{"id":27823,"date":"2017-08-30T20:25:37","date_gmt":"2017-08-31T00:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=27823"},"modified":"2017-08-30T20:25:37","modified_gmt":"2017-08-31T00:25:37","slug":"variety-legacy-radio-faces-a-grim-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/variety-legacy-radio-faces-a-grim-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Variety: Legacy Radio &#8220;Faces a Grim Future&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Crosley-Dial-BlackAndWhite.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13568\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Crosley-Dial-BlackAndWhite.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1025\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Crosley-Dial-BlackAndWhite.jpg 1025w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Crosley-Dial-BlackAndWhite-300x114.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Crosley-Dial-BlackAndWhite-1024x390.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1025px) 100vw, 1025px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Source: <a href=\"http:\/\/variety.com\/2017\/music\/news\/traditional-radio-faces-a-grim-future-new-study-says-1202542681\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Variety<\/a>)<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Traditional Radio Faces a Grim Future, New Study Says<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A new study published today by the head of\u00a0<a id=\"auto-tag_new-york-university\" href=\"http:\/\/variety.com\/t\/new-york-university\/\" data-tag=\"new-york-university\">New York University<\/a>\u2019s Steinhart Music Business Program casts a sobering outlook on the future of terrestrial radio.<\/p>\n<p>In the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/musonomics.org\/paradigm-shift-why-radio-must-adapt-to-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">30-page report<\/a>, Larry Miller argues that traditional radio has failed to engage with Generation Z \u2014 people born after 1995 \u2014 and that its influence and relevance will continue to be subsumed by digital services unless it upgrades. Key points made in the study include:<\/p>\n<p>*Generation Z, which is projected to account for 40% of all consumers in the U.S. by 2020, shows little interest in traditional media, including radio, having grown up in an on-demand digital environment;<\/p>\n<p>*AM\/FM radio is in the midst of a massive drop-off as a music-discovery tool by younger generations, with self-reported listening to AM\/FM radio among teens aged 13 and up declining by almost 50 percentage points between 2005 and 2016. Music discovery as a whole is moving away from AM\/FM radio and toward YouTube, Spotify and Pandora, especially among younger listeners, with 19% of a 2017 study of surveyed listeners citing it as a source for keeping up-to-date with music \u2014 down from 28% the previous year. Among 12-24 year olds who find music discovery important, AM\/FM radio (50%) becomes even less influential, trailing YouTube (80%), Spotify (59%), and Pandora (53%).<\/p>\n<div id=\"xydghn\" class=\"gothnvvi\"><\/div>\n<p>*By 2020, 75% of new cars are expected to be \u201cconnected\u201d to digital services, breaking radio\u2019s monopoly on the car dashboard and relegating AM\/FM to just one of a series of audio options behind the wheel. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the typical car in the U.S. was 11.6 years old in 2016, which explains why radio has not yet faced its disruption event. However, drivers are buying new cars at a faster rate than ever, and new vehicles come with more installed options for digital music services.[&#8230;]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/variety.com\/2017\/music\/news\/traditional-radio-faces-a-grim-future-new-study-says-1202542681\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Continue reading at Variety online&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Source: Variety) Traditional Radio Faces a Grim Future, New Study Says A new study published today by the head of\u00a0New York University\u2019s Steinhart Music Business Program casts a sobering outlook on the future of terrestrial radio. In the\u00a030-page report, Larry Miller argues that traditional radio has failed to engage with Generation Z \u2014 people born [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3781,3],"tags":[18,3074],"class_list":["post-27823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fm","category-news","tag-radio","tag-radio-future"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7eL","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":65508,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/90-years-of-broadcasting-radio-pragues-anniversary-shadowed-by-closure-fears\/","url_meta":{"origin":27823,"position":0},"title":"90 Years of Broadcasting: Radio Prague\u2019s Anniversary Shadowed by Closure Fears","author":"Thomas","date":"March 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who shares the following item from Radio Prague: Radio Prague International has launched a year-long celebration of its 90th anniversary with an exhibition showcasing its rich history, even as concerns grow over its potential closure. The station, which began broadcasting in 1936,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Broadcasting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-4.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-4.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-4.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-4.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-4.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32470,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/uk-digital-radio-listening-now-eclipses-analog-according-to-study\/","url_meta":{"origin":27823,"position":1},"title":"UK digital radio listening now eclipses analog according to study","author":"Thomas","date":"May 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio Mag Online via Marty Kraft) LONDON \u2014 In the United Kingdom, the use of digital sources for radio has reached 50.9%, up from 47.2% a year ago, accounting for the majority of all listening for the first time, according to RAJAR Q1 2018 data. \u201cWith the 50% digital\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Bush-DAB-Radio.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Bush-DAB-Radio.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Bush-DAB-Radio.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36028,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/book-review-radio-reader-essays-in-the-cultural-history-of-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":27823,"position":2},"title":"Book Review: \u201cRadio Reader: Essays in the Cultural History of Radio\u201d","author":"Thomas","date":"February 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Kolesar, who shares the following review: Just finished another excellent read: Hilmes and Loviglio's collection \"Radio Reader: Essays in the Cultural History of Radio.\" Very little scholarship exists about the cultural impact of radio in America, and this volume explores the history highlights\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Books&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Radio-Reader.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Radio-Reader.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Radio-Reader.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65315,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/02\/world-radio-day-kentuckys-real-people-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":27823,"position":3},"title":"World Radio Day: Kentucky\u2019s Real People Radio","author":"Thomas","date":"February 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A new documentary from the BBC, produced by SWLing Post friend and contributor David Goren and presented by Maria Margaronis, is now available to listen to online. Kentucky\u2019s Real People Radio, from The Documentary Podcast, visits WMMT in Whitesburg, Kentucky, a small community radio station known locally as \u201cPossum Radio,\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;FM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WMMT-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WMMT-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WMMT-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WMMT-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WMMT-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":879,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2010\/10\/nprs-bob-boilen-on-radio-listening\/","url_meta":{"origin":27823,"position":4},"title":"NPR&#8217;s Bob Boilen on radio listening","author":"Thomas","date":"October 14, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"I like Bob's contemporary take on radio listening. Embrace old and new technologies: Here\u2019s the thing. I have radios that pick up FM, AM and short wave signals, but I also have an IP, or internet radio, that picks up signals that are broadcast from various sources. So while I\u2019m\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/BobBoilen-300x239.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":64030,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/photo-gallery-asheville-radio-museum-annual-flea-market-open-house\/","url_meta":{"origin":27823,"position":5},"title":"Photo Gallery: Asheville Radio Museum Annual Flea Market &#038; Open House","author":"Thomas","date":"September 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Asheville Radio Museum held its fifth annual Radio Flea Market and Open House\u2014and I attended with camera in hand. As a proud member and volunteer at the museum, it\u2019s always a treat to see the community come together around radios of every shape and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ASheville-Radio-Museum-Trunk-Sale-28-300x225.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ASheville-Radio-Museum-Trunk-Sale-28-300x225.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ASheville-Radio-Museum-Trunk-Sale-28-300x225.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ASheville-Radio-Museum-Trunk-Sale-28-300x225.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ASheville-Radio-Museum-Trunk-Sale-28-300x225.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27823\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}