Friday, October 12, 2007

Station Review: Four More For Visa Signature

Another advertiser to re-up for the Pandora promotional station advertising program is Visa Signature. Last December they introduced four of the better promotional stations, and now they're back with four more.

First up is Brit Rock Radio* (click to play). This station is based on Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Cure, The Fratellis, The Rolling Stones, The Who and a tune by Oasis. It's sort of a Boomer nostolgia station. Zzzzzzz... At least the station has some development with two thumbs up and five thumbs down. Kudos, at least, to Visa for being unafraid of offending The Ducky Boys.

Next, let's take a look at World Traveler Radio* (click to play). Could it be? A promotional station I actually like? Something must be wrong. In any case, this station is based on five bands, only one of which has any fame at all in the US: Ladysmith Black Mambazo. There are two song seeds as well. Lot's of drums and call-and-response vocals. The station is slightly developed with 2 thumbs up and 2 thumbs down.

The third station is Blarney Stone Radio (click to play). It's not a bad attempt to create a Celtic station. I would note, however, that my Tir Na Nog station (click to play) covers all the same artists plus many more, and is far more developed. Their station is based on three artists, two songs, one thumb up and one thumb down. Since it has no real development it pulls in a lot of folk and bluegrass which is not remotely Celtic.

Lastly, we take a look at Tokyo Pop Karaoke Radio* (click to play). Again, Visa Signature should be applauded for the mere idea of using a J-Pop station in their campaign. It has five artists, and one thumb down, and so no one stayed up hights perfecting this station. Nevertheless, Puffy is a good place to start any station.

Overall, I'd say that this set of stations is one of the best promotions to date. Much is still lacking in the development of these staions, but at least they are examining genres beyond "what the kids are listening to now".

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