Mass Communication students at Capital were asked the following question: "How do you think iPods and other personal music players are affecting the radio business?" Here are some of their responses. Add yours! Submitted by Steven Minkler, CSN Advisor/Mass Communication instructor
 |
|
Week of September 24 |
|
|
|
|
 |
LIVE WEBCASTS
Fridays at 3:00pm: Sept. 28 • Oct. 19 Nov. 16 • Dec. 14 Click on our Blue Network Videocast to open a RealPlayer window 
|
8 comments:
Personal music players can in one sense affect radio business but in another sense they do not. Personal music players can have programs downloaded from the computer and be listened to any time and anywhere. Personal music players can be listened to as many times, they can also be rewound and paused.
Radio stations are hitting back by using personal music players on their websites. Listeners are downloading from these websites. Studies show that personal music players will never replace radio because of the amount radios are greater than the amount of personal players. The competition will however improve the quality of service that the radio stations offer.
iPods and other personal music players are affecting the radio business, because there are no commercials. Also the listener can choose what they want to hear, where the radio business makes you flip stations when commercials come on, or some people ignore them. And you can't listen to the songs that you want when you want.
Yeah they may give a quick linup of songs after the break, but that does not mean that they will play the 10 specific songs you want to hear right then and now. iPods have the advantage of being able to readily play anything you want to hear anywhere you want to bring it. A radio gets static when you travel, because lack of signal. Also now you are able to watch TV episodes on your iPod, making it even more desirable. iPods are definitely affecting the radio industry.
The fact that iPods and other personal music players affect the radio business very little, strangely enough. The fact that iPods, CD players, and such things exist and are readily available doesn't change the fact thaht radios exist in almost every household, and give people the freedom of, not only, hearing the songs they want to listen to but also expanding their favorite song list by being "introduced" to new songs that other people are listening to, as well. Also, unlike most of the portable music players, with radios, all you need to purchase is the radio, itself, and no other products to accompany it. With CD players, you still need to purchase the CDs to listen to, and with iPods you still have to download the music you want to listen to. So you see, though it is overflowing with advertisements and mindless chit chat, the radio still serves its purpose of bringing facored music and information to its many listeners.
iPods and other personal music players are affecting the radio business because listeners are now interested in storing the music they like into an iPod. iPods are convenient and portable whereas a radio may be portable but it many not be convenient to you because you may not like what's playing. In an iPod you can download whatever you want.
Yes, I believe iPods and other personal music players are affecting the radio business. iPods and other musical devices have become an ever-growing trend in out society. As our technology changes, the radio industry must learn to adapt with it in order to stay competitive. As a way to keep up with the times, the radio industry created the concept of Podcasting. With Podcasting, radio programming is recorded and available for downloading at a website.
Podcasting is important to the radio industry because it allows stations to keep their traditional radio listeners happy while being able to accomodate a younger, non-traditional audience via the computer. Podcasting allows the listener more freedom because you are able to tune in the programming whenever it is convenient for that person.
In my opinion, iPods and other musical devices only enhance the radio industry, in part to Podcasting, it allows radio stations to target an audience that would not have readily been available to them witout the assistance of Podcasting.
iPods and other personal music players are taking a huge bite out of radio listenership. I used to be an avid radio listener. When I got my iPod, there was no longer a need to listen to the radio for current music. My iPod made me the program director and DJ. I choose my own playlists and content without the need to change to different stations in order to hear different kinds of music. Whereas with the radio depending on the formats available in your market, you might spend your day swwapping between three or four stations if your musical tasts is as eclectic as mine. With my iPod, I can be even more selective than the radio. And there are no commercial breaks. The music is always changeable and the choice of programming is entirely mine.
iPods and other personal music devices must be affecting the radio business. With devices out like the iPod Shuffle and coverters for your car, and even cars specifically designed for your iPod, less people must be listening.
I know when I had my iPod and my car converter, the only thinkg I was using my radio for was to tune it to my programmed iPod station!
With fewer listeners, these stations must not be getting as many advertisements. Watch out, soon they will be putting commercials on your personal music players!
The radio stations must be losing money because of this new trend, just like the rest of the music industry. At least the news is still a priority for some, turn your radio for that.
The radio just seems... outdated!
I don't think iPods are affecting radio to the extent that many may believe since most people I know don't own one and look towards the radio rather than their personal playlists for music.
Avoiding excruciatingly long commercial breaks are a perk, however, towards iPod ownership but I battle those intrusions by being open to the lower side of the dial and listening to college and independent radio stations. You can hear some really amazing music, strange music, and introspective commentary which, I believe, further enhances one's understanding of the world we live in.
That said, iPods lead to an isolated cultural experience which does not accurately reflect the culture to which we belong.
Post a Comment