The future of radio stations have been under threat for years, but they’re still here, going strong, and will be for many more years to come.
According to The Buggles in 1979 (no joke, that’s their real name) “Video killed the Radio Star,” and according to Robbie Williams in 2009, “Reality killed the Video Star,” so what’s left? Here we are, more than thirty years later and although some of the stars of radio might have come and gone, radio, is firmly here to stay.
You see, the problem with many of the ‘stars’ of radio was that they had what was known as ‘a good face for radio’, a bit unkind but you know that means don’t you? A charming voice and a way with words do not necessarily guarantee success when the fans can actually see your face! We can all listen and dream can’t we, but sometimes the reality is a bit scarier.
So radio is still here, radio stations are still here, but now they are under a new threat! Is there no peace for this medium? – By the way, talking of mediums, do you know what Fred Allen said about television in 1950 on The Big Show radio program? “Television is a new medium. It’s called a medium because nothing is well done”. Oh, a bit controversial might be in trouble for that one.
Future of Radio Stations
Radio and radio stations have so far managed to survive everything which has been thrown at them, but will they manage to survive this one – the dreaded internet! The internet has made it so easy to listen to your favorite song, your favorite band, your favorite singer, even songs from years ago that you haven’t heard of for years (probably because the radio stations wore out their vinyl copies!) you can find, watch and listen to on the internet. You can even listen to the radio online, cuts out a lot of the interference and tuning problems, reduces the amount of necessary knob twiddling to get a good signal (or you might enjoy that, who knows?)
Commercial Radio Stations
The problem with many commercial radio stations is the advertisements. I know, they need the advertisements to make them ‘commercial’, but after a while they get pretty boring to listen to don’t they? In between advertisements and some DJ who loves the sound of his own voice (why else would he be a DJ) rabbiting on for hours, there’s not much time left for the stuff we really want to listen to – the music! Many online radio stations have few or no commercials at all, so that’s a plus for them in the opinion of many.
Local Radio Stations
There’s one thing which online radio can’t provide us with, our love affair with the local weather. Another useless but interesting fact, apparently, humans spend on average 6 months of their lives talking about the weather! – Who researches this stuff? And why? Local radio stations are invaluable when we are out and about, and the traditional radio is still extremely popular among motorists. Where else would they get their traffic reports confirming that they’re going to be late for work (and giving them good reason for it) weather updates and news about what’s going on in the local community? The real benefits of local community radio stations will ensure that they are here to stay.