At the rather lovely Radio at the Edge. Clive Dickens talking about how in the change over (”cross fade” ho!) from Virgin radio to Absolute they’ve deployed a pretty impressive number of ways of empowering listeners along along the way. I’ve rather rashly turned this into a list so i can steal be inspired by them later.
- Allow 1-2 listeners per week (who have registered at your site) to attend playlist meetings.
- Publish your playlists and openly compare to the playlists of other stations.
- Spotting virgins. Ask your users to change the metadata of 40K images on your site as you “cross-fade” from Virgin to Absolute.
- When you say you have a “no repeat guarantee”, then publish the data that tries to prove it.
- Start your new radio station with a slogan and records proposed and shared by listeners.
- Open Mic; Allow users to tell you you what they like/don’t like about Absolute and publish on your site. But also do it face to face.
- Host a social network for your listeners and give them special privileges.
- Run a corporate blog that allows Clive and others to talk about the decisions they make and admit mistakes.
- Share everything. Ad schedules, Rajars. Research. What you’re thinking.
2 responses so far ↓
peeebeee // November 10, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Impressive, isn’t it? Really pleased that Absolute are making their presence felt as something new, rather than yet another cookie-cutter commercial music station. And the opening words were inspired.
Emma // November 15, 2008 at 3:30 am
Dear Jem,
I didn’t want to put this anywhere but here. I occasionally post on the Lamb thread @6 music, and am aware of your level-headed responses to user issues.
These are excellent suggestions, some of which might subdue the ire. Particularly the suggestion of freedom of info and restricting the number of plays from the playlist and comparing playlists from other stations.
I think we are in good hands! Or I hope so!