Music Choice

For Music Choice outside the US, see Music Choice Europe.

Music Choice
Logo of Music Choice
Launched	circa 1987
Owned by	Music Choice
Website	http://musicchoice.com

Music Choice is a U.S. company that programs music and produces music-related content for digital cable, cell phones, and cable modem subscribers in the US. Music Choice programs dozens of audio music channels for digital cable subscribers, as well as programs and produces music-related content for on-demand customers with access to Music Choice On-Demand. Music Choice also offers video and audio music programming for cell phone customers through Sprint Nextel and AT&T Wireless Services. Music Choice recently launched a new interactive music video network called SWRV.

Many digital cable and telco companies carry Music Choice, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, Grande Communications, Service Electric Cable TV, CenturyLink and Bright House Networks. DirecTV discontinued Music Choice on November 15, 2005 in favour of XM Satellite Radio channels. Other companies offer similar audio services for commercial customers, such as Muzak and DMX. On July 10, 2006, Music Choice revamped their appearance and added new graphics and new backgrounds for digital cable.

Background

Music Choice (formerly known as Digital Cable Radio) was the first digital audio broadcast service in the world and, under its founder and CEO David Del Beccaro, launched in test markets circa 1987. From its inception as an 8 channel audio service from Motorola's cable group, Music Choice has evolved into a multi-platform interactive music network based in New York City that reaches millions of consumers across the country. Music Choice is a partnership owned by a consortium, including Comcast Cable Communications, Time Warner, Cox Communications, EMI Music, Microsoft Corporation, Motorola, Inc., and Sony Corporation of America.

In many cases, recording a music channel with a digital video recorder is specifically prohibited by Music Choice in order to address music piracy concerns, which is a rare audio-only use of the DRM broadcast flag.

Music Choice is distributed within the 6-MHz bandwidth space of one analog television channel, with all of the Music Choice channels distributed as digital subchannels. Thus some cable providers may make it available via ClearQAM, allowing even viewers without a digital cable receiver to receive all of the music channels without additional cost using a digital television.

Music Choice launched its first 24/7 interactive music video cable channel, SWRV, in February 2010.

Music Choice has advertised that several of its stations go beyond the staples, particularly the classic rock and oldies stations.

All Music Choice stations are interruption-free and use banner ads in lieu of commercials.

Music Choice On Demand

Music Choice's offers free Video on demand content, including hundreds of multi-genre music videos from established and emerging artists. Music Choice On Demand also features exclusive original programming:

• Choice Cuts - Exclusive footage featuring popular artists

• Speaking Of... - Hosted by Amanda Diva, this show is an all access pass to what's hot in music and pop culture

• Certified - Hosted by Micah Jesse, Andrew Schulz, and Samantha Greaves, this show is an interactive music program where the fans decide which featured artist is Certified

• Video Playlists - Themed playlists hosted by popular recording artists

Original programs are also available for viewing on musicchoice.com for a limited time after their premiere.

Nielsen Measurement

Music Choice is the first ad-supported Video on demand network to be measured by Nielsen Media Research's video on demand measurement service. Audience demographics are based on Nielsen's national people meter data.^[1]

Music Choice Online

As of August 2007, Music Choice began offering a free broadband music service to its cable partners for use by their cable-modem subscribers. Music Choice's free broadband music site offers subscribers access to all the same music channels available on its TV network, in addition to several online exclusives, though online-exclusive channels were eliminated on April 15, 2009. Additional features include the ability to watch thousands of music videos and Music Choice Originals (listed below). This service is currently available to Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner, Cablevision, Grande and Conway cable-modem subscribers. The web site relaunched on February 10, 2010 featuring a new interface.

ShowOff

Music Choice has added user interactive functionality to select music channels during the hours of 3pm to 10pm EST (12:00 PM to 7:00 PM PDT) on Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Viewers can send in photos and short text messages via mobile phone, e-mail, AOL Instant Messenger and Music Choice's ShowOff Web Page.^[2] This feature is available on the Hit List, Rock, MC Mixtape, Today's Country, HipHop and R&B, and Musica Urbana channels, and may expand to other channels in the future. This feature launched on August 23, 2008. Instructions on how to use this feature run on screen and are also available on Music Choice's ShowOff Web Page.^[3]

Music Choice Music Channels

As of 2010, Music Choice offers 49 linear channels: one video channel (SWRV), 46 audio-with-slideshow channels, and two audio-only channels (Taste of Italy and Tejano, a Spanish channel); the first, and last two, are only available in a few limited areas. On most cable providers, Music Choice channels are numbered from 901 to 948.

Music Choice's audio music channels provide continuous uninterrupted music streaming on all its stations. In lieu of commercial advertising, banner ads are featured on every station. Music choice offers various stations across multiple genres. While a song is playing, artist, song and album information appears on screen as well as trivia facts, artist photos, and generic photos that is relevant to that particular channel.

All of Music Choice's programming is entirely music, with no talk, commercials or even bumpers. An unrelated service, the CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks, provides a complementary slate of talk radio channels to cable providers.

List of channels

(Lineup effective April 15, 2009)^[4]

Classical

• Classical Masterpieces - Famous classical works from the great classical composers, particularly from the Classical and Romantic Eras (e.g., Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart)
• Light Classical - Chamber and solo works from earlier periods of classical music history, particularly from the Baroque and Classical periods. (e.g., Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Haydn)

Country

• Classic Country - Traditional country music from the 1940s to the 1980s. (e.g. Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard)
• Today's Country - Modern country hits of today's hottest country stars from 2000 to today. (e.g. Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban)
• True Country - Country music from 1990 to 2005. (e.g. Garth Brooks, George Strait, Shania Twain)

Dance

• Dance/Electronica - A channel that plays electronic-styled music and club hits, written by artists such as Usher and David Guetta.

Instrumentals

• Easy Listening - Instrumentals performed by string orchestras and soloists from around the world. (e.g. Living Strings, Mantovani, Ronnie Aldrich)
• Soundscapes - Mix of new age, atmospheric and ambient music. (e.g. Jim Brickman, Steven Halpern, Enya)

Jazz & Blues

• Blues - Blues music from the early artists of the 1920s to today. (e.g. B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Little Milton)
• Jazz - Traditional and contemporary jazz mix that utilizes traditional jazz elements. (e.g. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Stan Getz)
• Smooth Jazz - Modern jazz music with hints of pop and rock inspiration. (e.g. David Benoit, Lee Ritenour, George Benson, The Rippingtons)

Latin

• Mexicana - A wide variety of traditional folk music from Mexico, featuring styles such as Ranchera, Banda and Mariachi. (e.g. Pepe Aguillar, Joan Sebastian, Huracanes del Norte)
• Musica Urbana - Urban music popular in Latin communities such as Reggaeton and Latin hip-hop. (e.g. Don Omar, Tego Calderon, Ivy Queen, Daddy Yankee)
• Pop Latino - Today's hottest hits and pop music from Latin artists. (e.g. Ricky Martin, Shakira, Paulina Rubino)
• Tropicales - Music popular in tropical locations, such as the Caribbean. (e.g. Aventura, Victor Manuelle, Marc Anthony)
• Romances - A mix of romantic and popular Spanish love songs from the past and present. (e.g. Roberto Carlos, Luis Miguel, Joan Sebastian)
• Taste of Italy - Italian music, ranging from standards such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra to contemporary Italian-language hits. Only available in some areas. No song information.

Pop

• Pop Hits - A mix of pop hits that include youth orientated music with no rap. (e.g. Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Rob Thomas)
• '70s - Hits from the 1970s. (e.g. Elton John, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, Cat Stevens, The Jackson 5)
• '80s - Hits from the 1980s. (e.g. Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Whitney Houston, George Michael)
• '90s - Hits from the 1990s. (e.g. Alanis Morissette, Nirvana, Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men)
• Hit List - Today's cutting edge and mainstream popular music. (e.g. Katy Perry, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Kanye West)
• Party Favorites - Mix of music that is great for special occasions and parties. (e.g."Twist and Shout", "Macarena", "I Love Rock & Roll")
• Soft Rock - Slow and mid-tempo pop music from the past and present. (e.g. Leona Lewis, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion) Replaced with contemporary Christmas music from November 1 through January 5.
• Solid Gold Oldies - Classic hits from the 1950s and 1960s. (e.g. Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, The Beatles)

Religious

• Contemporary Christian - Inspiring and uplifting Christian and worship music from the 1980s to the present. (e.g. Mercyme, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day)
• Gospel - Modern and traditional gospel music. (e.g. Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker)

Rock

• Adult Alternative - Uncensored alternative music that is targeted for more adult audiences. (e.g. Amy Winehouse, My Morning Jacket, Tracy Chapman)
• Alternative - Uncensored music from bands redefining the modern rock landscape. (e.g. The Killers, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance)
• Classic Alternative - An uncensored mix of punk, new wave, college rock, and synthpop. (e.g. Sex Pistols, The Cars, a-ha, R.E.M.)
• Classic Rock - Album-oriented playlists from the 1960s through the 1980s with artists who helped pioneer the genre of rock music (e.g. The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Yes).
• Metal - Aggressive sounding metal music using exotic and experimental techniques and genres. (e.g. Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Body Count)
• Retro Rock -Mix of arena rock and modern rock; music is played in blocks, separated by decade (1980s, 1990s). (e.g. Bon Jovi, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Van Halen).
• Rock - Popular rock music from the 1990s to the present. (e.g. Green Day, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Hinder, Papa Roach, Nickelback)

Urban

• R&B Classics - A variety of funk, soul, and Motown hits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. (e.g. Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Prince)
• R&B Soul - Urban adult music and sultry, slow jams. (e.g. Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys, Musiq SoulChild)
• Hip-Hop and R&B - Today's hottest hip-hop and R&B music. (e.g. Chris Brown, Ciara, Usher, Lil Wayne, Beyonce)
• Hip-Hop Classics - Hits from artists that pioneered the genre of hip-hop. (e.g. Run DMC, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G.)
• Throwback Jamz - Mix of R&B, urban hits, and old-school rap. (e.g. Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Heavy D)
• Rap - An uncensored mix of modern rap and hip-hop. (e.g. 50 Cent, Young Jeezy, Jim Jones, The Game)

Variety

• Kidz Only! (formerly Radio Disney) - Music popular with youngsters and "tweens". (e.g. Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Miranda Cosgrove, Nat & Alex Wolff)
• Toddler Tunes - Contemporary music aimed at young children; includes lullabies that are played at night. (e.g. Joanie Bartels, Laurie Berkner, Baby Einstein)
• Reggae - Mix of reggae, ska and other Caribbean rhythms of the past and present. (e.g. Bob Marley, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton)
• MC MixTape - Mixes and blends of popular music and beats from various artists.
• Sounds of the Seasons - Special music that plays to celebrate various holidays and seasons. Example include:
  • Mardi Gras
  • Valentine's Day (second week of February)
  • St.Patrick's Day (third week of March)
  • Cinco De Mayo (first week of May)
  • Patriotic music (first week of July)
  • Oktoberfest (late September through October 5)
  • Halloween (October 5th or 6th to November 1)
  • Christmas (traditional Christmas standards; runs from November 2 through January 6)
  • The Pulse (periods without a specific widely-celebrated holiday such as April, June and August, etc.)

Vocal/Theatrical

• Stage & Screen - An original mix of music from the movies, TV and Broadway: from blockbuster film scores to memorable TV theme songs to classic Broadway showtunes. (e.g. Disney on Broadway, Rogers & Hammerstein)
• Singers & Swing - Big band, Swing & Adult standards (e.g. Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington)

Defunct channels

• Radio Disney (replaced by Kidz Only!)
• Arena Rock (replaced by Retro Rock)
• Retro Active (replaced by Classic Alternative)
• Bluegrass
• Opera
• Showtunes (Replaced by Stage & Screen)
• Music Choice Showcase
  • Old School Rap (replaced by Hip Hop Classics)
  • Classic Disco (replaced by MC MixTapes)
• Dance and Electronica (merged)
• International Love Songs
• Rock en Espanol (replaced by Romances)
• New Wave (replaced by Retro-Active)
• Americana (replaced by True Country)
• Lite Rock (replaced with Soft Rock)
• Adult Top 40 (merged into and replaced with Pop Hits)
• Chillout (online exclusive)
• Underground Rap (online exclusive)
• Indie Rock (online exclusive)

References

1. ^ - Nielsen To Measure Music Choice On Demand Multichannel News
2. ^ Music Choice's ShowOff Web Page
3. ^ Music Choice's ShowOff Web Page
4. ^ Music Choice - Channel Line Up Change - April 15, 2009 Retrieved April 2, 2009

External links

• PCMusic
• Music Choice MySpace
• Music Choice History
• Hard Times
• Music Choice Career Opportunities listed on EntertainmentCareers.Net