 Broadcast pros point to Internet as radio's near-term future ·Jan 4, 11:44 AM From the Orange County Register: “My friend, psychic Char Margolis, writes in her new book Discover Your Inner Wisdom that using intuition, logic and common sense will help one see the ‘big picture.’ “More changes are expected in local broadcasting this year as stations re-assess budgets and put into the pipeline more projects that are designed as add-ons to what you hear on the radio, from Web sites to downloads to more news and traffic updates delivered to your cell phone and Blackberry. It may sound less personal, but it’s inevitable as the broadcasting giants – Clear Channel and CBS Radio, take aim on maximizing efficiencies and improving the bottom line for shareholders… “Patt Morrison is host of her own two-hour public affairs show… on KPCC/89.3 FM: “‘As the Internet’s reach grows, so too will talk radio’s. The Internet is about making connections, and one of the most powerful appeals of radio is its immediacy and intimacy… and I think younger people will start finding in talk radio another version of the sense of community they find online… In the end, there may be no such thing as “local” – we will use news and information from places far across the globe to assess our own community, our own concerns, our own lives…’ “Vytas Safroncikas [pictured], a news reporter for KNX/1070 AM, follows new technology and operates Born Again Radio, a “‘The term “radio” will continue to be redefined as new forms of audio delivery become more available and convenient to listeners via the Internet and smart phones. Ten million Wi-fi capable Sony PSP game systems became Internet radios just before Christmas thanks to a free firmware update. This Internet radio explosion will grow as any device with wireless Internet capability will be a candidate for instant transformation into an Internet radio with a simple software upgrade. This will mean even more competition for traditional radio. “‘A major newspaper is expanding into the “radio” business. The San Diego Union-Tribune signed-on talk and music formatted SignOnSanDiego.com last fall with the goal of super-serving San Diego [RAIN coverage here]. It’s an Internet-only radio station that hired several legendary local radio personalities, backed-up by a large stable of formerly print-only journalists. This is the newspaper’s second Internet-only radio station. “‘Nokia is the world’s largest maker of cell phones with a market share of more than 30 percent. Nokia… has unveiled the new Nokia Internet Radio service featuring hundreds of radio stations from around the world[RAIN coverage here]. The Internet-connected cell phone is the new transistor radio – without you having to actually buy a single-purpose radio. What does this mean for the listener? More creative programming, a greater variety of choices, and radio ultimately programmed for your lifestyle regardless of where you live, commute or work.’” Read this entire article from the OC Register online here share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
CommentCommenting is closed for this article.  Other stories RAIN has upgraded (and moved)! RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today! RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago |
So, channeling her energy, I’m looking into the 2008 crystal ball and asking a few friends and broadcasters to give us their fearless forecasts for radio in 2008…
contemporary Christian music radio station.
The future of radio is the same as the music business. It has become too corporate, bland, complacent, money driven and forgotten about attracting a younger audience. To the person who said radio will become less localized, take that away and you just have another nameless entity so when a major disruption happens in the hometown the audience will look elsewhere to find news and information.
Really the future of radio is to shake itself out of its greedy somnolent state and get hip again with announcers who have character, love music, can speak the language of 20 and 30 somethings and aren’t scared to have an opinion.
— Danny D · Jan 6, 02:52 PM · #
and all this time I thought I was the only announcer over 50 who has no character, hate music, can’t speak to anyone under 30 because I don’t have an opinion about anything. Nice to know all the others over 50 are the same; and somnolent, too? I thought I was just sleepy.
— wayne · Jan 7, 04:04 PM · #