New Consumer Service Gives Bostonians Power to Influence Local Radio Station Music

New Consumer Service Gives Bostonians Power to Influence Local Radio Station Music

Created by Boston Entrepreneur, FM411(TM) Counters Growing Trend Towards 'Homogenized' Formats and Shorter, Repetitive Playlists

BOSTON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- FM411(TM), a new consumer service debuting today in Boston before going national, gives Bostonians a potent way to influence the music played by local radio stations. In so doing, the service expects to shake up the radio industry and, ultimately, reverse the erosion of control that local stations have over their own programming.

In Boston, 19 of the market's 23 top-rated radio stations are owned by four huge national media companies: AM-FM/Clear Channel, Greater Media, Entercom and Viacom/Infinity. These conglomerates assign rigid formats to their local stations and, in some cases, proscribe repetitive, focus group- tested playlists, resulting in a homogenized on-air music experience. FM411(TM) seeks to change the game by shifting the power back to the local market and, more importantly, putting it directly in the hands of Boston listeners.

Founded by Boston entrepreneur Jeff Levy, FM411(TM) has established a web site, http://www.getfm411.com/, where at no cost consumers can register their requests for musical artists and ask local radio stations to send them an electronic alert via IM, cell phone text message, or email indicating when their favorite music is about to play. FM411(TM) makes this data available to radio station management, who can acquire the rights to notify individuals minutes before their station plays the listener's requested music.

"Making radio waves is what FM411(TM) is all about," explains Levy. "We're giving listeners throughout Boston a simple, effective way to tell radio stations precisely what music they want to hear, when they want to hear it. We believe this kind of data will compel the big media companies to program directly to the desires of local listeners."

Years ago, radio was more free-form. In Boston and other large cities, DJs called the shots, took requests live on-air and played the music local listeners craved. Iconic DJs like Peter Wolf and Charles Laquidara working for independent stations like WBCN and WZLX, created fresh, individualistic formats with home-grown personality. Boston's most successful bands - Aerosmith, the J. Geils Band, Boston and the Cars - all rose to fame with strong support from local radio stations.

"Listeners rely on broadcasters to provide unique entertainment including thought-provoking commentary, engaging stories and great music," stated Boston's legendary radio personality Jess Cain. "When you place restrictions on amusement, you destroy it. FM411(TM)'s service is a step towards bringing spontaneity back into radio and giving the listeners a voice."

Source: FM411

CONTACT: Meredith Topalanchik, +1-212-455-8018,
mtopalanchik@cooperkatz.com, or Janice Roberts, +1-212-455-8041,
jroberts@cooperkatz.com, both of CooperKatz & Co, for FM411

Web site: http://www.getfm411.com/

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