Is Radio Dead?

from the who-needs-it... dept

Ever since Napster first came around, a few people have pointed out that it was really demonstrating what the "next generation of radio" was really about. Radio, by itself, is increasingly losing its reason for being and some are wondering if there's any future in radio whatsoever. While the reporter mentions the obvious stuff about online music - and the idea of having a connection everywhere, she wonders if TV is replacing radio as the way of making "superstars". With shows like American Idol, radio play is becoming less important. Of course, that's only for the superstar style musicians. Radio, though, has never been very good at promoting lower level musicians anyway - which is something that file sharing is excellent at. So, as radio gets more homogenized and as TV promotions take over on the high end and file sharing on the low end - is there really a point for radio any more? In the home, it will quickly be replaced (if it hasn't already) by digital music. In the car it will take a little longer, but faster ubiquitous wireless will eventually take care of that as well. What will be interesting, (though not mentioned in the article) is to see if satellite radio will get dragged down by the same issues. Those companies have spent a ridiculous amount of money on infrastructure, and may find themselves undercut by that good old internet.
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  1. identicon
    Keith Pitty, 28 Oct 2003 @ 7:26pm

    Re: Is Radio Dead?

    I think your analysis is too narrow. People listen to radio for more than music. Talkback radio would appear to be as popular as ever.
    Personally, I can't imagine life without ABC Radio here in Australia.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. icon
    Mike (profile), 28 Oct 2003 @ 9:57pm

    Re: Is Radio Dead?

    Is there anything on talk radio that you couldn't do over the internet?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    driver, 29 Oct 2003 @ 4:53am

    Re: Is Radio Dead?

    Yeah, listen to it in your car.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Makar, 29 Oct 2003 @ 5:45am

    Re: Is Radio Dead?

    very few talk shows are on internet. and it's going to be years until wireless technology will be as cheap and reliable as radio. what is the point?

    I'd think that one could use radio for special data transfers, like this clock from Emerson that sets it's time automatically using radio waves (i've got one and love it).

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    euroman, 29 Oct 2003 @ 6:10am

    Re: Is Radio Dead?

    Just because music radio is terrible in the USA does not mean that it is terible everywhere. Radio is a fantastic medium and is growing in popularity. Suggesting that we substitute using the internet as the broadcast medium for main-stream mass target material is just ridiculous. This is just another "the shy is falling" article.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Kevin, 29 Oct 2003 @ 6:30am

    No Subject Given

    Also consider that talk radio in the US is huge. The big stars make lots more money than tv stars. Rush, Imus, Howard stern, Orielly reach more people than tv. I believe Rush himself reaches more audience than all the tv networks put together, its often said he reaches about 20 million listeners a week. I'm not promoting rush btw, I've only caught about 15 minutes of his show once.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2003 @ 7:03am

    No Subject Given

    Think you missed on this one Mike.

    As already stated, a lot of folks use it for 'talk shows' which while available aren't generally available in your car (sure it's coming ... 10 years ?).

    Also, you can find lots of new and interesting music if you listen to some of the public access stations in your area.

    You are correct in that it's one of the last places people listen / look for new music ... but that's been true since MTV hit the world across the face .... which also explains why the quality of 'music' has gone down hill and it's become more about the presentation of your act than whether your act is musically worthwhile.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Brenden, 29 Oct 2003 @ 7:25am

    Talk Radio is the New Radio

    Everyone else had the same reaction as me it seems. Talk radio is the new radio. I haven't listened to a radio station that plays music in years, but I listen to talk radio a lot. I just realized the other day that I could easily get by with only an AM radio receiver in my car. I've had my current car for 2.5 years and I don't think I've ever turned the radio to the FM band. It's not that I don't like music. In fact I listen to my music CD's a lot in my car. I love music, it's just that the music I like is not played on any of the local radio stations. That should be a much bigger concern for the RIAA than file sharing.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. icon
    Mike (profile), 29 Oct 2003 @ 8:35am

    Re: No Subject Given

    None of what's being said goes against what I said. I agree that people listen to talk radio. I just wonder why it needs to be over the radio as opposed to IP - where you could have a lot more choices...

    The technology is getting to the point where you could listen to internet radio stations in your car. It's not there yet, but it's not that far either.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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