Digital radio broadcasting is now common over the internet. This is done when the analogue signal of the audio is digitized and is compressed into formats like mp2 (Johnson, 2013). After which, these files are transmitted to listeners through something known as a digital modulation scheme. The aim of digitizing radio is to improve the audio quality and to make it more accessible. This in turn can increase the number of radio programs available to listeners in a given region. There are generally two formats of digital radio, the first is Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), which is used in digital radio throughout the United Kingdom. The second type is DAB with a newer compression (Macek, et. Al., 2013). There are different ways in which people can listen to digital radio programs. The first is through a digital radio set, which is very similar to an analogue radio set. The second is through a digital television with a radio feature. Third is through computers that have access to the internet. And, fourth is through smartphones and mobile connections which have apps that allow for digital radio program access or streaming. In the year 2009, it was predicted that by 2015, the traditional format of radio will be dead (Grisby, et. Al, 2012). The replacement seen will be digital internet radio. However, four years after this prediction, still two thirds of America’s population listen to traditional radio programs that are broadcasted through analogue schemes. A new study was made, and experts believe that there is a delay in the digital radio movement, and that people are not responding as quickly as predicted. The later study believes that the shift will occur sometime in the year 2020 (Macek, et. Al., 2013). However, it is still unsure whether or not internet or digital radio will completely replace the traditional type of radio broadcasting. There are a lot of arguments about the digital switchover, many are convinced that this would complete change the radio industry, while others believe that it is just a fad that will soon die down (Morris, 2012). Nevertheless, there are a large number of stations that play through digital airwaves which receive a sizeable amount of listeners each day (Moyo, 2013).
Pandora Internet Radio is known as a music recommendation service. This internet radio provider is available only in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Unlike traditional radio stations where the user simply listens to the music played by the DJs who are on air, the user has control over the genre of the music being played (Macek, et. Al., 2013). The users also have the ability to rate the songs and give their feedback. This gives the system an idea of what type of clusters to play the next time the user chooses a particular genre. Pandora Radio is available on several devices and is also available for download on mobile devices such as Android and iOS devices. Users also have the ability to purchase songs or albums that they have listened to through their device, which are available through a variety of online retailers. Pandora Radio was originally available with a paid and free version with advertisements. These two versions came without limits during the early stages of the internet radio brand. However, due to issues with royalty costs, users who had the free account are limited to 40 hours of listening in one given month.
Pandora Radio is a great idea and it allows people to have substantial control over the music that they listen to (Macek, et. Al., 2013). The enhanced features of the application is attractive and the convenience of the model is something that a lot of listeners will want to take part in. However, along with these excellent features, there are also some negative views. This type of radio is very limited, and one can only use this recommendation service if they have a device with an operating system that supports it. Unlike traditional radio, it is not easily accessible, especially to those who cannot afford such devices. Also, there is cost for the paid version of the device. As a business model, this is not seen in traditional radio, and can directly affect the listenership of the recommendation service (Johnson, 2013). Furthermore, users are seen to customize, rate and give feedback instead of continuous listening. While there are obvious benefits to this type of personalized listening, it can also be seen as a distraction. Not all systems are perfect, and it seems as if Pandora gives an unspoken promise of delivering only music that a certain listener would want to hear. Along with this, there are a large number of complaints about the system playing the same couple of songs over and over again, defeating the purpose of having access to millions of different songs, artists, genres and albums (Macek, et. Al., 2013). Although Pandora is a revolutionary new way to listen to music, there are still some people who would prefer tuning in to a radio station with a live DJ, playing songs that are clustered into spiels chosen by a human being. A lot of people still find that type of approach more personal than internet radio.
Spotify is a different type of internet streaming service. It is referred to as a commercial music digital rights management protected company that plays content from various leading record labels (Macek, et. Al., 2013). Users can subscribe to the paid service after a couple of months on free trial. They are able to listen to various songs through a system search which allows them to target the artist, album, record label or playlist. This system is available on a variety of mobile devices and digital televisions. A user can choose to subscribe to a free trial period which is about six months long. This can be done by registering an account or logging in through their FaceBook account which can authorize the streaming service. During this free trial, the users can listen to an unlimited amount of music that is supported by Spotify (Macek, et. Al., 2013). This music comes with regular advertisements, which is very similar to the traditional model of radio. Once the trial is over, Spotify limits the amount of listening hours, much like Pandora. However, the unused hours can be carried on to the next month. There are different tiers for subscription, one is unlimited, and the highest level is premium. This allows listeners to access music at a higher bitrate, giving them offline access and other features which allow them ease of listening to their favorite music. Just like Pandora, Spotify gives users a more personal experience where they can choose the music that they want played, and create a playlist. The songs are also available for download for a price, directly in the system. As of December 2012, Spotify was said to have a catalogue of over 10 million songs. Users are able to search for these songs from major as well as independent music artists. The extensive music catalogue of Spotify is what makes it attractive to listeners (Macek, et. Al., 2013). Users have the ability to share and create playlists. They can also create collaborated playlist which they can compile with other users. This can be done through email or an instant messaging window. Besides the ease of access of songs, Spotify also has social media integration which allows users to share music with friends and let others know what they are listening to. In certain social media websites, you have the choice to know about the music stories of other friends who use the service.
Spotify is an excellent service which allows users to listen to the music that they want, on demand (Moyo, 2013). They can create playlists and listen to songs that they are interested in, without interruption for the paid version. This type of freedom lets them hear new songs form artists that Spotify has access to. Meaning, users can hear never-before-heard songs from independent artists. The social media integration of this type of internet radio is something that makes the service desirable. A lot of people enjoy how you can connect your music stories with your friends, and how there are features which allow for collaborative playlists. This creates a more interactive type of platform, which reflects on the culture of social media today. The only negative thing about Spotify is that users who do not pay for the premium service level are limited in terms of access and listening. This kind of subscription-based listening limits the listenership and is not an attractive model for radio. Although there are a lot of people who do use this service, there are many more who might want more access, yet do not have the financial ability to commit to the subscription-based service. This is unlike traditional radio which is easily accessible to a large number of people.
Live365 is an interesting model of internet radio broadcasting since it is created and run by radio and talk enthusiasts (Grisby, et. Al, 2012). Regular people can create and manage their own stations and share their broadcast with the world. This revolutionary new type of radio is more like a distribution network which simultaneously streams different shows and music playlists which are created by people from all around the world. Users can create their own radio stations with the click of a button. You can choose to listen to these amateur radio stations by choosing the genre you want to hear. There are also radio stations created by well-known artists where listeners can tune in.
This type of radio model embraces the social networking revolution. Much like blogging, amateur radio personalities, hosts and music enthusiasts can now create their own station and share it with anyone who has access (Grisby, et. Al, 2012). This kind of listening has a lot of potential, however it also has its negative sides. Since no one has control over the things that are being played in individual stations, there might be copyright infringements or problems with royalties. Users might be spending more time looking for a station that they want to listen to, rather than finding songs that they want to head. However, this creates an amazing opportunity for radio hobbyists all over the world. This type of radio empowers anyone who wants to create their own online station, which can be used as a tool to build their own playlist, have followers and create talk content.
Out of the three different internet radio models, only Live365 really threatens talk radio. Since it allows just anyone to create a station and broadcast to the world, it lowers the standard for radio broadcast. Now, just anyone can be a radio talkshow host, even without having any experience at all. All they will need is an account with Live365, a microphone and internet access. This can mean be the cause which degrades the quality of traditional radio (Grisby, et. Al, 2012).
So far, internet radio has affected traditional radio very little (Macek, et. Al., 2013). About sixty percent of people in the United States alone still listen to traditional radio shows and music shows. This could mean that the internet radio business model is still not in a stage where it is perfected. This could be because of accessibility issues, or the fact that not everyone has a device to connect to such a radio. However, it could also mean that the traditional form of radio is still strong.
The traditional model of radio is still strong in most local communities because it gives a sense of home. A lot of people still listen to their local radio since there is a familiar feeling. However, there are more and more young people who are turning to these new models for radio. Although, all three examples of internet radio have received a lot of backlash from the public and the music industry, it seems as if they are here to stay. The systems for the internet radio stations are only getting better, and their listenership is growing. It is possible that when this kind of radio is available worldwide, that the traditional model for radio will be considered obsolete. However, as of right now, the traditional model for radio is still standing, and it is almost unaffected by internet radio (Johnson, 2013). What threatens it, though, are mp3 players and free downloadable music as well as podcasts.
References
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