Radio and Streaming and their Combatant Compatibility
Did Podcasts kill the radio star? Radio is often discussed in particular reference to its predicted, imminent failure and irrelevance as a medium in modern times, despite its previous death at the hands of "video."
But video didn't kill the radio star- at least not completely. Rather, video made the radio star deeply consider its value and existence in the era of on-demand streaming and struggle to maintain status as the primary mass communication method it once was.
While working for the student lead radio station KDUP at the University of Portland, the balance between using such streaming applications to enhance the experience of radio and replacing services provided by our station was difficult to assess.
One method we attempted was the creation of Spotify playlists for shows that users could access if they did not tune in, and like a particular DJ's playlist or if they did tune in, and simply want to experience it again.
The problem that existed here? If an audience member just likes a DJ's music taste, they may prefer to skip the show and just subscribe to that DJ's Spotify account and listen through.
But a radio station's success is obviously based on ratings, the number of individuals who listened live, so we feared that, by facilitating an alternative listening method for the audience, the station would, in a way, be competing with itself.
Although ratings could potentially be decreased, wouldn't this service be enhancing audience experience overall and increasing accessibility to our content overall?
Another suggestion was to create show sample playlists, tastes of each DJ's show style in Spotify-playlist form by which the audience is enticed to physically tune in to our station. Like a menu of our DJ's shows.
I dissented from the idea of purposefully inhibiting the utilization of relevant new-media applications, like those of Spotify, by our station under the premise of preserving an organic radio audience.
KDUP could struggle as a successful radio station, or it could prosper as a holistic music service on multiple, differing platforms.
Ironically, our station didn't even have an AM or FM channel; we streamed on an online "radio" service.
As far as the music industry goes, radio is the communication medium with closest ties. Without music, there's not much to listen to on the radio, and without the radio, people would... read their music? No.
It's fair to say that the globalization of music was achieved by the publication of radio technology. Whether it would have been achieved without radio is impossible to say, but the music industry is highly saturated in the emersion of new technologies including streaming services and other, more unique applications as well.
For example, BandsInTown is a super cool app I've used and found extremely convenient, check it out here.
Especially when I lived in a major touring city, this is very helpful for live-music lovers. Users select a radius or location and can see every band, major ones, small ones, that is booked to play in the area. Also, users can find their favorite venue's bookings, where they can buy tickets, and who else they know who is thinking of attending the same concert or has RSVPd, as the app can connect to Facebook.
Another app, Discord, which is mainly used by gamer-type people, from my understanding, is also used by music discussion groups in the form of genre-specific or thematic messaging channels where people discuss and suggest music.
The thing is, technological advancements can thoroughly enhance the music-lover's experience, and streaming is just another form of it.
The radio stations that persist successfully are those which utilize such innovations, offering content over as many mediums they can, like Sirius XM Hits 1.
Radio has not been killed, but it does not exist in its most traditional sense and will never revert. Simply, the internet is more accessible than AM or FM radio, and utilizing the capabilities of the internet will prolong the life of the perpetually dying radio station.
But video didn't kill the radio star- at least not completely. Rather, video made the radio star deeply consider its value and existence in the era of on-demand streaming and struggle to maintain status as the primary mass communication method it once was.
While working for the student lead radio station KDUP at the University of Portland, the balance between using such streaming applications to enhance the experience of radio and replacing services provided by our station was difficult to assess.One method we attempted was the creation of Spotify playlists for shows that users could access if they did not tune in, and like a particular DJ's playlist or if they did tune in, and simply want to experience it again.
The problem that existed here? If an audience member just likes a DJ's music taste, they may prefer to skip the show and just subscribe to that DJ's Spotify account and listen through.
But a radio station's success is obviously based on ratings, the number of individuals who listened live, so we feared that, by facilitating an alternative listening method for the audience, the station would, in a way, be competing with itself.
Although ratings could potentially be decreased, wouldn't this service be enhancing audience experience overall and increasing accessibility to our content overall?
Another suggestion was to create show sample playlists, tastes of each DJ's show style in Spotify-playlist form by which the audience is enticed to physically tune in to our station. Like a menu of our DJ's shows.
I dissented from the idea of purposefully inhibiting the utilization of relevant new-media applications, like those of Spotify, by our station under the premise of preserving an organic radio audience.
KDUP could struggle as a successful radio station, or it could prosper as a holistic music service on multiple, differing platforms.
Ironically, our station didn't even have an AM or FM channel; we streamed on an online "radio" service.
As far as the music industry goes, radio is the communication medium with closest ties. Without music, there's not much to listen to on the radio, and without the radio, people would... read their music? No.
It's fair to say that the globalization of music was achieved by the publication of radio technology. Whether it would have been achieved without radio is impossible to say, but the music industry is highly saturated in the emersion of new technologies including streaming services and other, more unique applications as well.
For example, BandsInTown is a super cool app I've used and found extremely convenient, check it out here.
Especially when I lived in a major touring city, this is very helpful for live-music lovers. Users select a radius or location and can see every band, major ones, small ones, that is booked to play in the area. Also, users can find their favorite venue's bookings, where they can buy tickets, and who else they know who is thinking of attending the same concert or has RSVPd, as the app can connect to Facebook.
Another app, Discord, which is mainly used by gamer-type people, from my understanding, is also used by music discussion groups in the form of genre-specific or thematic messaging channels where people discuss and suggest music.
The thing is, technological advancements can thoroughly enhance the music-lover's experience, and streaming is just another form of it.
The radio stations that persist successfully are those which utilize such innovations, offering content over as many mediums they can, like Sirius XM Hits 1.
Radio has not been killed, but it does not exist in its most traditional sense and will never revert. Simply, the internet is more accessible than AM or FM radio, and utilizing the capabilities of the internet will prolong the life of the perpetually dying radio station.
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