Apple is reportedly readying a big push for HD Radio boomboxes equipped with iTunes Tagging technology at the upcoming MacWorld show.

Introduced back in September, the iTunes Tagging technology allows terrestrial radio stations broadcasting in HD Radio to encode song data in each track. Listeners are then able to "tag" the songs for later purchase on iTunes. CBS Radio, Clear Channel, Cumulus, Cox, Entercom and Greater Media all are in the process of adding iTunes Tagging.

According to iBiquity, "Apple plans to offer participating stations a revenue share for songs referred to and purchased on iTunes,” adding extra incentive for HD Radio broadcasters to adopt iTunes Tagging.

But the question remains: who does this help out more? HD Radio, or Apple?

Sure, a rev-share would be nice, but there's a lot of steps involved before that revenue becomes realized. And the benefit comes from having your own technology embedded into a myriad of devices, not from having your competition embedded into your own proprietary devices.

[iLounge]

Here's a fun ongoing trend: organizations that are willing to accept the burden of responsibility - in the name of "public interest" - by asking the government to mandate that they get a piece of the Sirius-XM action.

First we had U.S. Electronics and Georgetown Partners, either of whom want "open network access" or a chunk of the bandwidth, and now iBiquity - the folks behind HD Radio - has joined the fray.

They conveniently ask the FCC requires that HD Radio be included in all satellite radio receivers, and that a merged Sirius-XM terminate all exclusive agreements with suppliers, retailers, and the OEMs. How generous of them.

Mark Ramsey sees this as a sign that HD Radio is hurting in its efforts to garner support from Detroit. It also might be a signal that the merger opposition from the NAB is coming to an end.

Satellite Radio TechWorld points out that Sirius and XM worked their respective asses of to build that OEM support, and that approving this would be unfair to the satellite radio industry. "iBiquity appears to want a free ride."

And the discussion is even more heated over in the Orbitcast Forums.

It seems to me that HD Radio/iBiquity needs to move more towards the "if we can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude, and try working with satellite radio. If iBiquity wants to be embedded in all satrad receivers - maybe they should try a different approach.

Obviously HD Radio isn't something the public wants, but they have another asset that Sirius and XM want: bandwidth. Maybe it's time for less vinegar, and more honey.

[Satellite Radio TechWorld, Hear 2.0]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Peter Ferrera and Bob Struble are probably high-fiving each other and pumping their fists in celebration right now, because HD Radio has finally received the recognition it deserves.

The ground breaking technology has received the accolade of being the #1 Digital Media Loser in 2007. Wow, that's simply amazing. Congrats guys!

Struble, of course, is president of the government sanctioned monopoly company iBiquity Digital which supplies the brains behind HD Radio. Ferrara is the president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. And I bet they're both stoked when they read beaming recommendations like this one:

"The makers of the radio units themselves cheaped out on the tuners, which have such poor sensitivity, both a beat-up $20 Sony shower radio and a vintage 1941 Zenith kitchen radio bettered them. What good is an HD receiver when you can barely tune into either analog or HD signals? A perfect example of where $200-$600 buys you inferior quality."

Watch the video below where three HD Radios were pitted against an old 1940's Zenith kitchen radio. This is why the technology did so well:

The article does point to Ford's deal with HD Radio though, saying that "HD Radio may get a reprieve as Ford offered to put it in all 2008 vehicles." But that ignores the issue that if your Ford vehicle comes with the SYNC option installed (as it does standard on many of the top-line models), then HD Radio is not available to you.

That's right, consumers would have to remove their Ford SYNC system in order to get HD Radio installed. Pure brilliance.

It still doesn't mean that these badboys won't be flying off the shelves this holiday season though, so naysayers beware! Afterall, the much ballyhooed QVC event reportedly sold an estimated 200 units.

"HD radio risks going the way of 8-track tapes and Quadraphonic Sound records."

Hey... don't forget AM Stereo.

[MP3 Newswire]