Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 10, 2008 at 10:02:35:
CBS RADIO LAUNCHES MULTI-FUNCTIONAL WIDGET AMPLIFYING LISTENERS RICH-MEDIA EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR FAVORITE STATIONS
Widget Featured On Station Websites Provides In-Depth Detail On Music Currently Being Played, As Well As Applications To Share Stations And Purchase Songs And Albums;
Ability To Dedicate And Forward Individual Tracks Via E-Mail Also Made Available Through Partnership With Last.fm
A new feature designed to increase interactivity between CBS RADIO stations and their more than 50 million weekly listeners, and providing a range of specialty information and services, launched today live online on the websites of some of the Company's most popular music stations such as WXRK and WWFS in New York, WXRT in Chicago and WVEE in Atlanta. The "Now Playing Widget" gives listeners total control of their listening experience with opportunities to own, share and play the music they love on demand.
Previously beta tested at stations in Dallas, San Francisco and Orlando, the widget will be rolled out to every CBS RADIO music station within the next 4-6 weeks.
The new CBS RADIO designed and developed widget will allow listeners to learn the title, artist and album of the song currently being played, and the previous 10 tracks aired on the station; purchase the song through iTunes or Amazon.com; and share links to the station via email or AIM.
Additionally, listeners can now dedicate songs to their husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, friends and family, co-workers and acquaintances by using the appropriate tab of the widget, or search for specific tracks for on-demand listening. Through a unique partnership with Last.fm, CBS Corporation's free global music Web site, CBS RADIO is taking what has long been a staple of radio broadcasting one step further by offering that same personalized on-air service through an online application.
"Radio stations have been fulfilling song requests and dedications since their first moments on the air," said Greg Strassell, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS RADIO. "With the tools available to us today we can take those popular features and seamlessly transfer them to the web where listeners can be the ultimate arbiters of their music choices on demand."
"Distinctive applications like the Now Playing widget fosters an increase in the time listeners spend with our websites and their overall satisfaction with our online assets and brands," said David Goodman, President Digital Media and Integrated Marketing, CBS RADIO. "We've also created a number of new ways for advertisers to reach specific audience demographics of those who favor one particular format over another."
To experience the Now Playing widget, visit these CBS RADIO websites:
WVEE (Atlanta - Urban) (www.v-103.com)
WXRT (Chicago - Triple AAA) (www.wxrt.com)
KLUV (Dallas - Classic Hits) www.kluv.com) WVMV (Detroit - Smooth Jazz) (www.wvmv.com)
WYCD (Detroit - Country) (www.wycd.com)
WWFS (New York - Adult Contemporary) (www.fresh1027.com) WXRK (New York - Rock) (www.923krock.com)
WBZW (Pittsburgh - CHR) (www.b94.com)
(CBS Radio press release)