Radio FM channel Radio Indigo, which operates in Bangalore and Goa, has released an app which will enable listeners and other users to connect with the FM channel Indigo 91.9 and Indigo Live Music Bar and Indigo Live, which is the company’s offline music venue and event arm, reports NextBigWhat.
Interestingly, advertisers on the Indigo FM channel will also be able to advertise on the Indigo Music app. The app, called Indigo Music, is available on Android and iOS and lists the FM channel, the Live Music Bar’s location and Indigo Live tab which lists events info.
The app also has a “report traffic jam” feature which will be used as info on the channel’s “Jam busters” segment which updates its listeners on traffic situations within the city. For this, users will need to enable location on their devices. The one click button sends the user’s location and the traffic scenario in that area. The idea is pretty sweet but it raises concerns about how many users would like to send their location even if it to a radio station.
In the radio part of the app, users will be able to see the on-air RJ, share, dedicate and request songs as well as favourite songs. The app does not stream the channel on the app. It does, however, let users speak on the community, engage in polls, call the station and request songs.
Through the Live Music Bar part, users will be able to reserve a table and see offers and for Live, users will be updated with live events and happenings. Users will be able to earn loyalty points by using the app, which can be redeemed at the Live Music Bar or Indigo Live events. The company claimed that it had previously launched a web chat and WhatsApp group for user and listener engagement in 2012.
Our take:
We gave the app a try and found that constant listeners of radio might enjoy connecting with other listeners or the RJ through the app instead of calling, while maybe on their way to work or from home. The idea of offering on-air advertisers access to Indigo’s listener base through the app might appear like spam but not if it is done cleverly. Targeted marketing is already a hot topic in the online mobile industry. The idea of offering points which can be redeemed at the Bar and Live events seems to bank on user engagement in the first place. But since the app is new (it was released on 27 May), time will tell how it progresses.
