Emmis Communications on Friday announced that it has integrated links to the iTunes Music Store into the Web sites for its own radio stations. Users can shop from playlists of favorite arts from the station, top picks from DJs and celebrity guests.
Emmis tested the idea with WQHT-FM in New York and KPWR-FM in Los Angeles. The promotion goes into high gear this week with WKQX-FM, an alternative rock FM radio station that broadcasts in the Chicago area, and WNOU-FM, which broadcasts contemporary hits in Indianapolis.
Emmis said that iTunes integration will roll out to all Emmis radio markets in the next month, including stations in Austin and St. Louis.
According to a statement from Emmis, their system differs from the iTunes Music Store’s own referral program because of back-end technology that Emmis developed. The system enables visitors to its Web sites to peruse Apple’s entire iTunes Music Store catalogs. Like those referral systems, Emmis’ radio stations get a cut of the iTunes Music Store revenue, and will promote the new service through ad spots and their listener clubs.