The Future of Radio

I recently read the following blog entry from Tom Keene, editor at large of Bloomberg radio and television (http://linkd.in/WtHCKj). I started to comment on it and found my thoughts were too large for a tweet or comment on LinkedIn so I am writing this short blog entry.

I am actually a fan of audio vs video for content. I think audio has a future to compete in the media wars with some unique advantages. I listen to half of my NFL games over the Internet vs. watching on TV. I do this because I don't live in the same area as my home team anymore, but can still hear the game from the perspective of my home team commentators. And I can easily do it on the move or multitasking. However, video has some great advantages over audio in functional areas such as allowing me to make my own judgments on slow motion sports replays for example. I also think video makes it easier to emotionally connect with what I am watching. Think about it. How often would you rather have an important meeting in person than over the phone or worse yet only over email correspondence. It is just easier to read the emotions of others in person. That being said, there are some excellent national radio programs that do a wonderful job of creating emotion and connection - so it is possible with radio just more difficult I think.

I am not a media expert, but it would seem to me radio has to become more relevant than catering to commuters to avoid decline like the newspaper industry. I think that comes down to the content wars coupled with content delivery. Gone are the days where family used to gather  around a radio to listen to content. Radio lacks the social element it once had. Perhaps it is viewed as an individual activity now which would be detrimental to its ability to thrive in an era that is finding new ways to connect and be connected.

Again, I want to be clear, I am not a radio or media expert. I am only a consumer. I don't know what it is, but there is something there with radio to make a comeback with. What is it that would make the consumer in their home turn off the television in favor of the radio? Is it personalization, lifestyle integration, or unique content. Could radio become a real time content provider for doing good or escaping commercialism? I don't know what it could be. This blog entry raised more questions than provides answers. I am sure there are FCC experts, spectrum experts and media gurus who know much more than I do and could sink my ship pretty easily with knowledge I don't have. However, one thing I do know is radio has the advantage of connecting to me without requiring the Internet or paying large amounts of money each month to listen. If the industry could figure out how to be socially relevant and unique in content, I think radio could make a huge comeback.