It was just a matter of time before Country wised up, and saw that the Rock and Classic Rock genres were dominating play-along video games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero. There's just something about seeing a 12 year-old play "Search and Destroy" by Iggy and the Stooges that has to get you wondering why Country has been MIA in these games.
To meet this need (just in time for Christmas), a new Rock Band 5-pack containing Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, and Dixie Chicks (obviously recovered from their Bush bashing) is about to be released. As R&R's Mike Stern asks, is this trend brand extension or "band extension?"
Actually, it's both. Making music available to fan-participant applications like Rock Band is just plain smart, especially when video games are outselling music downloads and CD sales by a wide margin. And we know from our Tech Polls that these games sell music, while exposing whole new audiences to music they've never heard before.
What's next for Rock Band – a classical version where older listeners can play everything from a cello to a French horn along with a Beethoven symphony? Or multiple mics for a CeCe Winans gospel hit? Don't laugh. The music industry – while making gargantuan mistakes since the advent of digital – is moving toward a multi-access philosophy, and video games is their killer app.
In radio, we face the same pressures – how to move our best brands to multiple platforms – computers, iPhones, and anywhere that consumers access entertainment and information. Why not have KROQ or WMMR branded versions of Guitar Hero, made available in L.A. or Philly so that locals can enjoy the best music on their favorite stations? We continue to watch the video explosion from the sidelines, as Guitar Hero and Rock Band feature our best songs in new ways that fans can enjoy them. It's time for radio to step up and share in the gaming industry's success.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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