A Kick in the Pants For Your iTunes Library

WHRV’s Out of the Box CD of the Week has been the perfect remedy for my severe case of Music Fatigue Syndrome.

You know what I’m talking about!

I used to be up on new artists and their records. Friends’ tastes mixed with mine, and my music collection was a constantly transforming catalog reflecting who I was, where I was going and where I had been.

But then I graduated from college. Somehow in the years since then, my iTunes library has remained pretty much unchanged. I’m listening to the same songs from the same artists over, and over and over again. And I’m tired of them.

That was, until I navigated my way to the On Demand section of the Public Radio Player and found these weekly CD reviews hosted by Paul Shugrue. In four quick minutes, Shugrue gets to the heart of one new album every week, with musical excerpts and excellent commentary. Tune in!

Is “Music Fatigue Syndrome” evidence that your brain is getting old? Hear Robert Krulwich (RadioLab) speak with a neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky about this very phenomenon on All Things Considered.

Version 2.1.1 Released

Version 2.1.1 is now live in the iTunes App Store and this patch addresses all the known issues with the 2.1 release. Update notifications should be appearing on your phone’s app manager shortly. Apologies for the inconvenience and we hope you enjoy the 2.1.1 update.

Update: Tom, one of the users who helped us identify the 2.1 bugs, gives version 2.1.1 this endorsement:

2.1.1. seems to be the rock-steady app I knew it could be.

Thanks to Tom and all the Public Radio Player users who helped out over the last few days.

Find a new favorite on the Public Radio Player

We live in a world of choices: whether you’re browsing grocery store aisles, or deciding what to listen to on your commute home. Sometimes it’s fun to pick out what you like, and sometimes it’s exhausting. We’re here to help. The Public Radio Player has tons of live station streams and on-demand programs for you to choose from. But when you want something new — you just aren’t sure what — we’ve got a list of featured content waiting in the wings. Choose the “Featured” tab from either the Live or the On Demand screens.

Here at Public Radio Exchange, which leads the Player app development, we listen to public radio all day long. And we hear everything: from beloved talk shows like Fresh Air to award-winning documentaries from the Third Coast International Audio Festival, not to mention tons of creative programs from independent producers all across the country. We’ll be rotating fresh finds into the Featured On Demand list, so you can find your new favorite radio show, in a snap.

Newly featured this week:

Hidden Kitchens from The Kitchen Sisters

“Hidden Kitchens, the duPont Award-winning radio series on NPR’s Morning Edition, explores the world of unexpected, below the radar cooking, legendary meals and eating traditions how communities come together through food.”

American RadioWorks from American Public Media

“ARW is public radio’s largest documentary production unit; it creates documentaries, series projects, and investigative reports for public radio and the Internet.”

StoryCorps from Sound Portraits

“StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening.”

New Update & New iTunes Store Location

Update: The new Public Radio Tuner is available in the PRX iTunes store!

Good news! We have submitted the connection performance update and it will show up in the iTunes App Store as soon as Apple approves it. Testing took a couple weeks longer than planned, so we want to thank you for your patience. This update will bring some real improvements to the way the Tuner handles stream connections. In beta testing of the updated Tuner, we’ve been able to hold a stream as we transitioned from Edge to 3G to WiFi connections without missing a beat.

Also, with this update, we are moving locations in the iTunes App Store. The Tuner will move from the American Public Media store to the Public Radio Exchange store. This will allow the PRX-based development team to more efficiently manage the app, and streamline the process for future updates to the Public Radio Tuner.

The new app location means we won’t be able to automatically “push” an update to current users. Instead, you will need to download what’s effectively a new app in a new store. We have worked to make this small extra step as easy as possible. Here’s how it will work: 

1. If you currently have the Public Radio Tuner on your iPhone, you will receive the standard notice to update to the app. 
2. Once updated, your current Tuner will direct you to download the new version and provide a link to the PRX iTunes Store
3. Once there, you just download the updated Public Radio Tuner and get your stream on. All done!

The desktop icon of the “old” Tuner on your iPhone will be grayed out, so you won’t get the two versions mixed up. Next time you’re in iTunes doing housekeeping on your iPhone, you can toss the old version.

The “old” version of the Tuner will continue to function just fine, but it will no longer be supported and will not receive any further updates. So be sure to make the switch over to the new Public Radio Tuner. You’ll enjoy the improved performance, and we’ve got big plans for future updates.

Public Radio, technology, and you

The Public Radio Tuner is fast approaching 1.5 million downloads in the iTunes App Store! This week, we’re meeting with local stations to discuss plans for the upcoming release and how to spread the word to public radio fans and get them set up with the Tuner on their iPhones and iPod Touches. 

The enthusiastic reception to the Tuner demonstrates that public radio audiences are willing and eager to embrace new platforms and new ways of enjoying their favorite programs. But when you strip away all the smart phone technology and application development, the Tuner has been a hit for one reason: it delivers the great content you know and love from public radio. Look at the photo above. Is the family gathered around the table because of the fancy radio? Or are they brought together by the story that’s on the radio. It’s the content that leads the way, and the technology plays an important but supporting role.

It got me thinking about a new report from the Center for Social Media about the relationship of technology to public media. The report, “Public Media 2.0”, frames the mission of public radio (and public media generally) as a vital part of the media landscape. More than offering just news and entertainment, public media plays a central role in facilitating our democratic society by creating an informed citizenry and guiding public conversations on important issues and ideas (If you doubt the claim, just think about your own driveway moments, or how many times you find yourself in discussions based on stories heard on public radio). 

When introducing new technologies and platforms to public radio, it becomes important to consider how these channels can reinforce public radio’s core mission and invigorate the relationship with the audience. Technology for technology’s sake is not worth the investment. So whether you’re talking about smart phones or social networking sites, the question for public radio becomes, how can technology allow us to grow the impact of our work?

Read the rest of this entry »

Georgia on our minds

The Public Radio Tuner team is taking the show on the road and heading to Atlanta this week for the 2009 Public Media conference hosted by the Integrated Media Association. Each year, public broadcasters get together at the IMA conference to discuss the power and potential of moving beyond broadcast and into new platforms. Keep an eye out for the Public Radio Tuner team throughout the conference – we’ll be the ones handing out Public Radio Tuner t-shirts (aw yeah!). If you don’t run into any of us at first, stop by and visit our friends at the Public Interactive booth. They’ll be happy to point you in the direction of a team member. We’re looking forward to hearing feedback from stations about the app, and we’ll be talking up our plans for version 2.0. For those attending the pre-conference tech sessions on Wednesday, look for team members Matt MacDonald, Melinda Driscoll, Zach Brand, and Anne Breckbill on a panel discussing mobile development and the Public Radio Tuner. 

See you in Atlanta!

See a full list of Public Radio Tuner team members attending the IMA conference after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

All-station webinar: June 30 at 3pm ET

Greetings from the Public Radio Player team!

What happened to the Public Radio Tuner, you ask? Nothing, really. It’s still the same iPhone app, but with some key new features. The Public Radio Player (aka “version 2.0″) is working its way through the iTunes review process and will go live in the next few weeks.

The Player community continues to grow, with over 1.5 million downloads since January. We want to thank the hundreds of stations who have submitted their streams and promoted the app on air and online. Your content makes the Player compelling, and your enthusiastic listeners have made it a certifiable success!

You last heard from us in April for an all-station webinar. Well, it’s high time for another. This one will be on:

***Tuesday, June 30 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET***

Click here to register for the Public Radio Player webinar

The webinar is open to anyone in the public radio system, particularly stations, whether or not you’re already in the Player. We’ll update you on the project so far, share thoughts for the next phase, give pointers on stream formats and metrics, and invite your feedback and ideas. April’s webinar was well attended, and we’d like to see that happen again. So feel free to forward this email to people at your station.

A Google Group for you

We’ve created an invite-only Google Group for stations and other system members to share ideas and questions — promotion strategies, metrics tips, feature requests, etc. It will be a low-volume moderated list, and we’ll post occasional project updates there, too. Request to join now!

The Public Radio Tuner so far

The original version of the Public Radio Tuner was developed and launched by American Public Media in November 2008. With support from CPB, Public Radio Exchange helped bring together APM, NPR, Public Interactive, and PRI to collaborate on further development and promotion of the Tuner, launching a new version in January 2009 and version 1.2 (currently live in iTunes) in April 2009.

PRX also set up PublicRadioTuner.org (soon to be PublicRadioPlayer.org, though destination remains the same) as a blog and information center about the app and the project overall.

Since January, the app has been downloaded more than 1.5 million times. It has consistently been in the top ten free music apps, and has spent significant time as the top free app in the iTunes catalog of over 45,000 other apps. People have expressed their love of (and sometimes confusion about) public radio in App Store reviews as well as comments at PublicRadioTuner.org. The Tuner has had significant buzz in blogs and twitter feeds, and has appeared in mainstream media outlets including TUAW, MacWorld, Slate, WashingtonPost.com, AdAge, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy. NPR’s “All Things Considered” interviewed PRX Executive Director Jake Shapiro about public radio’s own new media phenomenon.

In April, the Tuner was moved from APM’s store on iTunes to the PRX store. APM handed off the management of station stream submissions to Public Interactive. Submit your streams here.

Coming up: the Public Radio Player

In a few weeks, the Public Radio Player will go live on iTunes, replacing the existing version 1.2. The new version 2.0 will include a dynamic, searchable program schedule and access to select on-demand content.

We’re planning a promotional push in July, and we welcome testimonials from individual stations. What impact has the Tuner had at your station? What have you heard from listeners? How have you gotten the word out? Why is being on the app important to your station? Do you have plans to create your own app of some kind? Post your thoughts to the new Google Group or email us at iphone [at] prx [dot] org. Let us know if it’s ok to include your comments in promotional materials.

We want to help you promote the Player, too. If you already are please tell us how so we can share with other stations. Graphics and promo copy are in the Guide for Stations, which we’ll update with the name change. Plus, once the Player is live, visit the Guide for audio promos recorded by a public radio celebrity who shall go unnamed to pique your curiosity.

These improvements are intended to further the Player’s original and enduring purpose: to grow awareness of public radio and engagement with public radio stations, to reach public radio fans wherever they want us to be, and to grow the audience to new listeners as well. This project has resulted in code, process, and promotion insights that we plan to share with all of you to support your own mobile efforts.

Not already part of the Public Radio Player? Sign up!

Tuner users are always asking for their local stations’ streams. It’s never too late to submit your streams for inclusion in the app (a great way to get more exposure for your HD streams as well). We’re continually adding content.

To be eligible for inclusion in the Player your station must be one or more of the following:

• CPB qualified
• NPR (member station)
• APM (affiliate)
• PRI (affiliate)
• PRX (paid station membership)
• National Federation of Community Broadcasters (participant member)
• Station Resource Group (member)

See you on June 30,

The Public Radio Player project collaborators

All-station webinar: April 2 at 3pm EST

Greetings from the Public Radio Tuner team!

We want to thank the hundreds of you who are participating in this important project. Your streams and promotional efforts have made the Tuner an amazing success: 1.3 million downloads in just a couple of months!

The Public Radio Tuner team would like to invite you to an all-station webinar on Thursday, April 2, at 3pm EST. Click here to register for the Public Radio Tuner webinar

This webinar is open to anyone in the public radio system, particularly stations, whether or not you’re already in the Tuner. Please join us to learn more and contribute feedback and ideas. The webinar service can host 1000 people — we’ve got big hopes for attendance. So forward this email to people at your station who you think should attend.

We strongly encourage stations already in the Tuner to attend, as you need to be aware of several developments planned for the next few months.

—Public Radio Tuner so far—

As you may know, American Public Media launched the original Public Radio Tuner in December 2008 and has been handling stream submissions ever since. APM joined up with NPR, Public Radio International, Public Interactive, and Public Radio Exchange to develop the version of the Tuner that’s in the iTunes Store today. This unique collaboration of major public radio organizations was conceived of by PRX, which applied for the generous grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that is funding the project through May. PRX is leading this collaboration, which has brought together the talent and resources of all the collaborators to make the Tuner what it is now.

Since the release of the latest version in early January, things have really taken off. The app has consistently been in the top ten free music apps, and has spent significant time as the top free app in the iTunes catalog of over 25,000 other apps. People have expressed their love of (and sometimes confusion about) public radio in App Store reviews as well as comments at publicradiotuner.org. Media coverage has been generally very positive. NPR’s “All Things Considered” was even moved to interview PRX Executive Director Jake Shapiro about public radio’s own new media phenomenon.

But that’s just the half of it.

—What’s next for the Public Radio Tuner—

*An updated version of the Tuner will appear in the iTunes App Store in April, bringing improvements to how the Tuner handles stream connections.

*This version will move from the APM store to the PRX store in iTunes so PRX can more efficiently manage the project.

*The new app location means we won’t be able to automatically “push” an update to current users. Instead, they will need to download what’s effectively a new app in a new store. We have designed a user experience to facilitate this process.

*These changes will position us for a truly major Tuner update scheduled for late May. The May version will be called the Public Radio Player. It will include a dynamic, searchable program schedule and access to select on-demand content.

Leading up to the May release, we are planning a big marketing push that we hope will include testimonials from individual stations. If you’re in the Tuner, we invite you to post your experiences at publicradiotuner.org for inclusion in promotional materials.

You can all promote the Tuner, too. I know some of you are already having fun with this (share what you’ve done at the Tuner site!). We have graphics and suggested copy in the Guide for Stations, and we’ll be adding more soon.

These improvements are intended to further the Tuner’s original and enduring purpose: to grow awareness of public radio and engagement with public radio stations, and to simply reach public radio fans wherever they want us to be. This project has resulted in code, process, and promotion insights that we plan to share with all of you to support your own mobile efforts.

—Not already part of the Public Radio Tuner? Sign up!—

People already using the app are asking for their local stations’ streams. It’s never too late to submit your stream for inclusion in the Tuner (you don’t need to be an APM station to create a login.) We’re continually adding stations.

See you in April,

The Public Radio Tuner project collaborators