How does tagging for Apple iTunes work?

“A ‘tag’ is a label identifying a song using a proprietary code; in this case the code is for Apple iTunes, but IBOC proponents say stations can use other codes for music purchases from other companies in the future,” Leslie Stimson reports for Radio World.

“The identifying code or label is carried in the data bit stream of an HD-R station signal. A tagging-enabled HD Radio receiver stores information about tagged songs to its memory and transfers the tags to an iPod when the device is docked in the radio. When the consumer connects the iPod to his or her computer, iTunes automatically presents the songs in a new tagged play list for the consumer to preview, buy and download,” Stimson reports.

“Tagging requires a licensing agreement with Apple. No Apple hardware is needed since the tagging occurs using the station’s automation system or data management software. In either case, the information is captured and fed to the station’s HD-R importer,” Stimson reports.

“Clear Channel will be among the first to encode its IBOC stations for the iTune tagging and urged others to support the capability… Clear Channel Radio will encode its 400 main HD Radio stations and 300 HD2 signals… Some eight broadcast groups were said to be working out iTune licensing agreements with Apple in September; the alliance planned to announce their names at the NAB Radio Show… The first HD Radio receiver with the tagging, the Polk Audio I-Sonic ES2, is due to be available to consumers this month for $499 from specialty retail stores, Apple stores and direct from PolkAudio.com. JBL said its iHD system, due out sometime during the holiday season, would have the HD Radio/tagging capability. JBL did not announce a price for that unit,” Stimson reports.

Full article here.

13 Comments

  1. Apple Patents pay-off again and iTunes cements it’s lead in the Music industry as the one that works best and is a standard.
    The Music Industry should just sell their back catalogs of Music and Music Videos to Apple and be done with it, return the money to the share holders and close up shop. The All recording Artists would be much better off in the long run.

  2. A tagging-enabled HD Radio receiver stores information about tagged songs to its memory and transfers the tags to an iPod when the device is docked in the radio. When the consumer connects the iPod to his or her computer, iTunes automatically presents the songs in a new tagged play list for the consumer to preview, buy and download

    First, this sounds like a rather convoluted form of marketing.

    Second, what’s in it for broadcasters? iPod + iTMS has all but killed radio; why would Clear Channel want to help Apple? Kinda like giving ammo to your enemy, no?

    Maybe this has potential, but I’m having trouble seeing it.

  3. In which dream world has the iPod + iTMS has all but killed radio?

    TV was meant to kill radio wasn’t it??

    Also, how is presenting a steady flow of songs to a consumer for potential purchase a “convoluted form of marketing”.

    One more thing:

    Mr ‘Freakshow’ – the record companies don’t make crap music, the artists make the crap music, the record companies just sell it to suckers who have more money than taste and people who think it’s the record companies who are responsible for the quality of the artist’s music.

  4. Sorry, the record companies control everything that goes on an album. EVERYTHING.

    But the truth of the matter is there are far less suckers willing to shell out $$$ for crap then there were years ago. Many “other” places to get music, as well.

    Also, Clear Chanel is one of those comapnies that if you research is uber bad. Very McDonaldsish in their dealing with the consumer. From their record division, to their holding of XM, to their concert divison, the whole company is designed to so when you go city to city, you will hear and see and buy the exact same thing. Which goes back to the proliferation of the media companies.

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