First is the good news. Mobile radio is getting a good nod from cellphone users. In a recent report, TNS Global Telecoms found that 43% of all mobile users listen to some form of music on their phones, and 73% of smartphones double as music players. And while the use of MP3 players on phones is up 78% in the last year, mobile radio uptake has seen a whopping 140% increase.
TNS — which polled an astounding 16,000 consumers in 29 countries for the study — also found that 45% of users list AM/FM as one of the top three factors in purchasing a mobile phone. Meanwhile, a recent study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 17% of U.S. mobile users play music on their phones, nearly matching the 19% who use mobile e-mail or surf the wireless Web.
What do these mean? These mean that radio is not dead. However, something and someone is going to put radio to the death throne.
Apple is in discussions with the big music companies about a radical new business model that would give customers free access to its entire iTunes music library in exchange for paying a premium for its iPod and iPhone devices.
The “all you can eat” model, a replica of Nokia’s “comes with music” deal with Universal Music last December, could provide the struggling recorded music industry with a much-needed fillip, and drive demand for a new generation of Apple’s hardware.
Again, what does this mean to radio? This means another stab on the chest for radio broadcasters. First, there was the mp3 player, specifically the iPod that stole terrestrial radio listeners. Then there’s HD Radio which unfortunately failed to give radio stations a run for their money. And of course, there is the satellite radio.
I bet this new business model from iPod is taken from the idea of satellite radio and HD Radio. And since there are more people in the US who carry an iPod in their pocket, it is much a doable business model that will give recording companies big bulks at the same time will put another hand around the neck of radio stations. Stifling!
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- How To Be A Big Failure In Radio Production
- Associate Audio Production Degrees: What You Need to Know
Source:
Radio Online Now 