Greater Media in concert with Jump2Go have signed an agreement with Apple to allow HD radio tagging on the company’s broadcast stations. Tagging allows HD radio listeners to earmark or tag a song they’ve heard for later purchase within iTunes.

The technology is of particular interest to HD radio stations who want to demo the potential feature for car radios. Right now, the project is in the software set up phase, and no hard date has been set. However, Greater Media VP/Engineering Milford Smith said that the partner companies would roll it out as rapidly as possible, according to RW Online. Detroit is the first target location.

"Greater Media looks upon iTunes tagging as an opportunity to start a convergence of the MP3 player universe with the radio universe, two entities that have been largely on a divergent course up to this point in time," said Mr. Smith.

"We believe the association of Apple and its iPod devices with HD radio creates a very positive and attractive image to a younger demographic that may not have seen radio being as compelling a medium as generations past," Mr. Smith continued. "I believe iTunes tagging is likely only the tip of the iceberg in terms of MP3 player/HD radio interactivity."

iTunes Tagging is the result of an industry-wide initiative between Apple, broadcasters and communications technology companies. "iTunes tagging takes music discovery on the radio to the next level," said Greg Joswiak back in September at the launch. Mr. Joswiak is Apple’s vice president of iPod Product Marketing. "When a song plays on your HD Radio that you like, a simple push of a button will tag it and later give you the chance to preview, purchase, and enjoy it with iTunes and your iPod."

This interactive feature of terrestrial HD radio will provide a considerable advantage over conventional AM/FM radio stations that depend on in-line advertisements as the business model. With more and more cars having iPod connectors, soon drivers will be essentially operating their own custom radio station in their car with a combination of HD radio, tagged songs and an iPod.