First Viewing: "Visual Radio" 99X.com
Written Jan. 25, 2008 by Sean Ross in Internet Radio with 2 Comments
As Cumulus' WNNX (99X) Atlanta ran promos in its final days, promising to return after its terrestrial format changes as "the first visual radio station," it was intriguing to contemplate the possibilities. Was this going to be the station that CBS honcho Dan Mason often talks about in interviews--radio reimagined as TV?
Perhaps in the long run. On the day that 99X relinquished its frequency to Top 40 sister WWWQ (Q100), 99X.com was a good-looking site, but the visual element, so far, is a series of rotating promos, many emphasizing clips from the station's ample "Live X" performances, as well as station events. The good news is that the stream starts immediately--after a promo explaining the site--something we're in favor of. The bad news is that if you click anywhere else on the site, it takes you away from the stream, instead of opening a second browser. Videos, the site notes, are "coming soon." There's also only a brief mention in the opening promo of 99X's availability in HD-2.
Musically, 99X.com is actually a little more conservative than the station it replaced -- as if you were launching a new terrestrial station in cume-building mode. But I did hear one 99X signature record, Spacehog's "In The Meantime," this afternoon.
Here's 99X.com at 12:15 p.m. today:
Soundgarden, "Black Hole Sun"
Rise Against, "The Good Left Undone"
Jimmy Eat World, "The Sweetness"
Live, "Lightning Crashes"
Finger Eleven, "Paralyzer"
Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush"
White Stripes, "You Don't Know What Love Is"
Killers, "Read My Mind"
Lenny Kravitz,Are You Gonna Go My Way"
Trapt, "Headstrong"
Nirvana,About A Girl"
Evanescence, "Call Me When You're Sober"
Reader Comments
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Japan is quite ahead of us on this already.
One such example of a good Digital/Internet Radio station is Nippon Hoso's "Suono Dolce", which you can view for yourself at www.suono.jp (after some navigating, you should be able to find the "PLAY" icon and register to listen online, and see the accompanying video/audio stream).
There are certain dayparts where the jocks can be seen live from an 'anchor desk' type setting, even interacting with sponsors, and when there are no live jocks, you see vistas of Japan, with title/artist info. What's more, listeners see this same image on their portable cellphone radios (this is an over the air signal btw), something we've not managed to produce yet in an HD Radio.
Thanks for the update, i guess this won't be available on Yes.com?
99x was replaced by a no-surprises classic rock station, playing Van Halen and Aerosmith in the little bit I listened to today. I can't stream at work, so it's iPod for me unless I go HD. (sorry, I am not convinced to PAY for satellite radio..HD i could do, though)
KROQ would be a dream--like 99x, they're boosters of Muse, an up-and-coming prog/alternative/arena rock hybrid. My suggestion is, if the idea of national stations is in play, why not import the signal of strong stations from the UK...such as Virgin Radio?
That, or another personal fave, WWOZ the jazz and heritage station out of New Orleans. Let the rest of the country hear why that culture is so unique and valuable.