to make some new friends across the country. We’ve been waking up with Adelaide for close to three years, we’ll now just have a few more people involved from the 29 June, is that hygienic?”
Paul Jackson, Group Program Director said, “Lewis & Lowe are proven performers in the Adelaide market so it’s a great opportunity to showcase their talents to a wider audience. We are delighted that Sydney and Melbourne listeners will have a chance to experience Lewis & Lowe while Fitzy & Wippa and Meshel & Tommy take a well-deserved break.”
ARN’s new National Legal & Business Affairs Director
Sarah Tinsley is joining ARN as their National Legal and Business Affairs Director.
Sarah was Senior Counsel with Fairfax Media and Fairfax Radio Network and she has also worked as General Counsel and Company Secretary for Nova Entertainment.
“I am pleased to be joining ARN at such an exciting time of growth and positive momentum, and I look forward to working with the ARN team to continue building on their success into the future,” said Sarah.
Sarah is also a member of the Commercial Radio Australia Legal and Regulatory and Codes Committees, and a Board member for various Digital Audio Broadcasting joint ventures.
She starts with ARN July 23 and will work closely with ARN COO Michael Harvey from their Melbourne offices.
JOBS
ARN has a vacancy for a Creative Writer based in Sydney.
Capital Radio Network has a vacancy for a Journalist / Panel Operator based in Canberra.
6PR has a vacancy for a Morning Producer
Grant Broadcasters has a vacancy for a Creative Writer based in Maroochydore.
106fivefm has a vacancy for a General Manager based on the Sunshine Coast.
Southern Cross Austereo have a role available for a Breakfast Audio Producer at Hit 107 Adelaide.
LA FM and Chilli FM have a vacancy for a Program Director.
Capital Radio Network has a vacancy for a News Presenter based in the Snowy Mountains
6PR has a vacancy for a Producer for Perth Tonight.
Macquarie Radio Network has a vacancy for a Senior Producer based in Sydney
Nova Entertainment has a vacancy for an Assistant Producer for Nova National Nights.
Grant Broadcasters has a vacancy for a Morning Announcer for K-Rock Geelong.
Authentic Entertainment is looking to appoint a Senior National Project Manager for their new division 'The Authentic Creative Lab'.
The Capital Radio Network is looking for a Production Manager / Announcer in Goulburn.
Rait FM Papua New Guinea has a vacancy for an Operations Manager / Program Director.
Star 104.5 Central Coast are looking for a Music Director / Announcer.
C91.3 FM Campbelltown has a vacancy for a Sales Executive
Light FM Melbourne has a vacancy for a Business Development Executive.
Nova Entertainment has a vacancy for a Sales Account Manager based in Sydney.