Radio joining the social networking age

Just like many other media and businesses, radio stations have adopted the Facebook and Twitter trends.

According to Inside Radio, radio stations are increasing their visibility on Facebook to exploit a still-growing phenomenon.

Data show the average Facebook user spends seven hours a month on Facebook and are more and more using mobile devices away from home to do so.Looking at a sampling of Salt Lake radio stations and personalities, there are some on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

For example, KXRK radio ("X-96") has a Facebook page and is on Twitter.

The station's morning show, "Radio From Hell," has 9,300-plus fans on its Facebook page and a lot of ongoing discussions.Factor in the fact that "X96" already has an extensive podcast, as well as online streaming, giving listeners so many ways to listen to, examine or comment on the station.

Johnson and Johnson, the morning DJs on KUBL (FM-93.3) boast more than 3,000 friends on their Facebook page. The DJs are also on MySpace.

KSL radio (FM-102.7/AM-1160) is also on Facebook, and Doug Wright and many other personalities have their own Facebook pages.

This all equals so many ways a listener can interact with radio stations and hosts, that it means a new age has arisen.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, many listeners hoped they would be lucky enough to be able to make song dedications on the air. That, or visiting a station in person, were the best ways a listener could interact with their favorite station or DJ.

At the time, other than contests or live remote broadcasts, there weren't many ways to interact with the station or its hosts.

Now, with a computer, mobile device and the Internet, anyone can easily contact a DJ or make a comment.

"SPOKEN WORD" IN RADIO HALL OF FAME? — "Music and the Spoken Word," the world's longest-running continuous network broadcast, as well as the longest-running radio broadcast in America, has been nominated by the for a spot in the National Radio Hall of Fame in the "National Pioneer" category.

Public online voting for the awards begins June 14 and will end at midnight on Aug. 1.

The 2010 nominees to America's only National Radio Hall of Fame were selected by the 24-member National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee.