Social Radio

Federated Media's WRBR/South Bend, IN ("103.9 The Bear") has launched a series of customizable online music streams powered by Social Radio, called "My Bear."

The service enables listeners to choose from seven different niches of rock music, and personalize their listening by skipping, banning, and voting on the songs they hear. Federated chief strategy officer James Derby told Inside Radio he thinks the "My Bear" service could potentially convert "P3 and P4 listeners" into "P1s" by way of more individually-tailored listening experiences.

Federated Media plans to add liners from the jocks as well as "interactive commercials" (the streams are just music and general sweepers now), according to the news source. The station says it will soon launch mobile apps and a social media presence. And should Federated deem the project a success, look for personalized versions of the company's other stations.

Social Radio powers the new Balut Radio, launched by TV5 New Media in the Philippines (RAIN coverage here).

TV5 New Media in the Philippines has lauched Balut Radio, a customizable Internet radio service featuring Original Pinoy Music (OPM) and internation hits, for listening in that country.

The new service was built on Portland, Oregon-based radio software development firm Social Radio's platform.

Balut Radio features dozens of curated channels listeners can customize, plus a "build your own" channel feature. The service adds radio voice talent integrated into the personalized channels, plus news and information, artist interviews, and live performance video.

Social Radio is using the Balut Radio launch to introduce new audience metrics to its offerings. The company says it will measure "number of unique devices," "distinct user accounts," and "average percentage of song played," and offer these sorts of metrics to other Social Radio clients.

In working in the Philippines, Social Radio sees a distinct advantage when it comes to intellectual property use.

Steve Allaway, Social Radio’s CEO, explained the service's position: "Because there is sensible royalty legislation in the Philippines, we’re able to really exercise the capabilities we architected into Social Radio... dedications, individual song sharing to Facebook with a link back to that song in the player, showing listeners what songs are coming up next... those are a few of the features... that would make the service completely illegal in the United States."

Balut Radio is "geo-blocked" from countries with performance license legislation less-favorable to services (like the U.S.). Listeners in American can access a limited set of Balut Radio features that Social Radio says are within Digital Millennium Copyright Act parameters.

TV5 is a major Filipino commercial television network.

Social radio technology platform Jelli has announced that it's brought aboard broadcast media expert and digital product strategist Fred Bennett as Chief Business Development Officer.

Bennett is a seasoned broadcast industry executive, experienced with new broadcast solutions and digital programs. He was President and General Manager of Metro Television and Senior Vice President, Affiliate Sales at Westwood One, and Vice President, Operations and Programming at Shadow Traffic. He served as General Sales Manager for Disney’s WABC Radio, New York, and was head of Pamal Broadcasting’s five station group, including its digital operation.

Jelli says the newly created position signals the company's "broadening partnership with radio for programming and advertising solutions that deepen engagement, deliver actionable audience insights and increase revenue."

The Jelli consumer experience "fuses group listening with game mechanics to make radio more social and fun. Listeners control radio playlists through real-time voting and game elements, via free iPhone and Android apps and web experience." The Jelli ad platform "enables real-time ad serving and listener engagement across social, mobile and broadcast platforms, creating unique insights for advertisers. Jelli is available online and on FM radio stations across the United States."

Social Radio, which designs software for radio designed to improve online engagement, has unveiled a new player design and interactive software demo.

Steve Allaway, Social Radio CEO, said, "The Social Radio platform is the first of its kind to blend what listeners truly love about radio, the great content and local personalities that connect with them, with the kind of choice, control and personalization that is native to online and mobile media consumers."

Social Radio offers broadcasters "SoundExchange compliant" streaming with features like "Personalized Local Radio, Listener Choice and Control, Song Skipping, Song Rating, Sharing Radio to Facebook, Advertising Accountability, Targeted Advertising for Radio, Multiple Channels for Online Radio Stations, Social Radio Listener Experience, Social Radio Advertiser Experience, and more."

The new demo is available here. Read Social Radio's entire press release here. 

Mobile technology company Myxer has announced a new service called Social Radio which will reportedly allow Facebook users to listen to Internet radio in real-time.

Much like Turntable.fm, Myxer Social Radio will let users create or join virtual "rooms," in which they hear the same music at the same time as anyone else in the room. Myxer says the service will launch in Q4 2011.

You can find more information from the company's press release here.