The Outlook Of Radio Is Gradually Shifting Towards The Internet
In the previous 5 years there has been a slow shift in radio that has drawn radio customers to the internet for their radio wants. We are now in the era of technology where people do not buy CD’s any more they download them off of I-Tunes and new web-based platforms. They do not listen to walkmans or CD players they tune into an IPod or portable MP3 player. Now individuals are listening to more Internet and satellite radio and little by little tuning in to a lesser amount of FM radio. This market swing has produced the buzz to force automobile stereo system manufacturers race to come out with the initial internet radio equipped car stereo. There has also been stories soaring around that Apple will release an IPod with internet radio capabilities. With all this happening it leads me to judge that FM Radio is going to turn out to be a thing of the past while internet radio slides in as the radio of the future. Satellite radio is going to have to alter their company model as well. Internet radio offers the same style programming with more options and is free of charge for a limited amount of use per month in most cases. That combined with internet radio ready car stereos and IPods will produce a new surge of troubles for satellite radio.
Why Internet Radio? Why At this time?
In the past 5 years more and more individuals have upgraded from dial-up internet services to broadband or cable services. Now over 85% of the people that access the net, access it from some mode of high speed internet access. This platform has created the ability for your average everyday internet customer to stream media online. More and more people are turning to the internet for their media desires from news to music. With this luxury of access, internet radio has been producing major strides in the radio arena. Just a short time ago internet radio has been given a enhancement by the ability of end users to download applications for both IPhones and Blackberry’s that permit the client to listen to internet radio by means of their mobile phone. Advancements like this produce exclusive opportunities for the Internet radio platform. Right now there are only three main competitors in the internet radio market with a fourth competitor launching in January 2010. You currently have slacker radio; I heart radio, and Pandora radio. These three companies are responsible for 85% of the listener base in internet radio. Mindblowin.com is set to launch in January 2010 and looks to stake its claim in the internet radio market with a exclusive model and interactive platform. Mindblowin.com will also offer the IPhone and Blackberry applications when it launches. They are also working with artists to create a major launch event that will only be able to be watched by logging on to mindblowin.com. There has also been gossip of broadcasting this event live over the Iphone and Blackberry Platforms. Next Year should prove to be an appealing year for internet radio we have many exhilarating things to look onward to.
