The lapping of radio waves against the ears and minds of generations of listeners has helped establish radio as the immortal medium. Stories spun and melodies sung; news and descriptions of era-defining events; dreams, connection, emotion and power...this is the stuff of radio.
In this era of bling and Blue Ray, it is the “wireless” that for many persists as the medium of choice. People in cars, kitchens and shop floors around the globe are turned-on and tuned-in. The near ubiquitous nature of radio is maintained by its accessibility as a source of information and entertainment.
Delivery of radio content has diversified and specialised and traditional formats, particularly pop music, have been hard-pressed to continue in their role as the engines driving music sales. Still, it can be argued that the on-going fury of music downloads, free or otherwise, is driven in part by radio. For it is through the radio, still, that people discover new things. This is thanks to programmers and radio broadcasting companies who have the ability to judge the demands of mass and niche markets alike and deliver content sure to please listeners and board members.
It is the case, sadly, that a great homogenisation or “dumbing-down” has occurred in pop music and this can be laid at the feet of programmers as well. In market-driven media economies ratings rule, and to get the highest ratings mass appeal is essential. Therefore, nothing edgy, nothing too 'out there' and nothing truly original will find its way to the airwaves. Music becomes the bubble-gum of the mind, appealing to the lowest common denominator and stratifying the corporate ethos as primary at the expense of quality radio programming.
In this era of bling and Blue Ray, it is the “wireless” that for many persists as the medium of choice. People in cars, kitchens and shop floors around the globe are turned-on and tuned-in. The near ubiquitous nature of radio is maintained by its accessibility as a source of information and entertainment.
Delivery of radio content has diversified and specialised and traditional formats, particularly pop music, have been hard-pressed to continue in their role as the engines driving music sales. Still, it can be argued that the on-going fury of music downloads, free or otherwise, is driven in part by radio. For it is through the radio, still, that people discover new things. This is thanks to programmers and radio broadcasting companies who have the ability to judge the demands of mass and niche markets alike and deliver content sure to please listeners and board members.
It is the case, sadly, that a great homogenisation or “dumbing-down” has occurred in pop music and this can be laid at the feet of programmers as well. In market-driven media economies ratings rule, and to get the highest ratings mass appeal is essential. Therefore, nothing edgy, nothing too 'out there' and nothing truly original will find its way to the airwaves. Music becomes the bubble-gum of the mind, appealing to the lowest common denominator and stratifying the corporate ethos as primary at the expense of quality radio programming.