Internet audio has gone local in Albuquerque NM. According to a local report, a service brings local content to a platform that includes 18 different formatted music streams.
It’s called ABQ.FM, and according to Albuquerque Journal reporter Kevin Robinson-Avila, its run by local entrepreneur Dick Govatski.
Among the 18 stations are two local over-the-air offerings, “Rockl of Talk” KIVA and noncom KANW. Govatskli says other AM and FM stations are also invited to take a place on the app.
Local news, sports and talk is woven into the mix
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It does have its limits, but isn’t likely to bump into them as of yet – the limit is a maximum of 60,000 different listeners tuned into any one of the streams at the same time.
It eventually hopes to sell advertising, but has not started selling. Further, it will seek to make it possible for listeners to instantly buy any recorded music they hear on one of the streams.
RBR+TVBR observation: We live in a small community, and while we are unaware of any internet alternatives to local radio stations, there certainly are internet-based alternatives to the local newspapers.
We can say without any shred of doubt that one is much more likely to find key news items on one of the internet sites than on the main local print offering.
We have no idea of ABQ.FM will succeed – we suspect there is a steep curve to go from $O in advertising to an amount that would pay the electric bill along with a salary for the founder/operator.
But sooner or later somebody is going to figure out how to make it work and radio is going to be challenged both on the dashboard and in the community.
Stay on top of this stuff radio. Local is key, but it cannot be taken for granted. Just ask my local print newspaper.
