What hope Internet Radio?

[oaktree]

There are, obviously, fans of Internet Radio. Diversity, variety, newness, freshness and all the things we hear and do. Few commercials (if any) and thousands of PD's who know how to do it better than anyone, it seems.

As AM continues it's decline and FM becomes very crowded with cookie-cutter homogenization of formats, and the oncoming rush of web based "appliances" with a focus on Net Radio... what hope is there for Internet Radio?

Pandora just switched to where it can't be heard outside the limits of the US, losing a lot of listeners in the decision.

There are a huge number of legal and illegal "hobbyists" who don't have licenses. The flap now before Congress regarding the CRB royalties is just one problem.

Is Internet Radio set to be just a "hobby" or a pipeline for terrestrial radio (AM & FM) to dump it's over-the-air program for better coverage, quality (for AM stations) or is it really a potential business with a model that could be successful with commercial advertising?

Many webcasters don't care about making money. Others do, but don't "do sales." Still others would like to do a business model that puts the Internet on a par with terrestrial broadcasting.

What do you think? It's an exciting time to consider not being limited by a city grade signal, but one that reaches and responds to a "local" community, yet, reaches the country if not the entire world.

Is "commercial Internet Radio" really feasible? What would you do to make it so? Thanks for your input...and thoughts.

 

[Chuck]

Is "commercial Internet Radio" really feasible? What would you do to make it so? Thanks for your input...and thoughts.

I suspect that the answer to that question may be determined by what happens in the next few months. There is a huge potential out there but the forces of greed may nip it in the bud. That's probably because traditional businesses like things "the way they are" and do not like change.

Even if the CRB has its way, there will still be a few survivors. That might be a good thing, especially if you are one of them. Through several loopholes, some Internet stations will survive. CRB can try to stop things, but being 100% effective isn't a realistic goal. Fewer Internet stations could mean more listeners per station, which could propel them to financial security more rapidly than a really free market would.

I’m somewhat of an anarchist, and would prefer that this would never happen. Personally, I like the idea of tens of thousands of Internet stations, but the realist in me tells me that thinning the herd is a good thing for the survivors. There is not much way that a half million Internet stations can become self-sufficient. Sorry, but it’s true.

The Internet is likely to grow exponentially for the foreseeable future. Look what has happened in the last ten years. It has gone from a novelty for computer geeks to something that most of us would find it hard to live without. I didn't know that I needed email until I got it. It would be hard to go back to life before it. As long as the Internet grows and prospers, I think Internet Radio will go along for the ride.

The possibilities are endless.