Even the Old Folks can get with the Digital Age

Some Paul Simon, some Joan Baez, some Jason Mraz, some Shawn Colvin

Put it all together and what have you got?

Adult Alternative---with a twist?

This morning, Billboard announced that AARP has launched a new digital media player in conjunction with Concord Music Group. The player is simplified to include only a pause button, play button, and forward to switch through songs.

The internet radio station plays anything from Woodstock hits of the '60s and '70s to blues, jazz and contemporary music on it's 18 free streaming channels. I spent this morning trying it out and was definitely surprised by the variety. A primary goal of the radio is to help baby boomers enjoy the music of their youth, while bringing them closer to artists of today. This unique player, with an older target audience can introduce its listeners to today's primary medium for hearing music and represent music of the past that baby boomers enjoyed. By establishing this special player, folks who remember the vinyl can now participate in the digital age.

This older demographic is often overlooked as media becomes less and less accessible to them. With the baby boomer generations, and even older generations becoming proficient with computers and even purchasing music off of amazon or iTunes, they have proven that they wish to embrace technological advances. Even my great uncle, who is in his '80s, has a facebook page. This station certainly makes a step toward including older generations in today's new internet listening culture and, perhaps, opens them up to further possibilities for online music dialogue and social networking.

http://www.aarp.org/entertainment/music/