I’ve been out at meetings and doing interviews all day, so I’ve been a little lax in my duties here.  Apologies.  I’ll have much more time to write tomorrow because I have a plumber coming around to figure out why that toilet in the powder room is making demonic noises.  

I hope it’s not a poltergeist. I’d hate to think what a plumbing exorcism may cost.

Back in January in a ruling that was ridiculed literally around the world, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council–the self-policing body of private radio in this country–ruled that the original version of 1985 song, “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits was offensive and therefore unworthy of space on the nation’s airwaves.

At issue was the word “faggot,” which was used by a bigoted character depicted in the song.  The complaint was brought forth by a single person–a listener to OZ-FM in Newfoundland–triggering the procedures laid out in the CBSC’s code.  Not only was the ruling skewered by just about everyone, it also shon a light on how a SINGLE person could affect what the nation was allowed to hear on the radio.  

At midnight tonight, most of the analogue TV signals that have been bouncing through the atmosphere since the 1950s will disappear.  With the temporary exception of some CBC stations and a few small-market broadcasters, the familiar channels from 2-6 (VHF low-band), 7-13 (VHF high-band) and 14-83 (UHF) will vanish into history.

Why?  Analogue TV signals are fat, inefficient and incapable of carrying the kind of data we see with digital signals.  It’s time to retire the technology, just like the Americans did a couple of years ago.  

All TV channels (with the above exceptions) have been transferred to digital signals, both over-the-air (i.e. free) and through your cable/satellite company.  That’s why we’ve seen an explosion in HD channels.

The operatove word this week is “flat.”  Sales are flat from last week, flat from the same week in 2010 and flat compared to year-to-year pacing.  I could give you a bunch of other statistics, but they all equal the same thing:  flat.

And with a dearth/drought of big-name and hot new releases this summer, there’s been little to get excited about.  Maybe that will change with next Wednesday when we get first-week numbers for the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ I’m With You.  Or maybe not.

Denise, in case you’re coming in late, is the non-human AI DJ that’s being used at a station in Texas in place of a real live radio announcer.  I’ve been railing against this move for the last couple of weeks while Denise’s creator has been offering counterpoints to my objections and outrage.

Meanwhile, the radio industry has picked up on the story.  This appeared in consultant Fred Jacobs newsletter today.

Is it really the last day of August?  How is this possible? 

The good news is that September 1st falls on a Thursday, which means we really don’t have to worry about reality until September 6th.  Then again, we’ll pay for it come January when the first work week of the New Year comes early.

On that cheery note, here’s some music news for your morning.

Why do I have the feeling the next great play for Facebook is in the music arena?  I’m sure we’ll hear more with the upcoming f8 conference.  Meanwhile, an app called Radioplayer has been introduced.  Facebook users can now share their favourite radio listening amongst 250 available stations.

Some functionality in iTunes streaming disappeared with the last update.  What’s going on?  CNET has some insight