It is obvious that radio is losing momentum. Fewer and fewer listeners are tuning in to discover new music, and, instead, turning to the internet. One website that has embraced the discovery of music on the internet is Pandora.com. (Article about internet music discovery)
The creators of Pandora went to great lengths to figure out the “DNA” of the music and songs, and figured out a way to match them up with songs and artists with similar qualities. Just type in an artist and Pandora will play songs by artists that sound alike (more about it here. I have even found it a fun and interesting way to discover new bands that I would have not necessarily have heard of. If you don’t like a song, you can tell Pandora to stop playing it. Or you can encourage it to play more songs like the ones that you enjoy.
So, what does this mean for the future of music? Pandora certainly hasn’t gotten enough popularity to change the face of music. Or has it? If radio wants listeners back, they need to do something innovative and drastic to lure people in. If radio would embrace the idea that Pandora had originally, they might find that listeners are ready for a change.
Pandora is simple, easy and free. Exactly what a Gen Y-ers wants. However, the idea Pandora will become outdated if it doesn’t become mobile. There is already an item called “Squeezebox” that allows you to stream Pandora through your home speaker system, but that is not nearly enough to make a difference. Pandora or something similar on a mobile device? It could be the answer the radio is looking for. Only time will tell whether the face of terrestrial radio will form into something like Pandora. If only the radio stations were willing to give up their old ways, and try something new.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Picture this...
What would social networking sites be without photos? Well, they would certainly be a lot less interesting. Photo hosting websites are growing with the current rise of social networking sites. They are even rivaling photo-printing companies such as Kodak.
For example, Photobucket.com is a common choice for many social networkers. In 2005 Photobucket had around 12.2 million visitors, while Yahoo’s photo website had 9.6 million, and Kodak had only 5.9 million. And Photobucket doesn’t even sell prints.
Photobucket must be doing something right. In an article from 2005, the writer states, “Photobucket said it is targeting a younger audience, including teenagers looking to dress up their blog”. Yes, exactly. Photobucket facilitates the process of posting your own photos on a blog, or a message board by providing the direct link of the picture, and html tag, and an IMG code (used on some message boards) right next to the uploaded photo. And it’s free. What more could a Gen Y-er want?
It only gets better for the social networker. The article linked above is from 2005, and since then, Photobucket has given all registered members more space to store their photos, and the ability to upload videos.
Photobucket’s challenge is to find an efficient way to make money off their popularity. They offer a premium membership that costs $25 a year, but the statistics of how many people took advantage of the offer were not released. The site is currently relying on ads, which has proven to be a bit of a risk. Photo sharing sites in the 90’s tried to rely on just ads, but their endeavors proved unsuccessful.
However, Alex Welch, the creator of Photobucket was quoted saying, “Young people, in my mind, drive innovation”. As long as social networks remain popular, Photobucket will not lose its success.
For example, Photobucket.com is a common choice for many social networkers. In 2005 Photobucket had around 12.2 million visitors, while Yahoo’s photo website had 9.6 million, and Kodak had only 5.9 million. And Photobucket doesn’t even sell prints.
Photobucket must be doing something right. In an article from 2005, the writer states, “Photobucket said it is targeting a younger audience, including teenagers looking to dress up their blog”. Yes, exactly. Photobucket facilitates the process of posting your own photos on a blog, or a message board by providing the direct link of the picture, and html tag, and an IMG code (used on some message boards) right next to the uploaded photo. And it’s free. What more could a Gen Y-er want?
It only gets better for the social networker. The article linked above is from 2005, and since then, Photobucket has given all registered members more space to store their photos, and the ability to upload videos.
Photobucket’s challenge is to find an efficient way to make money off their popularity. They offer a premium membership that costs $25 a year, but the statistics of how many people took advantage of the offer were not released. The site is currently relying on ads, which has proven to be a bit of a risk. Photo sharing sites in the 90’s tried to rely on just ads, but their endeavors proved unsuccessful.
However, Alex Welch, the creator of Photobucket was quoted saying, “Young people, in my mind, drive innovation”. As long as social networks remain popular, Photobucket will not lose its success.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Hey, Social Networker. Buy this!
Advertisements are popping up and have been popping all over social networking sites. Sites such as Facebook and MySpace seem like the opportune way to get a product out to the younger generation since so many Generation Y-ers are tuned into those sites. But are the consumers actually buying what they see on their MySpace page?
An article that can be found here addressed the fact that companies are targeting 18-24 year olds through ads on blogs and social networking site. The sites are described as “built for specific interest groups”, making it even easier for the advertiser to find consumers. It makes sense. Google has done something similar with their Gmail by making ads pop up that have to do with certain key words in emails that you write. An article, here, shows how big companies, like Ebay, are running to get their name on sites like MySpace.
But are these ads effective? One would think so because they are targeting specific consumers. However, is Generation Y even going to notice them? In the article posted here social networkers are said to be “immune” to ads on sites. Most people are still said to rely on word-of-mouth references, and not offers from ads.
Only time will tell if advertisements on social networking sites will have a positive impact on companies, but the only sure way to lure in the young generation is to come with something new: something that will catch the eye of the young consumer, and not something he or she will just dismiss as another cliché advertisement.
An article that can be found here addressed the fact that companies are targeting 18-24 year olds through ads on blogs and social networking site. The sites are described as “built for specific interest groups”, making it even easier for the advertiser to find consumers. It makes sense. Google has done something similar with their Gmail by making ads pop up that have to do with certain key words in emails that you write. An article, here, shows how big companies, like Ebay, are running to get their name on sites like MySpace.
But are these ads effective? One would think so because they are targeting specific consumers. However, is Generation Y even going to notice them? In the article posted here social networkers are said to be “immune” to ads on sites. Most people are still said to rely on word-of-mouth references, and not offers from ads.
Only time will tell if advertisements on social networking sites will have a positive impact on companies, but the only sure way to lure in the young generation is to come with something new: something that will catch the eye of the young consumer, and not something he or she will just dismiss as another cliché advertisement.
Need a Job? Fix up that Facebook.
In this day and age, you can’t simply walk into a job interview, show the interviewer your resume and grades from school, and expect to get the job. There are other things you should consider. Some companies and colleges are searching for their potential candidates online through Google and Yahoo, and they have even started looking on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.
Companies who have found something outrageous about an individual through social networking sites, have turned down many students. A student by the name of Tien Nguyen didn’t get any invitations for job interviews until he took down and satirical essay he wrote called “Lying your way to the top” that could be found when reasearching his name on Google. He responded by saying “I never really considered that employers would do something like that…I thought they would just look at your résumé and grades”. More on his story and others can be found in this New York Times article from June 2006. Even more cases are listed here.
So are companies and colleges stalking students? Shouldn’t profiles on social networks be part the student’s private life? Well, that’s the debate. If you are putting explicit stories about your sexual endeavors and pictures of yourself holding beer bottles for everyone on the internet to see, then why shouldn’t companies and colleges get involved? Social networking isn’t exactly new any more, but it is still something society has to get used to. If it’s there for the public to see, there will be consequences. We should all be more careful about what we post and write on the internet, because you never know how it will come back to haunt you.
Companies who have found something outrageous about an individual through social networking sites, have turned down many students. A student by the name of Tien Nguyen didn’t get any invitations for job interviews until he took down and satirical essay he wrote called “Lying your way to the top” that could be found when reasearching his name on Google. He responded by saying “I never really considered that employers would do something like that…I thought they would just look at your résumé and grades”. More on his story and others can be found in this New York Times article from June 2006. Even more cases are listed here.
So are companies and colleges stalking students? Shouldn’t profiles on social networks be part the student’s private life? Well, that’s the debate. If you are putting explicit stories about your sexual endeavors and pictures of yourself holding beer bottles for everyone on the internet to see, then why shouldn’t companies and colleges get involved? Social networking isn’t exactly new any more, but it is still something society has to get used to. If it’s there for the public to see, there will be consequences. We should all be more careful about what we post and write on the internet, because you never know how it will come back to haunt you.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The "Shoes" Virus
Go to Google and type in, simply, “shoes”. I guarantee that the second website listed as a search result will give you this:
“Shoes” is yet another “viral” video that was passed on by people who linked and posted it on their websites, message boards, and blogs. Yes, it might be absurd, but I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been told about this video or seen it mentioned somewhere on the Internet. The statistics on YouTube say that this particular video has been viewed 10,280,342 times.
The creator, Liam Sullivan (his website can be found here), who has been had a few small roles on T.V. shows and creates other comedic skits, did what any smart Internet savvy individual would do: promote his video through social networking sites. “Kelly’s” music myspace page (myspace.com/kellylikesshoes) is nothing short of successful, with 90,900+ friends and over 4 million plays on the music player. Sullivan can post and inform people about new videos and songs, as well as tour dates (yes, “Kelly” even has shows). You can even buy the music on iTunes.
These impressive numbers that are reflected with just one video like this goes to show the magnitude and influence that social networks have. Without a site like YouTube, this video would never have been able to be viewed. Without sites like MySpace, the video would not have spread so quickly. “Shoes” is a true definition of a “Viral Video”.
“Shoes” is yet another “viral” video that was passed on by people who linked and posted it on their websites, message boards, and blogs. Yes, it might be absurd, but I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been told about this video or seen it mentioned somewhere on the Internet. The statistics on YouTube say that this particular video has been viewed 10,280,342 times.
The creator, Liam Sullivan (his website can be found here), who has been had a few small roles on T.V. shows and creates other comedic skits, did what any smart Internet savvy individual would do: promote his video through social networking sites. “Kelly’s” music myspace page (myspace.com/kellylikesshoes) is nothing short of successful, with 90,900+ friends and over 4 million plays on the music player. Sullivan can post and inform people about new videos and songs, as well as tour dates (yes, “Kelly” even has shows). You can even buy the music on iTunes.
These impressive numbers that are reflected with just one video like this goes to show the magnitude and influence that social networks have. Without a site like YouTube, this video would never have been able to be viewed. Without sites like MySpace, the video would not have spread so quickly. “Shoes” is a true definition of a “Viral Video”.
Social Networking: the Present
Social networking has changed the face of communication and the Internet over the past few years. Sites such as Myspace and Facebook add a whole new dimension to socializing and discovery, while growing more popular by the day. 48% of teens surveyed said that they visited social networking sites, and 37% of just the 12 and 13 years old alone said that they have created online profiles. Myspace is said to have about 145 million users (article). So, why are these sites creating such a phenomenon on the internet? Well, they allow people to find what they're looking for when when they want it. Music and videos and media in general have taken on a new edge because of "word of mouth" through these networks. If you see a new music video on T.V., chances are it will be up on YouTube within a few hours. Hear a new band? Google their name, or check them out on Myspace. Social networks also allow people to find and socialize with others who have the same specific interests, something that was extremely difficult to do just a decade ago. Social networking is not going away, and the world is becoming smaller because of it. We are connected and plugged in to so many different outlets it's almost overwhelming. But with so much information, media, and communication at our fingertips, there is a lot to gain. We just have to find the time to explore and enjoy it all.
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