Via the Globe and Mail …
Everyone’s on the same wavelength now
No regulatory restrictions, no limited space on the dial; Web radio may be the biggest threat to radio since the advent of TVGRANT ROBERTSON
TORONTO — When Jonas Woost took the microphone at a gathering of the Canadian music and broadcasting industry in Toronto this week, the manager of last.fm looked more like a rock star than an industry executive. He practically had his own groupies.
The audience, composed of record label representatives, music fans, broadcasters and a smattering of artists, many at least a decade older than Mr. Woost — were all ears as he described how the London-based Internet broadcaster is amassing millions of listeners around the world each month.
It’s all in the name, Mr. Woost explained. "Last.fm is the last radio station you need."
As he stepped off stage, a small crowd of admirers gathered, some to shake hands, others to lob technical queries about last.fm’s music recommendation engine. Others just wanted to say they are fans.
The excitement generated by Mr. Woost’s appearance is indicative of a growing momentum in the industry. Without facing regulatory restrictions or a need to fight for space on a fixed radio dial, the Internet may just be the biggest threat to the radio industry since the advent of television — and the established players, faced with a challenge to their business model, have stood up and taken notice.
Just as telling as Mr. Woost’s popularity at the conference is the fact that Internet radio has new enemies — in particular the U.S. recording industry, which this month proposed aggressive royalties many feel could be the death knell for the industry.
Tags: Last.fm, Pandora, NPR, Project Opus
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