iHeartMedia: AM/FM Radio Is Still in the Driver’s Seat

Media may like to hype the next amp8220shiny new objectamp8221 but a better gauge of what the future holds in terms of incar audio entertainment is to simply look at what consumers wantamp160 AMFM radio remains the goto choice for American consumers when driving and by an amazingly large marginamp160 Today 84 of consumers listen to regular AMFM radio in the car with the next largest music option being CDs at 64 and Sirius XM at 22amp160 Almost 75 of all audio time spent in the car is spent listening to AMFM radio with Sirius XM next at 14 and owned music at 11amp160 All streaming is just 2When asked 82 of Americans say that the first thing they do when they get into their cars is turn on the radio A recent IPSOS study estimated that 98 of consumers want an AMFM radio with their new car purchase and an incredible 99 of consumers say theyamp8217re comfortable with how AMFM radio operates in their cars ie with buttons and knobsamp160 amp160Iamp8217m not saying that consumers donamp8217t love other options like apps because they do just not instead of radio or to the degree of radio amp160A recent JD Power survey showed that nine out of ten consumers do not use builtin auto apps regularly a year after they purchase their new car They also talked about amp8220automakers spending billions on technologies that many consumers donamp8217t useamp8221 with consumers responding that they amp8220did not find it usefulamp8221 and that it amp8220came as part of a package amp8230 I did not want itamp8221Consumers have definitely spoken and digital services are taking notice stating right up front that they want to be like radio At this yearamp8217s DASH 30 conference focusing on amp8220Radio ampamp the Connected Car A Survival Guide for Radio Broadcastersamp8221 Pandora made it a point to say that it aspires to the simplicity of AMFM radioamp160 Thereamp8217s a natural ease that comes with listening to your favorite broadcast station while driving that simply canamp8217t be matchedThereamp8217s good reason for broadcast radioamp8217s continued popularity It offers listeners the voices and personalities they know love and trust Itamp8217s the best friend sitting next to you in the car telling you everything you need to knowamp160 And at the same time itamp8217s at the intersection of the consumer trends of digital social and the connected consumer With a USA Touchpoints study finding that twothirds of radio is consumed outside of the home radio is both digital and mobile In fact itamp8217s the original mobile medium if you go back to the core definition of mobile as amp8220on the moveamp8221 and itamp8217s also always been a social medium providing listeners with the opportunity to interact with their favorite onair personalities long before the invention of social media Think about the callin phone lines which have now morphed into Twitter Facebook Instagram texting and all the other ways that DJs connect to their listeners todayamp160Today consumers have the ability to listen to their radio stations whenever and wherever they want whether itamp8217s walking down the street listening at home or riding in the ultimate mobile device the carRadio serves as a complement to your driving experience instead of a distraction Simply pushing a single button gives you immediate access to the things you care aboutamp160 News entertainment information personalities and music that you know and loveamp160 In an increasingly mobile world radio is still the anchor of the auto experienceThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

iHeartMedia: AM/FM Radio Is Still in the Driver’s Seat

Author

Publish date

Channel

Radha Subramanyam

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

More Videos:

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

iHeartMedia: AM/FM Radio Is Still in the Driver’s Seat

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Radha Subramanyam

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

Cookies