Smulyan: Content Is Key

At the UBS WARBURG GLOBAL MEDIA CONFERENCE in NEW YORK WEDNESDAY, EMMIS' JEFF SMULYAN stressed the importance of creating compelling content as radio's primary concern as technological challenges arise. 

SMULYAN cited TUESDAY's HD RADIO ALLIANCE launch as one positive sign that radio is addressing its marketing problems, but called radio programming "very stale" and "overresearched, (but) on the other hand the world is fragmented (and) tastes are 'niched down.'" He noted that while podcasting and streaming Internet radio have increased in prominence, "none of (the podcasts or streams) have made money," a point buttressed by radio division president RICK CUMMINGS' research showing that young listeners are getting "sick of dealing" with the same songs over and over on their iPods, presenting an opportunity for radio.

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