So long, CES. Hello, Slingshot.

Posted on Jan 20 2014 by The TagStation Team

In this post, we’d like to give you all a little recap of NextRadio’s showing at CES and give a quick overview of a new offering. The idea of FM radio as a technology innovation, recently catapulted by our Pogie Award, was an overarching theme at CES this year. It’s never felt more comfortable to be radio folks sitting in the middle of CES’s vanguard, and the reception was motivating.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Over 124,000 app downloads
• Over 6,400 FM radio stations tuned to from the app
• Over 78,000 hours of listening through NextRadio
• A 4.2/5.0 Google Play Store user rating

We think there was a good boost coming off of the show, which we’ll talk more about in a moment, but we’re always pushing for better and more. We’re hoping the information in the next section will help make it even easier to participate in the NextRadio movement.

INTRODUCING TAGSTATION® SLINGSHOT

In an effort to break down every barrier to entry we can for stations getting on board with TagStation, we’ve created a datacasting software solution especially for NextRadio. We call it Slingshot, and it’s a simple piece of software that connects your station’s automation system to TagStation for enhanced data delivery to NextRadio-enabled devices.

We’ve worked very hard to partner with automation system and middleware providers to make sure that the playout systems you already have in place at your stations can be utilized to deliver data through TagStation to NextRadio. Included in those great partnerships are TRE, PADapult, Center Stage Live, Jumpgate, and Wide Orbit Automation for Radio. But in the situation where supported systems are not already in place, we’re working with you to make sure additional purchases aren’t necessary to get started by providing this specialized middleware link to NextRadio. It’s easy to install, and works with your current playout system. Best of all, it’s included (if needed) with your TagStation license. Contact us for more information about it. If supported systems were an issue with your participation before, we look forward to talking about getting up and running now!

Click here to download an informational PDF with a little more technical detail.

CES WRAP-UP

Did you see us at CES this month? Thanks to our friends at iBiquity, we had a nice space to demo in the HD Radio booth this year, and boy, did we demo! In the spirit of FM Radio as a technology innovation, CES enabled us to reach three main audiences in Las Vegas:

Consumers were able to test drive the NextRadio app, and there was a terrific level of interest and curiosity from other consumer device and app makers on partnerships or integration to improve their own distribution.

Broadcasters were able to visualize the potential of enhancing their own programming content through TagStation by tuning into some participating local stations in Vegas. And a presentation alongside Mark Yarkosky from Sprint at the NABRTC helped to spell out the case for more involvement in delivering enhanced content to the app.

Automotive industry interest was the most impressive. We performed smartphone app and emulated dash demos to countless manufacturers, brands, and OEMs. And the link between the enhanced broadcast displayed on the smartphone and subsequently the dash, proved immediately compelling to those audiences.

In an interview with Buzz Knight at CES, Ford was asked where broadcasters need to be thinking when it comes to radio’s space in the connected car. They mention the NextRadio proof of concept through their Applink system:

“Those are pretty interesting experiences that are created by joining the connected car with traditional terrestrial radio using the smartphone. So we’re pretty excited about researching those, enabling those through proof of concepts, and helping take them to production as well… so keeping traditional AM/FM radio really fresh, creating new experiences – those that’ll benefit customers – and build a stronger industry overall.”
– Jim Buczkowski, Director of Electrical and Electronics Systems, Ford

More exciting interviews and coverage from the show included the BBC, RAB, and others. We can’t get enough of these two videos in particular: Tat Wza from In Flex We Trust’s interview here, and John Potter’s RAB coverage here.

MOVING FORWARD

Let’s talk phones. There are now about a million smartphones on the market that have the ability to run NextRadio. That’s a lot of potential users/listeners, right? But about 400,000 of those were sold before NextRadio’s launch. So Sprint is working with us now to try to activate those users by sending what’s known as “push notifications”. These alerts will target those pre-launch phones with FM capability and urge them to download and try out NextRadio. We expect to see a nice spike in downloads as a result. So let’s work on getting those stations ready, shall we?

Also, the new NextRadio-enabled Moto G is now available from boostmobile.com and starting today, is also available in stores! We have another Boost offering coming up at the end of the month, so stay tuned for that.

We look forward to chatting with you again in a couple of weeks. Stay warm and safe in these polar vortices!

Charles Bunting

I'm a song writer that enjoys putting pen to paper and a melody about my life experiences, hope you enjoyed the laid back acoustic sounds

1960's Antelope Valley California Rock Bands Reunion scheduled for July 2014

ARROYO GRANDE CA (IFS) -- +Merrell Fankhauser reports that a reunion of all the bands of the Antelope Valley from the 1960's will be getting together for a big night of partying, singing and just a good old time to remember.  The event is being lead by +Carla Weston, the daughter of Country Music's legendary great +George Weston on July 19, 2014 at the +Palmdale Hilton Hotel in Palmdale, California.

With SDC Radio Networks release of the Top 50 Songs of 2013, with two songs on the list lead by Merrell Fankhauser and Captain Beefheart's "Diddy Wah Diddy" from the A&M Records Sessions.  For more information, email:   merrell@merrellfankhauser.com  - 

http://psradio1mag.blog.com/2013/12/24/amy-barberas-walking-on-the-stars-heads-sdc-radio-networks-top-50-songs/

George Weston stands in this black-and-white photograph. While never finding a place in rockabilly stardom, Weston is remembered for a guitar prowess that was featured on the shows "Hee Haw," "The Grand Ole Opry" and "American Bandstand."

Comment by Carla Weston Skaggs on November 7, 2013 8:28 pm

Dear Merrell,
This is Carla Weston Skaggs, George Weston’s daughter. So glad to hear you new my Daddy. He was so easy to be with, and funny. He played his guitar like as if it were oxygen to him. I just arrived home and received the package of autograph records. Daddy’s spirit is so happy. He loved you too.Thank you . Our Team spent a month traveling to talk with people and hear their stories of the late George Weston my Daddy. It was great, constantly going everyday, and foot stomping too. We video so many people that new Daddy I am so full of his life now ,so many stories,We want more…we have been putting all of his music and photos together for my book that I’m writing in honor of him.Then my lead found Glenn Mac Arthur Jr. We hadn’t seen each other since the 60′s , We were so jazzed, and then there it was Daddy’s music and yours ,and other artist just all boxed up. Eleven hours later or more there was my Daddy all back together almost.Daniel help me so much what a great person. He love music and did you see his guitars, he wants to go far with his music.So after all of that work then on a plane we go.We all met with the Team George Group in Auburn New York for the last week of our journey to work and recording all of his music . His first CD just came out I will send you a CD, and the next one will be out soon.Please send us your picture so that we can put in the book and a story about you and daddy too. Thank you so much
LOVE CARLA WESTON SKAGGS
Team George

Hey Kenny

I recently went up to AV and Glen's son had a bunch of unreleased songs on two track masters! I bought them and below is what I've found!

 Carla Weston, Rock A Billy singer George Weston's daughter got a bunch of her dads songs also and I'm helping her make a CD.

 She's also promoting an AV 60's Band Reunion at the ballroom in the Palmdale  Hilton Garden Inn July 19th. It would be great if you could come and sing a song or two with us!

Best Always,

Merrell

     "The Lost Desert Tapes"

                 1964 - 1967

Merrell And The Exiles - The Velvetones - Fapardokly

The Lost Desert Tapes                              1965 - 1967    Merrell And The Exiles, The Velvetones  And Fapardokly  1. Merrell And The Exiles - 13th Child ( G. Weston)  2.  Merrell And The Exiles - Love Only You      3. The Velvetones - Fuzzy Wuzzy  4. The Velvetones - That's The Way  5.Merrell And The Exiles with Little Linda - Over You (A. Tousant)  6. The Velvetones - Moon Shadows  7.  The Velvetones - On The Beach  8.  The Velvetones - Velvet Stroll  9.   The Velvetones - Undercover 10. The Velvetones - Gerico (trad) 11. The Velvetones - Shell Never Be Mine 12. The Velvetones - MR. X 13.  Fapardokly - The Music Scene (alternate take w/ spoken intro)                               (M. Fankhauser) All Velvetones songs by Clint Stouvall  Fankhauser Music ASCAP (C)2014 except tracks 1 - 4 - & - 9 Recorded at Glenn Records Studio Palmdale California from 1964 - 1967 Unreleased and on the shelf for 50 years !

Conrad Alvin Barrett's mental health as possible defense

By MICHAEL GRACZYK

This booking photo released by the Harris County Sherrif's Office shows Conrad Barrett after he was arrested for DWI in 2003. Barrett, now 27, was arrested Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, on federal hate crimes charges for allegedly shooting video of himself sucker-punching a 79-year-old black man in a "knockout game"-style attack. According to prosecutors, the attack happened Nov. 24 in Katy, but it wasn't until 12 days later that authorities connected the attack to the cellphone video of it. (AP Photo/Harris County Sheriff's Office, via Houston Chronicle)

HOUSTON — A white Houston-area man was arrested Thursday on federal hate crimes charges for allegedly shooting video of himself sucker-punching a 79-year-old black man in a "knockout game"-style attack.

Conrad Alvin Barrett, 27, made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy, who scheduled a detention hearing for the Katy man on Friday.

According to prosecutors, the attack happened Nov. 24 in Katy, but it wasn't until 12 days later that authorities connected the attack to the cellphone video of it.

Authorities learned of the case because Barrett allegedly showed the video on the night of the attack to an off-duty arson investigator he had just met at a restaurant in nearby Folshear. According to the criminal complaint, Barrett asked the off-duty investigator and the woman with the investigator if they knew about the knockout game. He told them he played earlier that day, then showed them the video, prosecutors allege.

The investigator then flagged down a uniformed officer across the street and led him to Barrett.

The attack video doesn't show Barrett's face, but investigators matched his voice to the voice in the video and the couple at the restaurant told investigators that Barrett was wearing the same shorts and shoes at the person who shot the video.

According to prosecutors, the video shows Barrett approach the victim and ask, "How's it going, man?" A "loud smack" is then heard, the victim falls to the ground, Barrett laughs and says, "Knockout." The assailant then flees in his vehicle.

The victim lost three teeth and needed surgery to repair his jaw, which had been broken in two places. He was hospitalized for more than four days, authorities said.

Investigators retrieved other videos from Barrett's phone, including some in which he uses racial epithets and talks about trying to work up the courage to play the knockout game, the complaint states. In one, Barrett says: "That plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?"

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson said Thursday that such crimes won't be tolerated.

"Evidence of hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted with the assistance of all our partners to the fullest extent of the law," Magidson said.

Barrett's attorney, George Parnham, said Barrett has bipolar disorder and has been prescribed heavy medications to treat it. He said Barrett's family "feels horribly sympathetic" for the person who was attacked.

"When you start peeling back the layers of the onion and look at the mindset behind the action you soon realize there's a mental issue," said Parnham, who added that he's trying to gather as much information about Barrett's mental health as possible.

If convicted of the hate crime charge, Barrett could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.