James Cridland

Streaming music overtakes AM/FM radio in the US

Streaming music overtakes broadcast radio

  • “Radio is still where people go to discover music”, we keep hearing. New data from Edison Research shows that, actually, streaming music services now reach more Americans than AM/FM radio does. I’m of the opinion that music really isn’t the reason people tune into the radio any more. It’s not a very fashionable opinion. But this data does show that if radio broadcasters are relying on music to be their “unique selling proposition”, then they’re on borrowed time. As you’ll hear in my opening keynote at Radiodays Asia, radio’s secret weapon is our people.

  • In Australia, you’re probably aware that Kyle Sandilands has started his subscription-based radio service. He has yet to do a full week - he cancelled the first Friday show for technical reasons: the studio just failed to work; and Friday just gone, he was off sick. But - can it work as a business? I took a long look at the business behind his new app, working out what his costs might be; and it seems clear to me that there is not a chance that he can be operating at a profit. Mind you, we’ll never know - the numbers will be confidential to everyone. Well, nearly everyone: his former employer, ARN, gets a 19.9% share of revenue, and will therefore have the numbers. Let’s hope they don’t leak out.

    • It appears that the show is also available as a private podcast, if you’re a subscriber and you know who to ask. He’s using the Canadian Transistor as a podcast host.

  • In Bavaria, Germany, digital radio listening has overtaken FM radio listening for the first time (in terms of total reach). In terms of reach for radio, Monday to Friday, the BLM data says that 45.2% of 14+ adults listen to FM; 35.2% listen to DAB; 18.5% listen to radio online; and 3% listen via cable/satellite. (30.1% only listen to digital - there’s still a lot of listening on both platforms). In total, 76.7% listen to the radio Monday to Friday; a figure down from 85.5% in 2019.

  • Also in Germany, and possibly related to the above, public broadcaster MDR has announced the closure of more FM transmitters for cost-saving. (I think affected listeners will get DAB coverage.)

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  • In the Netherlands, the public service NPO Politiek en Nieuws is to start broadcasting on DAB - it’s the audio from the broadcaster’s TV channel, which carries parliamentary debates and news programming. They’re shutting down NPO Soul & Jazz, and NPO Campus Radio will also come off DAB. (NPO Klassiek (classical) gets a bit more bandwidth).

  • In Austria, ORF is to turn off its FM transmissions (and TV) in nine places as part of a cost-cutting measure. Kronen Zeitung has an almost hilariously sensationalist write-up of the switchoff, describing it as “secret plans”, and pointing out that ORF has a compulsory licence fee which affected audiences will still need to pay. (ORF stations will still be available via satellite and streaming).

  • In Sweden, Radio Aftonbladet (news) started broadcasting on FM nationwide. NRJ Sverige (top 40), which had those frequencies but didn’t get re-awarded the licence, has moved to regional FM transmitters. Bauer’s Vinyl FM (60s, 70s, 80s) lost its FM licence. The decision from the media regulator was announced in late May; and licences changed on 1 August. (This seems unreasonably hasty.)

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