Will radio receivers be available in 2030

[Kevin]

With the ongoing popularity of streaming and other platforms for radio, will we actually see a point that you and I will no longer be able to purchase an actual radio receiver from a retail outlet or online. In the last decade, traditional radio listenership has fallen and sales of radio have dropped as well and streaming has gained popularity. Do you think that in 2030 there will be no more traditional AM and FM radio receivers available and what few manufacturers for radio receivers will stop producing radio receivers due to lack of sales. What do you think will happen?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Yes, radio receivers will still be available, somewhere.

Think about the hundreds of thousands of items stocked in a Target or similar store. Many of them are not hot sellers at all, but they probably aren't thinking about dropping drip coffee makers because of the popularity of Keurigs.

 

[TheBigA]

Keep in mind that the electronics industry is not based in the US any more. It's based in China. It's a global industry. The companies that make these receivers are looking at how people use their products globally.

As far as listening to radios, this is why most of the broadcasting industry is streaming its programming on the internet. This is why a lot of radio stations have their own apps. This is why iHeart and Entercom built their own streaming platform. They aren't sitting on their butts depending on China to continue to manufacture radios. They're putting content on any and all platforms.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I'm not certain about purchasing "tabletop" receivers at a retail store, but many car manufacturers are including in-vehicle WiFi and streaming along with options like XM/Sirius in the dashboard, while at the same time, some carmakers only include FM, but no longer provide an AM receiver in the dash. I guess they'll include/eliminate options to meet consumer demand and the in-dash entertainment trends that are most popular.

 

[TheBigA]

many car manufacturers are including in-vehicle WiFi and streaming along with options like XM/Sirius in the dashboard, while at the same time, some carmakers only include FM, but no longer provide an AM receiver in the dash.

I can think of two or three, mainly upscale models such as Tesla have eliminated AM.

SiriusXM is paying car manufacturers for placement in the dashboard. That's a very different situation.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I can think of two or three, mainly upscale models such as Tesla have eliminated AM.

SiriusXM is paying car manufacturers for placement in the dashboard. That's a very different situation.

Point being, if consumers were asking for AM radios to be included in the cars they buy, or if they were contacting manufacturers to complain about the lack of an AM receiver in the dash, they'd still be there. Obviously there's more interest in other forms of in-dash entertainment.

Apologies @Kevin for the brief hijack of your post..

 

[Kevin]

Point being, if consumers were asking for AM radios to be included in the cars they buy, or if they were contacting manufacturers to complain about the lack of an AM receiver in the dash, they'd still be there. Obviously there's more interest in other forms of in-dash entertainment.

Apologies @Kevin for the brief hijack of your post..

Mikey Radio, No reason to apologize my friend, it’s all in good conversation. Actually, I enjoy your input.

 

[TheBigA]

Point being, if consumers were asking for AM radios to be included in the cars they buy, or if they were contacting manufacturers to complain about the lack of an AM receiver in the dash, they'd still be there.

Radio is not an option, it's standard equipment. Just like any other standard equipment. They don't ask for FM either. Are they complaining because cars don't have CD players any more? I'm sure some people are. But it doesn't matter. Consumers won't be making their car decisions based on things like radios and CD players.

AM/FM radio is a pretty low cost item to install for free. Like windshield wipers. In fact wipers probably cost more. There's no negative to giving folks a free radio, other than the engine might cause interference in the AM signal. At least that's the reason Tesla gives.

 

[Kevin]

The last 3 vehicles that my wife and I owned had terrible AM reception, and these are relatively new vehicles since 2017. The dealership did nothing to fix the problem, all they said is it’s because 75% of the vehicle is computer electronics and that’s why the AM reception is terrible.

 

[kwthom]

Point of reference...

Windshield wipers are a requirement for most motor vehicles, a radio is an option.

 

[TheBigA]

Windshield wipers are a requirement for most motor vehicles, a radio is an option.

An option for whom? The maker or the consumer? We were talking from the consumer POV.

 

[b-turner]

I'm sure about 1980 to 1985 when cable TV companies began reaching almost all households people said over the air TV would be gone in a decade or so. Radio (at least over the air broadcast radio) will not go away anytime soon because there will always be those not online for whatever reason. Even cell phones cannot reach everywhere. And as I have experienced in a huge city several times, there are times over the air radio is it. I'm talking cell phones down, electricity off and even 911 being down. Sure, rare instances, but radio is something accessible, cheap and universal among the general population as well as being one of the more reliable sources of information at times it is needed most. In short, if over the air radio is around, so will the conventional dedicated listening device, a radio.

 

[anotherguyTN]

It seems like we've gone through this topic multiple times, but I'll make my post again. My 2019 Hyundai Elantra has a decent AM radio, but there's nothing I want to listen to on it that doesn't have an FM translator. So even though it has AM I almost never use it. But my wife and daughter miss it having a CD player.

 

[boombox4]

2030 is only ten years away. I don't think standalone radios will disappear by then. They still will be available online. Radio is still a viable medium in the US, and is still viable worldwide.

2040? They may be getting scarce by then. A lot can change in 20 years.

 

[Kelly A]

It seems like we've gone through this topic multiple times, but I'll make my post again. My 2019 Hyundai Elantra has a decent AM radio, but there's nothing I want to listen to on it that doesn't have an FM translator.

This is more of a typical consumer view. And yes, this topic is the one that seems to be revisited around here monthly. Given the scheme of things in the world, certainly not a very impactful topic either.

 

[CTListener]

Radio is not an option, it's standard equipment. Just like any other standard equipment. They don't ask for FM either. Are they complaining because cars don't have CD players any more? I'm sure some people are. But it doesn't matter.

I was disappointed that the 2002 Saturn I was interested in buying after my 1990 Honda died didn't have a cassette player, as I still had a collection of favorite cassettes, but I bought the car anyway and eventually replaced the cassettes I played most often with CDs. My current car, a 2008 VW, has a CD player, and ALL my music is now on CD. No CD player will definitely be a deal breaker for me, and as the VW has 215,000 miles on it, the end of its functional life is near. When did the CD player start disappearing from the dash, and have all automakers eliminated it by now? I usually buy used cars between 3 and 5 years old.

 

[Kelly A]

No CD player will definitely be a deal breaker for me, and as the VW has 215,000 miles on it, the end of its functional life is near.

Guess your next car will have to be an older used model.

 

[landtuna]

I was disappointed that the 2002 Saturn I was interested in buying after my 1990 Honda died didn't have a cassette player, as I still had a collection of favorite cassettes, but I bought the car anyway and eventually replaced the cassettes I played most often with CDs. My current car, a 2008 VW, has a CD player, and ALL my music is now on CD. No CD player will definitely be a deal breaker for me, and as the VW has 215,000 miles on it, the end of its functional life is near. When did the CD player start disappearing from the dash, and have all automakers eliminated it by now? I usually buy used cars between 3 and 5 years old.

There are many considerations for most of us buying a car and I submit one of the least important would be the sound system. It is so easy to install a complete AM/FM/CD/MP3 system that I would not give it a second thought. If everything else is good with your vehicle selection and the only thing missing is a CD player I'd just head for the nearest car audio shop and buy one that fits your requirements. At most it won't be more than a couple hundred bucks.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I honestly don't miss the CD player myself because I use the USB port and Bluetooth now more than anything. And most of my FM listening is when someone else is in the car with me. There are times though I wish that my car still had a cassette player, but I'll have to run a Walkman into the auxiliary jack for that.

 

[Kevin]

I honestly don't miss the CD player myself because I use the USB port and Bluetooth now more than anything. And most of my FM listening is when someone else is in the car with me. There are times though I wish that my car still had a cassette player, but I'll have to run a Walkman into the auxiliary jack for that.

In my older vehicle, I use the slots in the dash from the CD Player for a bracket to hold my Smartphone, so I can stream. It’s the only purpose of the CD player today. Plug and play is the way today.