Ten Radio Stations Join NewRadioWorld

Fujitsu’s WorldsAway Products and Services Group, a developer of virtual communities on the Internet, said that 10 major FM radio stations have joined its virtual community, NewRadioWorld.

As the first virtual world developed specifically for radio broadcasting, NewRadioWorld is helping radio stations to leverage the Internet to reach out to audiences, promote interactivity between stations and audience members, and expand advertising opportunities.

Radio stations signing up include WRIF in Detroit; KXME in Honolulu; KPTY in Phoenix; KUBE and KJR in Seattle; and WRQX and WJZW in Washington D.C. In London, Capital Radio’s Capital FM, Capital Gold and XFM will join NewRadioWorld in April. Each radio station has format exclusivity in its market.

Developed jointly with New Radio Star, an online radio industry news source and subscriber-based morning show service, NewRadioWorld spans a map of the United States to allow consumers to visit various cities via a virtual bullet train. Within each city, people can talk to their favorite DJs in a virtual radio studio, spend time in bars and cafes, listen to radio broadcasts over the ‘Net, talk to other people, participate in live events, buy products, and rent apartments.

Each radio station in NewRadioWorld is comprised of a virtual studio with reception and lounge area where stations can schedule events with their listeners, including weekend parties, Webcasts, or singles mixers. Current visit statistics show that NewRadioWorld visitors stay for an average of 3.5 hours per visit and spend 40+ hours per month in-World.

Radio stations can re-sell the advertising space inside their virtual radio studios to local clients, and can conduct e-commerce there.