Is Internet Radio "real" radio?

[Jimmy128]

Very interesting answers. What I meant by the question originally was this: I tell someone I have a radio show. They say, "What station are you on?" I sheepishly say, "Well, it's on an internet radio station."

Need I be sheepish? I believe the show is of the quality you'd find on an AM or FM radio station.

No need to be sheepish at all. There are many internet stations better than broadcast radio.

 

[CTListener]

I believe in the "concept" of internet radio.

But, I doubt its financial feasibility over the long term. Most of these stations make little, if any revenue and are largely "vanity" projects (i.e. "See how many songs I have in my CD collection??") by their owners.

1 billion people can own their own internet radio station now, if they choose. That doesn't mean a tenth of them, or 1/100th, or even 1/1000th of them will make a buck.

Unless and until that changes, we'll go on with these stations with "worldwide" potential reach, most of which have about 100 people listening at best...

And if there are one billion online streams -- most of them shuffle-play vanity projects -- to choose from, and everyone in your market finds one he or she likes and listens to it, nobody in your market is listening to your fabulously creative, labor-intensive, for-profit FM station. Presto ... nobody makes money except the ISPs and (maybe, if all the streamers are paying -- and of course they're not, and those based overseas most likely never will) the labels, but the listeners are happier than they've ever been. So what does traditional radio do to get all those people back?

 

[Speaker of Truth]

Don't forget Stitcher, which is an app that includes various radio streams that can be played via your iPod or Android phone..and thousands upon thousands of podcasts that can be found via the iTunes Store..

There are a wealth of choices to sample if one wants to look..since I got an iPhone and iPod a couple of years ago, I never listen to commercial radio..and don't miss it..

What that means 10 years from now...anyone's guess...

 

[4CX1000A]

And if there are one billion online streams -- most of them shuffle-play vanity projects -- to choose from, and everyone in your market finds one he or she likes and listens to it, nobody in your market is listening to your fabulously creative, labor-intensive, for-profit FM station. Presto ... nobody makes money except the ISPs and (maybe, if all the streamers are paying -- and of course they're not, and those based overseas most likely never will) the labels, but the listeners are happier than they've ever been. So what does traditional radio do to get all those people back?

What does radio do? It offers information and entertainment value. It offers immediacy, portability, and convenience. It features talent, both in its programming and its presentation. And it continually strives to be relevant.

Oh, and it's free. No monthly check to an ISP; no worry about exceeding your bandwidth allowance. Listen as long as you like, wherever you like.

 

[reelyreal]

It's a brand-awareness naming issue, in my view.

If I ask you for a Kleenex, I won't deny your offer if the product you're handing me is actually a Puffs.

If I ask you for a Band-Aid, I won't deny you if the bandage product has not been manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.

In the absolute technical sense, radio refers to the transmission of electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency range of the spectrum.


It's a naming issue, but I don't see any pressing need to adjust it. If it looks like a Band-Aid and it works like a Band-Aid...

 

[CTListener]

What does radio do? It offers information and entertainment value. It offers immediacy, portability, and convenience. It features talent, both in its programming and its presentation. And it continually strives to be relevant.

Oh, and it's free. No monthly check to an ISP; no worry about exceeding your bandwidth allowance. Listen as long as you like, wherever you like.

Over-the-air television is still free, too. Most people choose to pay for cable or satellite. And your points about radio are well taken, but I am 57 and of the generation radio doesn't want to serve anymore. If radio doesn't want me poisoning its revenues by scaring away the pinheads at the ad agencies, why shouldn't I seek entertainment via internet ra-- um, internet whatchamacallit?

OK, radio, you've thrown out the old folks. Now what about those young-and-gullibles you and your junk-peddler advertisers want? They tune you in and hear seven-minute stop sets, DJs reading canned one-liners about something that was causing buzz a month ago, and the same songs in power rotation for three months or more. For better or worse, they don't care about a half-hour-ago traffic jam or the outcome of last night's special zoning board meeting. They want uninterrupted hits without the gab and who cares if the gab is local or not. If they want weather, there's an app on their smartphone for that. Just play the tunes and shut up. But radio can't do that and make money.

Now, try to sell me on radio's future again.

 

[leegart]

What does radio do? It offers information and entertainment value. It offers immediacy, portability, and convenience. It features talent, both in its programming and its presentation. And it continually strives to be relevant.

Oh, and it's free. No monthly check to an ISP; no worry about exceeding your bandwidth allowance. Listen as long as you like, wherever you like.

Over-the-air television is still free, too. Most people choose to pay for cable or satellite. And your points about radio are well taken, but I am 57 and of the generation radio doesn't want to serve anymore. If radio doesn't want me poisoning its revenues by scaring away the pinheads at the ad agencies, why shouldn't I seek entertainment via internet ra-- um, internet whatchamacallit?

OK, radio, you've thrown out the old folks. Now what about those young-and-gullibles you and your junk-peddler advertisers want? They tune you in and hear seven-minute stop sets, DJs reading canned one-liners about something that was causing buzz a month ago, and the same songs in power rotation for three months or more. For better or worse, they don't care about a half-hour-ago traffic jam or the outcome of last night's special zoning board meeting. They want uninterrupted hits without the gab and who cares if the gab is local or not. If they want weather, there's an app on their smartphone for that. Just play the tunes and shut up. But radio can't do that and make money.

Now, try to sell me on radio's future again.

Maybe we shouldn't get all hot and bothered about format flips on the non-HD broadcast frequencies. The only time you REALLY have to depend on that frequency is in the car. Yes there are HD radios or your cell phone can get digital streams but they often cut out as you are moving because of the nature of the signal. You can also get satellite in the car which is more reliable.

Otherwise, let's take those of us who got upset about the format flip at WODS. We can listen to the HD-2 feed if CBS works out the bugs:

1) At home on the computer (where you probably spend more time at than your radio),
2) At work on the computer if your work situation so permits (and let's face it, you are more likely to have a computer than a radio on your desk),
3) If you are mobile or outside on your patio or deck and have 3G or 4G on your phone. You can listen to the stream on line and hook it up to a speaker or headphones as needed.

Now you lose the traffic and weather (and the commercials) on the HD-2 feed. The traffic loss can be mediated by tuning to WBZ at :03 or having a traffic-enabled GPS in your car. Weather on WBZ at :10 or at numerous online websites.

The big loss is if you were a fan of one of the personalities because you do lose that. No Karen Blake, Paula Street, or JJ Wright. The trend lately on broadcast radio outside of drive time is to have no DJ or to voice track anyway. Less of a loss there.

Otherwise, is the lack of the broadcast signal being the source of your music that big of a deal anymore? How much of this is nostalgia?

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Otherwise, let's take those of us who got upset about the format flip at WODS. We can listen to the HD-2 feed if CBS works out the bugs:

1) At home on the computer (where you probably spend more time at than your radio),
2) At work on the computer if your work situation so permits (and let's face it, you are more likely to have a computer than a radio on your desk),
3) If you are mobile or outside on your patio or deck and have 3G or 4G on your phone. You can listen to the stream on line and hook it up to a speaker or headphones as needed.

4) On my portable HD radio for free without an expensive streaming phone plan. (I still use my cell phone only for voice and the very occasional text).