The iTunes Download Lowdown…

Thursday, August, 21, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

When Premiere Radio Networks, “a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications” sent out that August 13th press release  launching “The iTunes Download”, I was curious but I didn’t listen to the demo until yesterday.  What follows is my critique of the countdown…

To begin with, the download demo  is very well done.  It’s filled with great production elements.  There’s no lack of excitement or energy in its presentation.  Host Alex Luke is okay but this is a countdown, not a personality-ladden show anyway.  It’s all about the music - from number 30 through number 1.  I like the feature of asking iTune customers for their favorite downloaded tunes although I don’t know if too many kids in Kansas will care what someone from Weehawken, New Jersey is listening to.  Overall, this is a slickly produced countdown show which is one of it’s problems…

My question is this - will those that download songs listen to a countdown show with a host?  I mean they already have the songs, do they need a host telling them what number 29 is?  Does a radio show offer them anything they don’t already have?  They already know what their friends have downloaded, do they really need to  know what that girl from Weehawken has just downloaded???

My biggest problem with ‘The iTunes Download’ is that as good as it is, it’s not local.  Since there’s no local involvement, it comes off as a syndicated countdown show.  Heaven knows we have enough of them…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1858] The original debates: Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, both candidates for U.S. Senate, go toe-to-toe in the 1st of 7 debates  that people are still talking about. The opening round is held in Ottawa (IL)…
2. 1878] The birth of the unemployed lawyer: American Bar Association  is founded in Saratoga (NY). No shortage of lawyers at the spa city…
3. 1888] Something need in Saratoga 10 years sooner: The adding machine, is patented by William Seward Burroughs…
4. 1959] Hawaii Five-O: Hawaii becomes our 50th state as President Eisenhower issues the order for the 50-star U.S. flag (Aloha)…
5. 1975] Curtains: Tony Conigliaro  of the Red Sox announces his retirement (Tony C. becomes a TV sportscaster at a Providence station. He never fully recovered from his beaning in 1967 and tragically loses his life at 45 from a heart attack in 1990)…
6. 1980] Traveling to the beat of the Broadway stage: Linda Ronstadt  debuts on Broadway in “The Pirates of Penzance”…
7. 1983] “La Cage aux Folles”: “Queen for a Day” in French, reaches Broadway with George Hearn and Gene Barry starring in the lead roles…
8. 1992] Scud Stud crashes and burns: NBC fires “Scud Stud”, Arthur Kent two weeks after he refuses an assignment to Croatia (this after he becomes a “star” for his Gulf War coverage). Arthur Kent  is now seen as often as Jimmy Hoffa…
9. 1997] How about a burger?: 25 million pounds of ground beef that was potentially contaminated with E. coli, is recalled by Hudson Foods. It’s the largest food recall in U.S. history…
10. 2000] Going down with the ship: Rescue efforts to reach the sunken Russian nuclear submarine Kursk end with divers announcing that all 118 sailors are lost…

Music Memories:

• 1965] Released on this date: “Eve of Destruction” - Barry McGuire…”Do You Believe In Magic” - Lovin’ Spoonful.  This is the song I lip-synched on Channel 8 in Tampa as a member of the WFLA Pussycats (don’t ask).  It would have been better if I had a zither…

Commentary:

October 7th marks the 20th anniversary of the day that WNBC Radio signed off forever.  It was on that day in 1988 that Alan Colmes closed it all out with these words:  “For the last time, this is WNBC, New York”.  WFAN began broadcasting on the 660 AM frequency from that moment on.  There will be a WNBC Alumni party to remember the event at Hurley’s, October 3rd at 6 p.m.  If you worked at WNBC and are interested in attending, contact WNBC alum Janice Penino:  JaPenino@Hotmail.com  …

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”: Hayden Panettiere (19), Usain Bolt (22), Amy Fisher (34), Sergey (Google) Brin (35), Kim Cattrall (52), Harry Smith (57), Patty McCormack (63), Jackie DeShannon (64), Kenny Rogers (70) and Melvin Van Peebles (76)…

Timeline Countdown: 11 days until Labor Day and 14 days until the NFL Opener (Washington @ NYG)…

Posted in Today's Post | No Comments »