How Do You Feel About Internet Radio?

[1620TheBear]

Do you believe that internet-based radio stations are a good alternative to AM/FM stations? I know there are some really good internet-only stations out there (and, to be fair, some pretty lousy ones as well). With the plethora of apps and the advent of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, it seems like internet radio stations could fill in the gaps that traditional corporate radio has left behind.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

IMO: Services like Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music have taken the consumer interest that might have gone to internet radio.

Personal experience: Discovering internet radio services is difficult. And they tend to come and go as the operators lose interest or tire of losing money each month.

 

[JD36108]

i've been running my station, Home - The Buzz for 8 years now, and i find i fill a hole within my local community, but also a broad audience nationwide. i have mostly done ads on facebook and i have a patreon account to help offset the costs, with a goal to fund my own downloadable app.

i'm always open to critiques of my format.

 

[HippieGuy]

Honestly, I have not listened to terrestrial radio in 15 years. I can brag, I was one of the first subscribers on XM radio when they started..stayed with them until Pandora and I-tunes came about. Now with so many podcasters available, who needs AM/FM (just my thoughts)

 

[Mikey Radio]

I don't often seek out or listen to "internet radio" per se, but do listen to various stations via the iHeart and similar apps that stream radio stations outside my market if I find one I like. I also listen to music via Spotify, Pandora, YouTube or similar. I also sometimes listen to Music Choice, which is usually included in subscriptions from Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, DirectTV and other providers. It gives you I think about 100 music channels and there are a few on there I like and listen to somewhat often.

 

[radiofan2023]

I've been streaming radio stations since 1998 but listen to FM and AM sometimes, as well as YouTube and Apple Music.

 

[b-turner]

I don't listen to much internet only radio simply because it's just constant music and typically mixed with lots of material that is too varied or too B-side. As for streaming radio stations, those actually streaming their signals are interesting because they generally have the flavor or the locality where they originate.

I recall one station touting variety went from Sugarloaf "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" to a bluegrass tune to Paul Simon to Beethoven. Way too erratic for me.

 

[gr8oldies]

Yep. When I think "internet radio" I think of a guy in his basement playing everything that was ever recorded since the beginning of time. Not interested.

 

[rparky54]

I've got dozens of stations using the TuneIn app in addition to SiriusXM. The local OTA's here are too loaded with ads and music is too repetitive.

 

[Greg Goodfellow]

But what if someone runs an internet-only station reflecting the flavor of the local community/communities, touting unique businesses and locales? What about dayparting a variety of formats, instead of running ‘train wreck radio”?

 

[b-turner]

Greg Goodfellow, that sounds like something I might listen to.

 

[Kelly A]

Greg Goodfellow, that sounds like something I might listen to.

More like, you would sell that!

 

[Cold Coffee]

The problem with internet radio is being discovered. There are so many many streams. You need brand recognition so that people look for you. You have many advantages if you are streaming a station that has listeners on the radio.

 

[gr8oldies]

The problem with internet radio is being discovered. There are so many many streams. You need brand recognition so that people look for you. You have many advantages if you are streaming a station that has listeners on the radio.

That's like saying which one out of 15000 public and commercial stations I like. Generally the "We play everything that was ever recorded since the beginning of time" doesn't get my attention.

 

[Cold Coffee]

Streaming radio stations that sound crystal clear from far away takes the magic out of that old DXing hobby. I use to put up with fading and static.

 

[wadio]

I listen to a lot of radio but I haven't listened to OTA for at least a decade, maybe more. There should be better ways to discover stations, IMO.

 

[cc333]

I'm warming up to it.

I prefer traditional AM/FM because it's always "Just There" and I can tune in when I don't feel like slaving over creating my own playlists, but none of the stations around here (SFBA) play anything I like, and the few DX stations that do are so iffy and distant that they're usually not good for casual listening for enjoyment because reception isn't very good for the most part (and mostly at night, which is fine, but I wouldn't mind being able to hear them in the daytime too). Yes, I know I can stream them, and I do, but as already mentioned, I just like listening OTA better (given a reasonably strong signal, the sound quality is good enough for me, especially for casual listening in, say, the car).

c

 

[Cold Coffee]

It's easier to ask Alexa to play a station than it is to turn on and tune a radio. However the more people who listen via streaming the higher our internet streaming fees.

Actually I love the modern tech we have today!

 

[Kelly A]

Do you believe that internet-based radio stations are a good alternative to AM/FM stations? I know there are some really good internet-only stations out there (and, to be fair, some pretty lousy ones as well). With the plethora of apps and the advent of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, it seems like internet radio stations could fill in the gaps that traditional corporate radio has left behind.

I feel good. I think it would be best for the business if stations no longer had to deal with towers, transmission equipment, FCC licenses, and all the restrictions that come with it. Content, no matter what form, would be the pure focus.

 

[Cold Coffee]

I feel good. I think it would be best for the business if stations no longer had to deal with towers, transmission equipment, FCC licenses, and all the restrictions that come with it. Content, no matter what form, would be the pure focus.

This is likely the future. The internet needs to be robust, reliable, and affordable in all the country for this to happen.

Perhaps it's not a good idea to start new radio stations today.