MUDGE’S Musings
Written recently and not so regarding Pandora.com, MUDGE’s radio of choice these days. And, I do mean choice, since anytime I’m sitting at my home PC, I’m choosing what to listen to, sans annoying commercials, jingles or DJs.
Here’s one of my favorite reads: John Dvorak, a pioneer in the business of all things personally computational, an amazingly well-informed person, and who (and I say this in the most complimentary way) makes the average curmudgeon such as yours truly seem like a cock-eyed optimist.
He’s got this to say about Pandora and its ilk:
The Future of Internet Radio
07.17.07
Will the success of Web radio spell the end of traditional broadcast radio?
Over the past month or so, there has been a heated battle between the music industry and Internet radio about rights and fees. Actually, over the past decade, there has been nothing but trouble surrounding Internet radio. I think it’s one of the reasons that podcasting emerged as an alternative to Internet radio. Look closely at podcasting, however; with the exception of the advanced auto-download via RSS aspect, it’s actually just more Internet radio.
[Per L-HC’s reformed process, please click the link below for the complete article — but then please come on back!]
The Future of Internet Radio – Columns by PC Magazine
Dvorak points out that Internet radio has manifest advantages over broadcast: reach, on demand, and best of all, low cost:
The death blow, though, always comes down to money. The expense of streaming over the Internet is a fraction of what transmitter-based broadcasting costs. There is no big antenna, no transmitters, no special studios. Nothing within reason can change this metric.
For these $500 ears (a sad story for another time), the sound of Pandora.com is nothing less than superb.
And, as I’ve said at the top: no jingles, no “SUNDAY! AY! ay!”, no 20-minute blocks of clatter and clutter, no drive-time shenanigans from weasels trying to be Howard Stern (sui generis, which Latin phrase in this context means, “top weasel”), just music (of the non-classical variety) that I like to listen to.
I love Pandora.com! Let’s hear it for internet radio!
It’s it for now. Thanks,
–MUDGE
Technorati Tags: Pandora.com, John Dvorak, Internet radio, broadcast radio, podcasting, commercial radio
Left-handed Complement 
I would prefer a complete withdrawal of all US forces and a UN peace keeping replacement force. Having our troops, any of our troops, stationed there will just cause more problems then good…
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
Do you believe that internet radio will emerge victorious from its battle from the record industry? I am sure some changes will come about in the coming years, as mentioned, money is the driving factor. I fear commercials will emerge and batter us, even perhaps through Pandora.
Arumarnav,
Pandora already has commercials, or rather, web advertising. Of course, I only see it when I’m looking at the site, a very small proportion of the time I’m connected and listening.
That works for me!
Thanks for reading…
–MUDGE
ClapSo,
I feel your pain — truly, as my son and new daughter-in-law are both former Navy officers, who both served tours (my son twice) in the “Arabian” Gulf.
Until the US finally catches up to paying its way in the UN, that organization is unlikely to be able to provide that interim cover you would like them to, in Iraq or anywhere else.
But that’s another story…
Thanks for reading…
–MUDGE
[…] the ‘Sphere© that we’re mammoth fans of Pandora.com (you can refresh your memory here, here, here and here to mention just the best instances — a Sequitur Service© of […]
[…] appreciatively quoted John C. Dvorak here at Left-Handed Complement. First, because he writes about computer-based topics that interest […]
[…] I do mean an addiction — it was on all day at work, and on now as I write this; find out more here and here and even here), I am, have been, and always will be a classical music person (listener […]