A lively discussion on the future of Radio

And now, a voice from the other side: Mark Ramsey.

He challenges the views of the Radio Advertising Bureau.


(Here's a link to the future of advertising on the radio which I'm still waiting for someone to take me up on.)



Here's Mark's words:

A lesson for RAB's Jeff Haley

The RAB needs to learn more about its industry.

In his comments at the RAB this week, chief Jeff Haley said this about radio's translation to new media:

Print and video are different experiences when they move to digital – Radio is not. The Rolling Stones sound like The Rolling Stones no matter the channel.

This is not just wrong, but shockingly so.

Jeff, any time you move from one medium to another you change the message. This is Marshall McLuhan 101.

The issue is not whether the Rolling Stones sound like the Rolling Stones across media (although it's interesting that you picked a band best known for its output in the 60's and 70's), the issue is what it means to be "radio" when you exist across media and where each medium has different potentialities that extend well beyond audio alone.

A book is different from a movie is different from a play.

What is "radio" in a medium with pictures and video?

What is "radio" in a medium where consumers create the content?

What is "radio" in a medium where community and social interaction are part of the product rather than simply part of the audience?

What is "radio" in a medium where almost any company or any individual can string together their own playlist that is equal to yours?

The folks at RAB either need to take a class in Media - or talk to a few 12-year-olds.

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