Year's Top AMA Albums; Ford Embraces HD Radio

The Americana Music Association has compiled a list of its Top 100 Albums of 2009, as reported to the organization’s chart from 11/17/2008 through 11/16/2009. The complete Top 100 list is available here…

The Top 10 most played albums, as charted on the Americana Airplay Chart are:
1. Buddy & Julie Miller
2. Steve Earle
3. Slaid Cleaves
4. Flatlanders
5. Willie Nelson and Asleep At The Wheel
6. Gourds
7. Tejas Brothers
8. Levon Helm
9. Justin Townes Earle
10. J.J.Cale

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Ford Motor Company has announced it will include HD Radio iTunes tagging in its list of factory installed options for 2010. “iTunes Tagging and HD Radio technology are strong new additions to the growing collection of Ford convenience features and technology,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “This is another example of Ford’s commitment to bring the widest variety of factory-installed customer-focused technology, features and conveniences to millions of people.”

Exclusive to HD Radio receivers are HD2/HD3 channels, which resemble mini-stations that can be spun off the “mother” station or completely new content for the local market. HD2/HD3 channels are found directly adjacent to the main (HD1) channel on the dial if available.

HD Radio receivers pull in digital radio signals and play them with dramatically improved sound and make it convenient for customers to select songs they want to download and purchase. Up to 100 tags can be stored until an iPod is connected to receive the download of metadata. When the iPod is then synced to iTunes, a playlist of “tagged” songs will appear. Customers then can preview and, if desired, purchase and download tagged songs from the iTunes Store.

All HD Radio-enabled receivers in Ford vehicles also will provide Program Service Data—information that appears on the radio screen and includes song title, artist name and more.

Most stations use the additional HD2/HD3 channels to provide more unique coverage of sports, music or other niche programs often tailored for their individual markets—all for free. For example, in Dallas there is now a dedicated 24/7 Cowboys channel on 105.3-HD3. In Pittsburgh, there is a dedicated 24/7 Penguins channel on 105.9-HD2. Broadcasters may choose any genre they wish for their additional channels.

In Nashville there are HD channels from stations such as WSIX and WRVW.