Someone (who I don't know) posted the following link on facebook, and while I found the link to that short article a good one, I was more impressed with his own comment:
As long as there have been human beings gathered around a softly flickering campfire or huddled in caves, cuddling Mommy or Daddy at lullaby or story time, or even taking or giving confession, not to mention many other emotionally charged situations, the "voice in the dark" has been magical. We are wired to respond to it, and even to prefer it to other "media." I have always believed this, and so am confident that audio-only media will never die, only be transformed by circumstance and technology, to be reborn for each generation.
(The posters name was 'James Anderson Merritt'} The link he posted was http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/does-the-internet-age-mean-the-end-for-radio-1.2546887?cmp=fbtl
I like this very much and I agree with the writer on this subject.
Long live Radio , Will Part 15 be it's future or LP FM ? Only time will tell.
The spirit of what we do is embodied in the quote posted by Mr.Powers...that's why we do what we do with our radio stations and programs... we are that voice in the dark coming from somewhere.
"From the dark studios of Part15.us we are keeping the flame of radio alive!"
Great quote. Although he never once mentioned radio. "Audio-only media" can mean many things. Downloaded podcasts are audio only media, as is streaming radio, be it from a human on the other side in a studio or a service such as Pandora, iRadio, and all the rest.
I suppose technically listening to a streaming station via wifi, cell data, etc. actually IS radio. The audio is getting to the end listener via a pathway that requires transmission of audio through the air via radio technology.
I agree that radio will never die -- however, how badly it gets butchered by the government in the next decade or two will have a huge impact on how many are listening. Any attempt to make AM a digital medium (like TV is now in the USA) will pretty much destroy AM radio and the bulk of AM listeners will already be on the digital stream bandwagon. FM, if left alone will be fine for a long long time. Too many rumblings out there about screwing with AM none of which, to my mind, are the correct path to take. But at my age, by the time any drastic changes come to pass, I'll be long gone.
My Son already listens to my morning show (on the commercial station I work for) via stream most mornings. He's in Kansas, I'm in Minnesota. We have hundreds of stream listeners locally, too simply because our stream is crystal clear stereo, where our AM signal is, well, an AM signal, in mono, with the constraints of NRSC standards forced upon us, and all the interference and reduced coverage at night due to the required directional pattern after sunset. AM's will be able to simple shut off transmitters and thousands of listeners can just listen to the stream. There are now many professional stations that stream only, with live DJ's, no corporate ownership, no FCC, and doing quite well.
This is my prediction, and I may well be wrong. But that's the writing I see on the wall. We Part 15ers have the advantage over the big guys -- low operating cost, and if we follow the basic rules, no FCC. You wouldn't believe the cost and time involved in just doing the required FCC employment reports. Part 15 doesn't have that. I know there are many on here that have been in commercial broadcast radio and can appreciate the expenses. We just replaced our AM transmitter ro the tune of about $55,000 when all was said and done. One tenth of that would build one hell of a Part 15 network. Or a heck of a streaming station.
Tim in Bovey
True, the quote itself doesn't mention "radio," but the link it comes from is titled "Will the Internet Age Mean the End of Radio," which makes it about radio.
Tim in Bovey understands the value of Part 15 radio, and also knows that streaming radio is an important new medium.
I would say that combining internet radio with Part 15 transmitters is the ultimate way to go. I think broadcasters who only stream, without a dial presence, would greatly benefit from buying a truckload of Part 15 transmitters and putting them on the air all over the place, simulcasting their stream.
Imagine recruiting listeners to broadcast your stream by supplying them with a free transmitter!
And now you know my plan 🙂
six Transmitters in the Santa Cruz County Area and an internet stream to go with it.
Live shows with DJ's and more coming soon.