Student questions on the future of radio

This week, I got an email from a nice student in Belgium, asking a bunch of questions, which I'll usually answer to make a decent blog post here. Gratifyingly, his lecturer saw me speak at RTBF's Pow Wow Radio event, and so assumed that I might be up for answering a few questions. I normally am, if I've time. So, here goes...


1) According to you, and in general (maybe spontaneously), how do you see the future of the radio?

The future of radio is pretty bright, I think. In most European countries, 90% of people use it every week - far more than the internet - and it is the only medium that you can enjoy while you're doing something else. It clearly has a place in the media landscape of tomorrow.


2) Do you think new medias could kill FM broadcasting, or could they coexist together ? Are there threats?

Radio's future is multi-platform: and is increasingly so. In the UK, less than two-thirds of all radio listening is on FM/AM already - the Brits are increasingly listening on DAB, via the TV and through the internet. So yes, I think they can coexist well.

Broadcast radio (FM, AM, DAB+, HD Radio) are all scalable and relatively cheap ways of listening to (and broadcasting) mass-market radio. However, the internet adds personalisation, targetability, and other interesting things that broadcast radio can't give. Hybrid radio uses the best of both worlds: broadcast and IP, to give a good experience to everyone.

I think the threats are if radio thinks it just provides non-stop music. There are plenty of new technology offerings out there which also provide better non-stop music, and with a skip button. Thankfully, many radio stations understand that the future is not just playing non-stop music at people.


3) What can digital radio tools bring us in the future?

If by "digital" you mean any one of the new platforms to broadcast radio, then it means more choice; therefore more creativity, more risk-taking, more new ideas, and more relevant content to our audience.



4) What's the most important thing to consider concerning this "digital collision"?

What radio is best at. We don't produce low-quality television, nor are we an adequate replacement for someone's music collection. We are great at having high-quality talent, broadcasting to communities, creating a shared experience.


5) Nowadays, do you think new radio tools create new needs - rather than just satisfy them ? 
So, according to you, is it a reason why radio could lose its own identity, and finally disappear in the future?

Radio might lose its identity because we appear to be happy to allow people to call themselves 'radio' when they aren't; and stupidly rechristen ourselves "audio" instead of "radio" when we are unsure what we are here to do. If we do lose our identity, it will be our fault we have done so.

New radio platforms, particularly the internet, means that radio people need to be more skilled in this area, and focus more on what interactivity really means to their stations' output. This is a new need for them: but a vital one to keep radio relevant for audiences.


6) Because of- or thanks to this digital revolution, what will concretely happen to the whole radio landscape (UK, European, American...)?

I could tell you, but I doubt you'd be able to afford my fees. (wink)

I believe that local broadcast radio (FM or DAB+), as long as it remains relevant to audiences, will continue being the vast majority of radio listening for a long time to come. We'll surely see a growth in internet listening, but just as FM took 45 years to overtake AM radio, so we'll not see internet radio overtaking broadcast for some time to come.

What do you think? Comments, as always, very welcome below.