Understanding RDS: The Hidden Backbone of FM Radio

Radio Had a Plan to Beat Spotify. It Didn't Work.

The podcast delves into the history, implementation, challenges, and future of HD radio, exploring its promise, limitations, and the impact of internet services on its fate. It also discusses the content strategy, data services, and the evolution of AM-HD, providing insights into the current state and future possibilities of HD radio. Takeaways * HD radio faced challenges in adoption and implementation, impacting its ability to fulfill its promise. * The evolution of data services and content strategy in HD radio reflects the changing landscape of radio broadcasting. Chapters * 00:00 The Story of HD Radio * 11:27 Challenges and Limitations of HD Radio * 18:10 AM-HD and Future Possibilities

The Hidden Flaws in Streaming Audio Metrics

The podcast explores the challenges and limitations of streaming audio metrics, highlighting the lack of independent verification and the selective use of data by streaming platforms. It also compares streaming metrics to broadcast radio and discusses the impact on royalty pools and reclassification of premium subscriptions. Takeaways * Streaming metrics lack independent verification * Streaming platforms control how streams are classified and priced Chapters * 00:00 The Mystery of Podcast Metrics * 05:08 Defining a Stream on Spotify * 10:36 Reclassification of Premium Subscription Subscribe & Listen Apple Podcasts - https://tylerwoodward.me/apple [https://tylerwoodward.me/apple] Spotify - https://tylerwoodward.me/spotify [https://tylerwoodward.me/spotify] iHeartRadio - https://tylerwoodward.me/iheartradio [https://tylerwoodward.me/iheartradio] Amazon Music - https://tylerwoodward.me/amazon [https://tylerwoodward.me/amazon] TuneIn - https://tylerwoodward.me/tunein [https://tylerwoodward.me/tunein] Pandora - https://tylerwoodward.me/pandora [https://tylerwoodward.me/pandora] Overcast - https://tylerwoodward.me/overcast [https://tylerwoodward.me/overcast] Deezer - https://tylerwoodward.me/deezer [https://tylerwoodward.me/deezer] RSS - https://tylerwoodward.me/rss [https://tylerwoodward.me/rss] Connect & Follow Website - https://tylerwoodward.me/ [https://tylerwoodward.me/] Facebook - https://tylerwoodward.me/facebook [https://tylerwoodward.me/facebook] Threads - https://tylerwoodward.me/threads [https://tylerwoodward.me/threads] Instagram - https://tylerwoodward.me/instagram [https://tylerwoodward.me/instagram] TikTok - https://tylerwoodward.me/tiktok [https://tylerwoodward.me/tiktok] Bluesky - https://tylerwoodward.me/bluesky [https://tylerwoodward.me/bluesky] Substack - https://tylerwoodward.me/substack [https://tylerwoodward.me/substack] Riverside - https://tylerwoodward.me/riverside [https://tylerwoodward.me/riverside] Note This podcast, blog, and social accounts are personal. All opinions and observations are my own and do not reflect my employer's views.

How A UK Radio Broadcast Controls Household Heating

The conversation explores the concept of hidden data signals and focuses on the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) in the UK. It compares the UK approach with US systems and discusses the shutdown of the RTS after over 40 years of operation. Takeaways * Hidden data signals * Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to Hidden Data Signals * 09:14 US Approach vs. UK Approach Subscribe & Listen Apple Podcasts - https://tylerwoodward.me/apple [https://tylerwoodward.me/apple] Spotify - https://tylerwoodward.me/spotify [https://tylerwoodward.me/spotify] iHeartRadio - https://tylerwoodward.me/iheartradio [https://tylerwoodward.me/iheartradio] Amazon Music - https://tylerwoodward.me/amazon [https://tylerwoodward.me/amazon] TuneIn - https://tylerwoodward.me/tunein [https://tylerwoodward.me/tunein] Pandora - https://tylerwoodward.me/pandora [https://tylerwoodward.me/pandora] Overcast - https://tylerwoodward.me/overcast [https://tylerwoodward.me/overcast] Deezer - https://tylerwoodward.me/deezer [https://tylerwoodward.me/deezer] RSS - https://tylerwoodward.me/rss [https://tylerwoodward.me/rss] Connect & Follow Website - https://tylerwoodward.me/ [https://tylerwoodward.me/] Facebook - https://tylerwoodward.me/facebook [https://tylerwoodward.me/facebook] Threads - https://tylerwoodward.me/threads [https://tylerwoodward.me/threads] Instagram - https://tylerwoodward.me/instagram [https://tylerwoodward.me/instagram] TikTok - https://tylerwoodward.me/tiktok [https://tylerwoodward.me/tiktok] Bluesky - https://tylerwoodward.me/bluesky [https://tylerwoodward.me/bluesky] Substack - https://tylerwoodward.me/substack [https://tylerwoodward.me/substack] Riverside - https://tylerwoodward.me/riverside [https://tylerwoodward.me/riverside] Note This podcast, blog, and social accounts are personal. All opinions and observations are my own and do not reflect my employer's views.

Why Podcasting Metrics Matter: Understanding the RSS Enclosure Tag

The Hidden Structure of Podcasting: Why It Matters Turns out, the core of podcasting isn't just about the content — it's about a tiny XML tag that nobody owns but everyone depends on. That one tag keeps the entire industry running, yet it leaves questions about measurement and control hanging in the air. In this episode: The origins of RSS and the enclosure tag Why no one owns the main infrastructure How platforms like Spotify tried to control the medium The complexity of measuring listens versus downloads What's new with Podcasting 2.0 and open extensions The implications for independence and platform risk Timestamps: 00:00 - The mystery of podcast download counts 00:21 - The birth of RSS and the enclosure tag 00:51 - How the enclosure tag revolutionized podcasting 02:04 - Who built the podcasting infrastructure? Nobody owns it. 03:56 - The basics of how podcast feeds work 04:37 - The difference between downloads and listens 06:14 - Radio vs podcast measurement methods 07:07 - How server logs improve download accuracy 08:07 - Spotify's big spend to control the medium 09:12 - The failure of platform-dependent exclusivity 10:29 - What's new with Podcasting 2.0 11:41 - The ongoing struggle to measure audience engagement 12:28 - The importance of openness for independence

Understanding RDS: The Hidden Backbone of FM Radio

You press your ear to the radio and wonder what’s buried in the static. Turns out, there’s a tiny data protocol still riding shotgun inside FM signals after all these years—RDS and RBDS. It’s the reason your car’s dashboard knows what’s playing, and it’s holding up a lot more than most folks realize. Key topics: History of RDS/RBDS Technical workings of RDS/RBDS Impact of RDS on modern radio and vehicles Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to RDS and RBDS 06:41 The Role of RDS in FM Radio 13:24 Future of RDS and Its Importance