The future of Radio

[Resolute 14]

Interesting article on the challenges radio faces as a medium, and it's future.

Clicky

Scary bit...

Many stations are trying to program iPod-style mixes of music -- often with the same "Jack" monicker used in Kansas City. Jack, a format developed by Canadian company Rogers Media, a unit of Rogers Communications Inc., is licensed to eight U.S. stations and has spawned about a dozen unlicensed imitators.

I knew the Jack format was in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton (Joe FM) and Toronto, but I didnt realize that it was spreading!

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Radio fataing sucks. Outside of sports discussions shows it's a dead format to me. No point being brainwashed by commercials when I can listen to a better selection of music that doesn't include any commercials.

Frankly it surprises me that it hasn't gone down the tubes faster.

[Incinerator]

Only radio I listen to is Peter Maher on game nights and occationally the Poghouse morning show on Vibe. Why listen to radio for music when you can pop your i-whatever in your car deck's dock?

[Agamemnon]

It seems to me as long as we're driving around all the time, radio has a pretty prominent place in society. We're not all avid audiophiles, and I don't even have a CD player in my car, so the radio does just fine.

Its also a good homogenized sound for the workplace, no one is happy with it, but usually, no one absolutely hates it. Unless you've got a music-snob in your midst, in that case, #### weapon and pull trigger.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by Flames Draft Watcher@Mar 18 2005, 04:08 PM
Frankly it surprises me that it hasn't gone down the tubes faster.

Music stations have to find a way to re-invent themselves. The time is coming where that will eventually be a must, not something that might be needed.

I realize it's a dead format to you, and you weren't speaking for others but I bet you would be shocked at how the numbers for most stations I am involved with have actually gone up in recent years. The Radio station I work with directly -- and all of its sister stations -- have put up good numbers over the last little while. Can't tell you why though.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by Agamemnon@Mar 18 2005, 04:46 PM
We're not all avid audiophiles,

Exactly, great point. Their is still a massive amount of our population that couldn't get less what an Ipod or an mp3 is, or what it does. Alot of people (myself included) are just fine with popping on the radio and seeing what comes up.

[Ro]

Isn't the future of radio "satellite radio" (Sirius)??

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally posted by Ro@Mar 18 2005, 11:00 PM
Isn't the future of radio "satellite radio" (Sirius)??

Damn right!

It broadens the music format to fifty or more different genres instead of the four or five genres that are available in major markets.

Why should the same songs be played on 75% of the stations?

I've got Sirius and I doubt there is a station in Canada that is as good as any of my four favourites on Sirius (Alt Nation, Octane, Left of Center, and Faction).

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally posted by Ro@Mar 18 2005, 11:00 PM
Isn't the future of radio "satellite radio" (Sirius)??

Well I'd imagine a lot of people would consider "Radio" and "Satellite Radio" to be two completely different animals. Satellite Radio certainly has a bright future.

[Deelow]

Originally posted by BlackRedGold25+Mar 18 2005, 11:39 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BlackRedGold25 @ Mar 18 2005, 11:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Ro@Mar 18 2005, 11:00 PM
Isn't the future of radio "satellite radio" (Sirius)??

Damn right!

It broadens the music format to fifty or more different genres instead of the four or five genres that are available in major markets.

Why should the same songs be played on 75% of the stations?

I've got Sirius and I doubt there is a station in Canada that is as good as any of my four favourites on Sirius (Alt Nation, Octane, Left of Center, and Faction). [/b][/quote]
FM Radio (at least in Canada) for the time being will still hold one huge advantage over Satellite radio. The ability to localize. Don't underestimate it. How many times have you heard of a traffic tie up on the way to work in the morning and taken an alternate route? How often to you listen to the "better stations" on satellite or digital cable now? Probably not very. IMO satellite radio has it's place but I think some people fail to recognize that advantages of traditional radio that they use everyday without even truly realizing it.

[flamingchina]

It wuld not be that hard to localize satellite radio as well though.
All you'd really need is a smal gps unit that let the radio know whwre you are, and it could pick the traffic stream/news stream for your area. It could still be centralized in one locaiton, but have local numbers to call and report.
The one thing radio can have going fr it (but currently doesn't mostly) is introduction of new music to you.
You probably could have one person covering at least 5-6 major centers.

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally posted by Deelow@Mar 19 2005, 05:15 AM
FM Radio (at least in Canada) for the time being will still hold one huge advantage over Satellite radio. The ability to localize. Don't underestimate it. How many times have you heard of a traffic tie up on the way to work in the morning and taken an alternate route?

...

How often to you listen to the "better stations" on satellite or digital cable now?

Satellite radio will have local traffic channels when it is launched in Canada.

When I used to drive to work and listen to the radio, the only time I'd hear about a traffic tie up was shortly after I couldn't avoid it. On Sirius I could turn to my local traffic channel, find out what was happening and then go back to the music.

I listen to satellite radio far more then I listen to FM. I can't remember the last time I listened to FM. If I'm in the car its either Sirius or a CD. At home, I'll listen to Sirius online or mp3's.

FM really is dead to me.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

as long as cars have radios, and offices need background music the radio station will be here forever.

I get a kick out of people saying radio, or big city (ie Calgary) sucks. It most certainly does NOT.

Sydney Radio have a listen to this for an hour, you'll hear 4 crappy songs, annoying banter, and HORRID commericals by the same DJs you're learning to hate. When Matchbox20 is the most risque thing you play... ugh, you have problems!