Naxi Radio
Throughout its century-long history, radio persisted in spite of many tech changes and innovations.
To this day, it is precisely that resilience, as well as adaptability, that makes radio a strong medium that you can rely on. We might not know what the future holds, but we do know one thing – your favorite medium will find a way to stay under the spotlight.
In our previous article (HERE) we went into detail to discuss why we feel internet radio is the future of broadcasting.
Now, let’s see in which way radios might change in the future!
We’ll be honest, the first thing we should expect from radios in the future is an even more pronounced use of digital radios.
Online radios, also called internet radio, are a much better fit for listeners as it allows them to listen to virtually any radio station on the planet any time they want.
Traditional radio will always have a massive fanbase because there’s a lot of sentimentality there.
There’s nothing better than tuning into your local radio station broadcast while driving in the car, but we cannot dismiss from mind the fact that once you go outside of the radio’s range, you lose the station.
With internet radios, that doesn’t happen, which makes it a far better option for your next radio adventure. There are many other benefits as well, such as better variety, better scope, and overall, a fantastic way to browse new content that traditional radios cannot offer.
There’s no stopping technological advancements, which means we are about to see them change our media even more as time progresses.
One specific way that technology has affected the radio is the continual tinkering of the algorithms behind the programs, which makes it more and more precise. In other words, the algorithm now proposes highly specific radio stations, playlists, and genres.
The precision can get scarily perfect, and audio listeners worldwide are loving it.
The reason why it’s so fan-loved is because online radios over an incomprehensible variety. And because it’s so hard to choose what to listen to from the vast choice of stations at one’s disposal, having precise recommendations that hit most of the time is golden.
And given how well it works right now, we can only guess how advanced radio algorithms will get in the future. We will most likely have smart radio systems which create experiences tailored to perfection.
Even though there is a massive chunk of radio enthusiasts that enjoy traditional radio broadcasts that rely on tight time schedules and live broadcasting, an increasing number of fans is turning to podcasts.
Podcasts, as opposed to traditional radios, can be listened to anytime and anywhere – even weeks after the episode airs!
Podcasts are actually audio shows that are not tied to anything but that still feel like a classic radio experience. You can listen to a podcast, but you can also watch it on YouTube or something similar, and the best thing is that you can pause and rewind it – and save it for later.
Additionally, podcasts are now added to streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
So, besides your favorite artists, albums, and songs, you can curate podcast playlists and enjoy them whilst doing chores, commuting, working, or chilling.
If you are a true radio fan, you already know that radio stations cover a variety of topics.
Some are general in scope, while others focus on niche audiences and create highly specific content for their listeners.
With online radio, that is even more pronounced, but many experts suggest that we might see a narrowing down of the content scope in the future. In other words, radios will become even more niche-oriented, with cherry-picked formats, topics, and shows that you can enjoy as a listener.
This suits the radio landscape quite well, especially considering we are getting more and more online radio stations each month.
Plus, if you are listening to radios online, you are very likely to get exactly what you need and in a language that suits you.
Hence, radios try to create more and more specific programs that can hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head in terms of audience preferences and taste.
Even though radio listening is completely free for the users, there’s no doubt that audio hosts, programs, and artists all get monetary benefits from working together.
In other words, radio stations depend on sponsorships and ads for funding, or at least, they used to rely on that primarily.
Nowadays, the situation is a bit different, as the appearance of the internet, streaming, podcasts, etc., has undoubtedly changed the way the radio industry is working.
The most obvious change is the introduction of subscriptions, or exclusive-level subscriptions where listeners in a special tier of subscription get even more exclusive content. With unlockable special content, unique partnerships, sponsorships, and ads, internet radios are sure to bring profits to a whole new level.
The only thing that appears is, would people ever pay a subscription fee for a radio?
The answer is yes, if it’s exclusive enough, and if it offers enough features and benefits.
Finally, do you think there’s a way for radio to become a green enterprise?
We think so!
Online radios are getting more and more eco-conscious.
Activists and experts alike are getting together to brainstorm ways in which radio can become ‘greener’.
And there is definitely going to be a stronger push for greener broadcasting. We can expect to see eco-friendly radios with initiatives for less energy consumption, reduction of carbon footprint, and more.
Traditional radios are already the most eco-friendly medium you can think of, but it’s not the same for digital radios.
We look forward to seeing how big broadcasting companies plan to introduce changes that’ll make internet radio greener – they cannot get as green as traditional stations, but they can definitely be more ecologically conscious.
You can listen to any radio, anytime you want, on any device you want, and wherever you want even now. So, what could the future bring to radios that we haven’t already discovered or introduced?
Turns out, many things.
For starters, AI will play an even bigger role in internet radios, you will probably get better variety and even more niche content than before.
The exact tech that will be introduced in the next 10 years is not something we can discuss or predict right now.
But the only thing we do know – radios will remain a beloved medium, even if the way we listen to radio changes completely.
