I never said that I told you so

I'm not one to revel in another's misfortune (unless it's James Blunt of course, he's first to go when the revolution comes). I couldn't help but smile however when I got wind of Glenn Wheatley's Stripe radio network having closed its doors in June this year. For those that don't know (and that would seem to be everyone given it has joined Pets.com in the place bad ideas go to die), Stripe was going to be radio you paid $10 a month to access on your mobile phone.

Long time readers may recall me writing about this last July when news of its impending launch first came out. Rather than re-word it, I'm just going to paste what I wrote:

---

1. Why would I pay $10 a month for radio on my phone?


2. Particularly me who does not listen to radio at all?


3. Why in an age of increased personalisation will I believe you can satisfy me with someone else’s taste-making?


4. Why create a service that relies on early-adopter up-take when the early-adopters do not listen to radio or value music in pure ones-and-zeroes terms?

Now, I imagine much of the VC money has already been sunk, unfortunate for those involved. If you guys with the money could just begin to understand that broadcasting in a one-to-many model is dying and being replaced with niche-casting and many-to-many, you might have a hope of creating something with lasting value.

This last quote from Programming Director Jarrod Graetz is killer:

“A great advantage of our service is that you don’t need a new device or gadget to hear us. If you’ve got 3G coverage, you can access your favourite music and programs from your (3G) mobile phone, and of course on broadband internet. No ad breaks, less interruptions, more music. We position ourselves as “What you want on radio” because we believe Stripe delivers what Australia wants.”

The bolding is mine (the lack of vision entirely their’s). I may not need a device to hear you, but I have a device anyway, it is called an iPod. It comes with NO interruptions and ONLY my favourite music and programs. See, it doesn’t actually matter if you do serve up what I want on radio, because I don’t want radio.

Ever.

---

*ahem* All together now...

TOLD YOU SO!

Let's call the whole thing off

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="134" caption="What's wrong with this picture?"][/caption]

Australian music manager Glen Wheatley's latest project Stripe is set to launch. It is a digital radio service which will have 40 stations up by Christmas playing over the 3G network to any 3G enabled phone, and 100 by the end of 2009. Those wanting to have ad-free radio on their phones will apparently part with a little less than $10 a month for the privilege.

This would be funny if it wasn't so painfully short-sighted. All together now: the epic, epic lulz.

It betrays just how deeply bereft of real strategic insight media is - and how sorely the media industry needs fresh DNA, instead of old dudes with the same old lame ideas.

Thanks Umair. Mind you he didn't write that about Stripe, he wrote that about a misguided Wired article where old media guy #1 was berating new media guy #2 for spending time in Second Life as it wouldn't help him sell more Coke. The point remains though.

Let's do the why's together so we all take something away:

1. Why would I pay $10 a month for radio on my phone?


2. Particularly me who does not listen to radio at all?


3. Why in an age of increased personalisation will I believe you can satisfy me with someone else's taste-making?


4. Why create a service that relies on early-adopter up-take when the early-adopters do not listen to radio or value music in pure ones-and-zeroes terms?

Now, I imagine much of the VC money has already been sunk, unfortunate for those involved. If you guys with the money could just begin to understand that broadcasting in a one-to-many model is dying and being replaced with niche-casting and many-to-many, you might have a hope of creating something with lasting value.

This last quote from Programming Director Jarrod Graetz is killer:

“A great advantage of our service is that you don't need a new device or gadget to hear us. If you've got 3G coverage, you can access your favourite music and programs from your (3G) mobile phone, and of course on broadband internet. No ad breaks, less interruptions, more music. We position ourselves as "What you want on radio" because we believe Stripe delivers what Australia wants."

The bolding is mine (the lack of vision entirely their's). I may not need a device to hear you, but I have a device anyway, it is called an iPod. It comes with NO interruptions and ONLY my favourite music and programs. See, it doesn't actually matter if you do serve up what I want on radio, because I don't want radio.

Ever.

--

Image courtesy of Dave Goodman, with thanks to compfight.

Wanna be startin' somethin'...

I started writing this yesterday and I wasn't quite feeling it, think this will be one of those ones where I have to put it out there before I realise what I meant...anyway....it got quite long, so I'm breaking it up over a series of shorter posts around the same idea, we'll see where it goes from there. I'd love your thoughts along the way to help shape it, so leave a comment or drop me a line. For reference, I'm thinking about about processes that are inherently flawed and the businesses attached to them.

--

I've spent the last hour (plus at least one more last night) getting music off my iPod. I've had it for a bit over a year, and I've noticed it is starting to act a little funny (as opposed to acting a little funny). There are plenty of stories around about Apple building product break-down into their life-cycles, but I'm not really interested in that; I've derived plenty of value from it and will in all likelihood buy another when it finally joins the big circuit graveyard in the sky.

The thing about getting the music off it though is I don't want to have to add it all back to the next device. That isn't a good brand experience. But Apple couldn't get the music industry on board without making it at least somewhat difficult to do, so we wind up in this middle ground where an industry who doesn't know enough about the medium thinks they've got a good deal, and in the interim everyone who bought one has a hoop or two to jump through before getting what they want.

My thoughts here: If this was anyone other than Apple, they would be out of business.

Say "I love you" with...a pink iPod?

I receive Apple's regular newsletters pointing me to all manner of wares available in their store pretty regularly. I haven't unsubscribed, and I don't really know why. I'm not big on impulse purchases and I read enough to be well aware when a new product has arrived or is at least about to. On top of that, while I'm completely trading in traditional notions of gender stereotypes, as a guy I do not want a pink iPod. I'd be interested to know if women received a newsletter pushing a blue or black iPod for their male counterparts, but I somehow doubt it.

The iPod itself is a hard sell as a Valentine's Day gift, one that screams "Holy shit, I'd better get them something!" For anyone who has taken this option and is now reading this thinking a grave mistake has been made, take these helpful tips:

1. When you order it, get it engraved (Apple do this for free via their online store, it takes less than a week to arrive)


2. Open it up.


3. Pre-load it with:
   
   
   
   1. Songs you know your partner loves or have significance in your relationship
   
   
   2. Photos of the two of you, your friends, family members, etc.
   
   
   3. TV shows you know they love (you'll be surprised how clear the iPod screen is)
   
   
   
   


4. Buy them a decent pair of headphones as well, as the iPod ones won't last long; I recommend these from Seinheiser, roughly AU$80 and a great investment 18 months running)


5. An optional extra is the Nike add-ons for those with particularly sporty partners, be careful this doesn't get turned into a suggestion you think your partner needs to lose a few pounds - this slippery slope is harder to navigate than you think it is.

As a complete aside, I just unsubscribed from the Apple newsletter. Upon reading my opening paragraph, what choice did I have? Now in my sights: Border's, Go Daddy, eBay. How many newsletters do you receive which you have no intention of ever acting on?

Update: Paypal just copped it as well. I'm reclaiming my inbox and nobody is safe!