In an effort to keep up with XM and Sirius, HD Radio has officially launched its iTunes Tagging service.

Twice says that over 340 Clear Channel stations now broadcast signals that allow listeners to tag favorite songs for purchase later on Apple’s iTunes download service. Other stations, not under the Clear Channel umbrella, are expected to offer the service in the near future.

“It marries two things that have just been dying to get together,” says Jeff Littlejohn, distribution and development executive VP for Clear Channel Radio. “About 65 percent of new music is discovered on broadcast radio, not satellite radio and not Internet radio. And more and more, the way people buy music is through these electronic stores. This just puts those two things together.”

Just push the Tag button during the song, and metadata is transferred to an iPod. Once the iPod is synched with your PC, a playlist and buying info is listed in iTunes.

To use the service, you’ll need a special radio, such as Polk’s I-Sonic Entertainment System 2. Expect other products soon—including ones that will take the service to the car. 

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.