Slacker: Not Slacking Just Yet.

My Inspiration For This Blogpost.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you personalized radio. Or not exactly me presenting it, per se, but by the handfuls of online radio stations that are inking contracts and chumming it up with record labels. Online radio has really taken off in the past couple of years, with customized programming as a glorious alternative to purchasing tunes on iTunes or, if you’re daring, illegally getting your hands on tracks. Then there’s terrestrial radio: if you’re really old school, you could listen to it, but then you have to put your faith in what they’re playing without being given a choice. And let’s face it; these days, it’s all about getting what you want when you want it. So why shouldn’t you be listening to customized internet radio that has people who figure out your tastes for you, and save you all the trouble of flipping through the stations to get to that hot Black Eyed Peas jam you’ve been itching for?

Slacker, an online radio station that has over 10,000 channels that are tailored to a specific genre or an artist (playing that artist and those that sound like him/her/them), is trying to bust into the industry in the same way that Pandora, Last.FM and Breakthru Radio have already done. But while those music services are formatted mainly for the internet, Slacker is attempting to make the next step: to get internet radio off of the computer. When I interviewed Cal Rifkin, CEO of Breakthru Radio, he discussed how internet radio was going to be in cars as early as this summer, for the fact that there are internet radio receivers that are being developed for automobiles to be sold for as low as $100. Sounds optimistic, but he was just planning on riding the technology, rather than being the one to create it. That’s where Slacker comes in.

The company has satellites orbiting our precious planet, as outlined in their FAQ, and plan on broadcasting their signals to portable receivers that they plan to put on the market in the second half of ’07. This device, in contention with future rival Apple and their iPod, allows purchasers to have the same customizable abilities that they can have on their website, only while they skip down the street or ride through their neighborhood. The company plans to issue a custom car kit for users to have these abilities on the road, as future rivals XMus have already done, and plan to propel themselves into the mainstay of technological society.

So one of the main issues comes to the forefront: while Pandora is great and all at figuring out my tastes (see blog below), is Slacker as good as Pandora – or, dare I say, better? Let’s give it a whirl. I’m really into Amy Winehouse right now… I just saw her last week and have listened to her new one around the thirty spins mark, so it’s only fitting that we start with someone that I know I like. They begin with “Me and Mr. Jones (F***ery),” my second favorite song on the album. Not a bad choice, but considering I started out with Amy Winehouse, we’ll have to see where they take us. Next up is Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor,” which is one of my all-time favorite songs. It even fits into the genre: last week at Winehouse’s concert, she had a musical breakdown halfway through one of her songs to launch into a souled-up rendition of “Doo Wop (That Thing),” so Slacker is onto something. I like Lauryn Hill, and so does Amy Winehouse. OK. So then why all of a sudden does Janet Jackson’s “Again” come on? I shudder at the thought that all Hill and Winehouse fans are just as big fans of Jackson. We’ll forget this blip and continue.

Back to Amy Winehouse, with “You Know I’m No Good,” her single from the new album. Now I love all of Winehouse, but I’m starting to suspect that Slacker does not even recognize that there’s more to her than just this new album. Her last one, Frank, was just as good and possibly more relevant than the new one, so I’m a bit suspicious that we’re already on the fourth song of the series and are already back to the new album. Next song is “Moon Song” by Norah Jones, and although I know plenty of Winehouse fans would appreciate the uber-silky musings of Jones, I don’t. I’ll attribute this “slack” (zing) to the fact that not all people have the same music taste, and that many would like this one. Onto the next: Nikka Costa’s “Like A Feather,” from her album Everybody’s Got Their Something. Nice choice, Slacker. I love Costa, and this song is no exception. In fact, it’s my favorite from her. And I know exactly why Slacker would pick this: Winehouse and Costa are both funky and outspoken female singers with a knack for an old soul sound. Plus one for Slacker.

OK, so we get the point. Slacker is definitely catering to my music tastes. But is it better than Pandora? Let’s find out, using Winehouse as the same starting point. “Help Myself,” my favorite song from her first album, starts the set, and I couldn’t be happier. Both services picked my first and second favorite songs from her albums, making me somewhat creeped out in a way. But regardless, I give it the thumbs up, and we continue. Next is Threshold’s “It Ain’t Me.” Ew. I’ve never heard of them, but they’re just a rehashed type of funk/neo-soul that is the kiss of death for artists trying to break into the mainstream. But I know why they picked it; the singer has spunk, and the song has that same sort of funk that Winehouse has. Let’s continue, shall we? Lari White’s “Loved Right,” which is kind of a country-threaded-soul track. Not good. Next. India.Arie’s “Brown Skin.” Now we’re talking. Most fans of Winehouse would appreciate Arie, since it’s in the vein of neo-soul. Ok, I knew Angie Stone would come up sooner or later, and here she is, with “Pissed Off.” Ugh. Next is another Winehouse number from her first album, “October Song.” Same cycle pretty much as Slacker, except they don't seem to recognize that she has a new album out yet. Oh label woes. But that aside, it's time to analyze.

Slacker definitely catered to my tastes much more than Pandora. Unlike Pandora, Slacker is attempting to play what I already know and like, rather than what I may not know and would like to give a try. I’m not necessarily one who is receptive to what people tell me to try out, and like to find out about artists for myself. This is where Pandora fails for me. As for Slacker, I had songs play that I loved and, with the exception of a few misses, actually wanted to listen to. And I did. So does Slacker deserve to get off of the Internet and into my car or pocket as I mosey along the street? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Radio listeners are still far from comfortable in terms of wanting to invest in satellite radio technology, for several reasons. Some complain that it is too expensive, while others believe that radio should never be paid for. But where internet radio comes in is in a whole different category. Satellite radio’s programming is pinned to a certain genre, and does not allow for any interactivity. In contrast, internet radio lets listeners pick what they want to hear, or an artist that they want to hear at the moment. And it’s free. People want free music, and want it when they want it, and in this regard, Slacker should succeed. But there are several technological issues to be considered before it actually does.

As with satellite radio, Slacker is not going to be able to get reception in all areas. This is a major impediment, considering that the service is going to be dependent on the internet, and not all areas are equipped with Wi-Fi technology. But assuming that this is going to be overcome by the technological nerds on the Slacker team, the product will surely be a success. So is portable internet radio on its way to becoming the next way of getting music delivered to your ears? If Slacker can pull it off, they will surely be anything but what their name suggests. They’ll be innovators in the industry, and change the way that people listen to what music they want to hear, when they want to hear it. Would I invest in the technology? Well, I have my iPod, but since I went with the most popular choice for MP3 players when other brands were cheaper and basically the same thing, then I appear to go where the crowd does. And if they go towards the Slacker, then call me the Follower.