Nobody Really Wants Variety

Mark Ramsey (President, Mercury Radio Research) writes:  "The momentum (such as it is) behind HD Radio is driven in part by a magnificent lie:  Listeners want more choice.  ¶  They may say they do.  ¶  But no, they don’t.  ¶  That’s why Satellite Radio listeners tune in only a handful of channels.  And their most popular channels are the same as the biggest ones on Radio.  ¶  Thanks to our neurotic fear of Satellite and the rationalizing power of “choice” our industry is hurtling down a perilous and distracting HD road.  “It’ll create more format choices,” industry leaders say.  ¶  These industry leaders need to study consumer behavior. ..."  Link:  JacoBLOG.