It’s amazing what you can do with a little free time.
Just before the Memorial Day Weekend, we issued a challenge to readers of this blog. While the spirit of the holiday is to honor those who currently serve and have served our country in the past, we know that many of you enjoyed some much-needed down time. While the idea was not to spend the weekend working, our hope was that an innovative idea or two might rise to the surface.
And veteran content creators Shawn Quinn and Stacy Ryder stepped up.
This week’s edition of “Radio’s Most Innovative” is a little different than usual. It features a work in progress. It’s clearly alpha because it’s not even beta. But part of the spirit of our initiative isn’t just about showcasing innovators from the past or even new ventures that are up and running. We were hoping to have the chance to visit a workshop or two along the way.
So I’m pleased to inform you that Shawn and Stacy spent much of the weekend innovating their next move. After Shawn found himself on the beach, they could either find another radio job, leave the business altogether, or create their next opportunity.
They’re going with #3. And they’re heading down the digital highway.
Stacy explains why: “When Shawn would do interviews on his morning show, we listened over and over again as entertainers talked about how they achieved creative control through self publication. We’ve watched TV segment into 200+ channels of niche programming and go from over-the-air to digital consumption. And, finally, we’ve listened when consultants and industry experts speak and write about the growth of digital and proper use of social media, only to watch it be brushed aside on a local level.”
And the lesson from all those years in commercial radio: “Content creates usage, (so) become the source.”
But lots of people talk a good game and blather on about new media opportunities, and yet they never get them off the ground. Seth Godin wrote about this extensively in Poke the Box, and Lee Abrams’ acronym “JFDI” is a reminder that it’s easy to walk around with ideas in your head. Much harder to make them happen.
So over Memorial Day Weekend, Shawn and Stacy did more than just put thoughts down on a legal pad They created a framework for what they’re calling GenX.fm. The concept is to feature a traditional local-sounding presentation that people are familiar with using an online/mobile delivery. This isn’t just a couple hundred songs in a box with produced drops. GenX.fm features a staff of radio people who are staking out a different delivery system.
You can also see it here.
It’s clean, organized, and clever. But is it going to happen?
Stacy: “This is something we’re doing.”
Architecturally, GenX.fm will have a live morning show featuring Shawn and co-host John Ralich, a stand-up comic. Stacy handless producing. They’ll replay the show in the afternoon, with a live host/co-host interacting socially with the audience. Scott Garrett will be handling the local news scene, while Betty Rebel (from Pittsburgh) will be hosting “Smashed Wax Saturday Nights.” All in all, a full lineup for an online startup.
Shawn and Stacy are looking to private fund the venture, and from a revenue generation standpoint, they’re focusing on in-stream and online/mobile advertising.
So we’re highlighting something very embryonic, but clearly innovative. If “RMI” has inspired them in some way, we’re happy. In the meantime, we hope to hear about more innovations that are incubating out there in the coming months.
By the way, the software they used to create their new business model is pretty cool. It’s called LivePlan and you can access it here.
INNOVATION QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you’re going to innovate.”
Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO
Check out some of our “Past Innovators” here:
- May 1 Horizon Media & “Moodstates”
- May 8 WLEN Radio
- May 15 Filmhouse
- May 29 Rick Carroll’s Rock of the ’80s
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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When IBM introduced its first personal computer, Apple ran an ad with the headline “Welcome, IBM. Seriously.” I thought it was quite self-serving. However, since I was working for Apple’s advertising agency at the time I decided to keep my mouth shut. I was young and foolish then. I’ve come to understand that strong competition makes you better at what you do. It’s always good to see radio professionals make a serious play in web radio, whether it’s Internet radio or podcasting. If they do their jobs well they drive the rest of us to be better at creating our content and marketing our product. I wish Shawn and Stacy the best of luck. Their success is good for the rest of us. Seriously.
Jay, thanks for the kind note and the encouraging comment.
Jay,
Thank you so much for the encouraging thoughts. Many thanks to Fred and everyone at Jacobs. There is always room for everyone in our sandbox!
Shawn, our pleasure. Good luck with the venture and keep us updated.
Thanks Fred, we sure will!