Jobs Radio Person of Year

RadioDailyNews, "The Daily Voice and Journal of Broadcasting", has named Apple CEO Steve Jobs as the recipient of the "Radio Person of the Year" award. The recognition is awarded annually to leading individuals in the radio industry who have not only shown remarkable leadership skills in 2005, but who will have a "profound, positive effect" on the radio industry in 2006. Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple, whose products include the iPod and iTunes. The popularity of the iPod eventually lead to "podcasting" -- the creation of radio-like content for download to digital audio players.

The certificate of recognition that is being presented to Steve Jobs reads, in part; "Because he is uniquely creative and innovative, he has left distinguished and notable footprints in the radio industry sands, and has demonstrated remarkable leadership skills in 2005. He has the abilities, by the means of his personality, influence and position, to have a profound effect on the radio industry in 2006."

Larry Shannon, publisher of RadioDailyNews.com said, "RDN solicited feedback from its Web site's visitors and subscribers, and determined from a variety of sources that Steve Jobs, the iPod and Apple's many media products made significant impacts on the broadcasting industry in 2005 and during the past few years. We anticipate that his influence on the broadcasting industry will continue throughout the coming year."

It was the CEO of Emmis Communications, Jeffrey Smulyan, who began 2005 by saying, "Despite the buzz surrounding satellite radio, I believe iPods are a bigger threat, because you have a larger number of people with an alternative source of music ..."

Shannon said, "The iPod has surely been a competitor for radio, but it also has provided radio stations, talent and programmers with a unique and valuable distribution channel -- the Podcast, a common addition to radio station Web sites all over the world."

by MacNN Staff