Five years ago I owned a dozen LDS CD’s. Today I have over 500 LDS CD’s from every major genre of music. In 2000 KZION played a chaotic mix of music because the goal was to introduce the music and help others like myself learn about the diversity of LDS music. I think it’s time now to focus the music and become less of a hodgepodge.
Personally, I’ve become accustomed to the current blend of music on KZION. I know there are many other listeners who have been listening to KZION since the beginning, who are also accustomed to hearing a Tab Choir song immediately following a Jennifer Lemmon techno song. But I don’t think this is for everyone, and if I want to increase listenership I feel it may be time to branch off into genre specific channels.
There are only a few genres of music that are developed enough to sustain its own channel. When I talk about genres of music I’m not referring to traditional genres that most people are used to. The channels I’m proposing are inspirational/sacred, contemporary/pop, instrumental, and rock. I’m not sure I have enough music for an all A Capella channel but I know that would be popular.
My initial thoughts are to keep the current format as the free channel. Maybe I’ll call it the KZION Medley or the KZION Mélange. This format introduces listeners to the wide variety of music available. KZION paid members would have access to each of these more genre specific channels.
What do you think?
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If there were a rock channel, I’d (in the words of an old radio station where I grew up) “tune it in and rip the knob off!”
MRKH
Having more channel options for paid members sounds very attractive, and would hopefully generate a good stream of many more folks signing up for paid subscriptions. It’s cool to have the choice, depending on your mood, to switch channels anytime you want.
It’s nice to offer the free station still when the new KZION arrives, but with the progression so far and growth potential, how about an idea of giving 30 days free for KZION Medley, and then charging half of what it is now, like $1.99 per month for KZION Medley, because you’re offering more value, and more valuable benefits and services. Or, still have the free station, but make it more basic and have less benefits. Then the paid membership would be even a better deal, when you’re getting so much more.
Anyway, I don’t mind saying that the KZION site and station is awesome, and I wouldn’t mind seeing it a paid subscription service only, but I guess there probably has to be some free stuff available to maintain continued interest, especially to new folks.
By the way, all the new stations proposed sound good, and of course I would be listening to the rock and instrumental stations the most.
Thanks Ellis, I appreciate your comments and suggestions. There will always be a free station available to anyone who wants to listen.
Offering a basic version for free and an option filled version for a fee is a pretty sound business model that works well on the Internet.
The problem with free trials is once you provide the stream address there is no way to take it back once the free trial is over. The only way to hide the stream address is to offer the stream in a web based player only. Which I suppose would work for a free trial.
I myself like the blending! It will be hard to decide WHICH chanal I want to listen… but I defenately will listen to kzion!
I know ther eare peopel who can not stand Jeniffer singing right beside TC and vis a versa. It is good to get own channel to listen to classical…. or pop…. I think you may get more people interrested as you get all the separate chanals!
Hmmm Melange is norwegean and means shorthening…. (smiley)
The proposal for chanels sounds ok… buit I have to hop from one to an other to hear my favorites… Alex Boye, Bret Raymond, Felicia Sorensen, Jenifer Lemon, Aron Edson, Ellis, Aron Edison, The rock peaces, the country ones, Living legends, Baily, in and out Capella, these Voice things! Even TC sometimes (smiley). (You should get the smileys on the forum… just my humble opinion…)
Many of the artists sing both pop and inspirtional on one and same CD… interresting to see where you put them.
I’m excited about having multiple streams! I think even just having 2 channels (one biased towards sacred and another towards rock) would have a huge benefit, and eliminate my occasional frustration listening when I’m not in the mood for the rock/techno stuff.
I think your proposed channel breakdown is good, John. Also the idea of a free mix channel.
Some tracks would probably be fine in multiple channels. Like instrumental arrangements of hymns (both sacred and instrumental). Or Hillary Weeks stuff (both insprirational and pop).
It would be great to have a way for listeners to help categorize songs (either requesting that it be added to a channel or deleted), and might take some of the burden from you.
Good suggestion Jon. I’ll have to figure out some way for listeners to recommend a song be added to a particular channel.