Emmis Links Radio Web Content With iTunes, Hopes to Become a Point of Purchase

Emmis said it has integrated the iTunes Music Store into its station Web sites. The broadcaster says the iTunes selection will reflect programming on each radio station, allowing listeners to shop from playlists of station artists as well as top picks from on-air talent and celebrity guests.
Emmis will receive a portion of the iTunes sales made through its sites. Individual stations will promote the feature through on-air spots and their listener clubs.
“Radio has always been a promoter of music, but now our radio stations are also a point of purchase,” said Rick Cummings, president of Emmis Radio.
Rey Mena, vice president of Emmis Interactive, said while many sites link to iTunes, Emmis is the first to pull iTunes’ 2.5 million-song catalog into station Web sites, weaving station programming with the Apple platform.
Emmis began rolling out its integrated storefronts with Chicago alt-rocker WKQX(FM) and Indianapolis contemporary-hits station WNOU(FM). The iTunes integration will roll out to all Emmis markets in the next month. The next stations scheduled to adopt the new feature are KROX(FM) and KDHT(FM) in Austin, and KPNT(FM) in St. Louis.
Emmis piloted the Music Store integration last month at two stations, WQHT(FM) New York and KPWR (FM), Los Angeles.