Will this help radio financially?

[Miss Tuned]

Bauer (one of the big European players) do this in various markets. You can stream the station (or listen to it on a radio) for free as you have always been able to and hear ads, or you can choose to pay about $4 per month (for all stations in the network, not per station) and receive a "Premium" version, where the ads are replaced by more music, and you can "skip" songs you don't like. It also gives access to a large number of additional playlists focused on sub-genres or specific artists or current events.

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planetradio.co.uk

It works twofold - it allows Bauer to monetize listenership directly, and it also keeps listeners within the Bauer network. If you're normally a Magic listener, but you're in the mood for rock, do you go for a rival operator's rock station full of ads, or do you think "well, I'm paying for Bauer Premium, I'll tune into their rock station"? It's a no-brainer.

 

[davideduardo]

Bauer (one of the big European players) do this in various markets. You can stream the station (or listen to it on a radio) for free as you have always been able to and hear ads, or you can choose to pay about $4 per month (for all stations in the network, not per station) and receive a "Premium" version, where the ads are replaced by more music, and you can "skip" songs you don't like. It also gives access to a large number of additional playlists focused on sub-genres or specific artists or current events.

My favorite one that has "sub formats" is Nostalgie, particularly for its decades streams. is Nostalgie les plus grandes chansons But Chérie is also very likable at Chérie FM - La Plus Belle Musique These are part of the Liens group that also has NRJ.

I'm actually listening to Nostalgie Italia right now and getting some memories from Toto Cutugno. Later, I'll look for some Joe Dassin, Sylvie, Gilbert and Johnny on one of the French oldies channels.

Both of those French broadcasters have what they call, in French of course, Walls of Radios with dozens of alternative channels.

Bauer (one of the big European players) do this in various markets. You can stream the station (or listen to it on a radio) for free as you have always been able to and hear ads, or you can choose to pay about $4 per month (for all stations in the network, not per station) and receive a "Premium" version, where the ads are replaced by more music, and you can "skip" songs you don't like. It also gives access to a large number of additional playlists focused on sub-genres or specific artists or current events.

That is a marvelous option that allows one to pick curated playlists while skipping disliked songs and getting a bit of variety.

 

[Miss Tuned]

My favorite one that has "sub formats" is Nostalgie, particularly for its decades streams. is Nostalgie les plus grandes chansons But Chérie is also very likable at Chérie FM - La Plus Belle Musique These are part of the Liens group that also has NRJ.

I'm actually listening to Nostalgie Italia right now and getting some memories from Toto Cutugno. Later, I'll look for some Joe Dassin, Sylvie, Gilbert and Johnny on one of the French oldies channels.

Both of those French broadcasters have what they call, in French of course, Walls of Radios with dozens of alternative channels.

I like the FIP ones. They don't have as many streams as the major commercial stations (un petit mur de radios!) but they have a really nice variety.

It is definitely something that started in France and has only spread to markets like the UK in recent years - coinciding with the merging of local radio stations/clusters into big networks like Heart, Capital and Smooth. (That process advanced far more quickly in France, with local stations going networked in the 90s, which is why these murs de radios were able to take off there sooner.)

I don't know if the structure of the US radio market, made up of individual clusters, lends itself to this type of thing - if anyone is going to do it first, it's going to be a major national network like K-Love.

 

[radiofan2023]

I like the FIP ones. They don't have as many streams as the major commercial stations (un petit mur de radios!) but they have a really nice variety.

It is definitely something that started in France and has only spread to markets like the UK in recent years - coinciding with the merging of local radio stations/clusters into big networks like Heart, Capital and Smooth. (That process advanced far more quickly in France, with local stations going networked in the 90s, which is why these murs de radios were able to take off there sooner.)

I don't know if the structure of the US radio market, made up of individual clusters, lends itself to this type of thing - if anyone is going to do it first, it's going to be a major national network like K-Love.

Do the national UK & French networks limit streaming to their own apps/websites, the way that the BBC is going to be doing later this year? They’re steering everyone to BBC Sounds:

Why am I hearing a message advising the stream I am listening to will stop working mid-2023? | BBC Sounds

The BBC uses several streaming technologies to deliver BBC Sounds. If you are hearing a message informing of this change, you are listening using Shoutcast. The BBC will stop supporting Shoutcast by mid-2023. Why are we making these changes?

www.bbc.co.uk