The last ten years have seen a tremendous transformation in the way people listen to audio content. Listeners do not have traditional AM/FM radio as the only option that they can use on the go. Internet radio has new strong avenues of connecting with people wherever they are, at any time, with the growth of voice assistants and connected cars. Such technologies are not only making the processes more convenient, but they are also changing the way listeners learn about and are able to interact with digital radio platforms.
The Emergence of Voice Assistants in Day-to-Day Life
Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri have become normal things found at home, on our phones, and even on wearable devices. It can also allow users to listen to thousands of internet radio stations all over the world with only a few words spoken to the computer, like, “Play my favourite radio station.”
This is one of the primary reasons that internet radio has been used more since people have this hands-free convenience. Internet radio stations can be broadcast on a global basis as opposed to traditional radio, which has a geographic scope of the signal. Voice assistants are able to help one avoid searching through apps manually, thus making the access quicker and more natural.
Connected Cars: Game-Changer of In-Car Audio
Digital transformation has been adopted by the automotive industry, and connected cars are currently fitted with built-in internet facilities and infotainment systems. Applications such as Apple CarPlay, Android auto, and vehicle-specific systems enable drivers to play internet radio on dashboards.
In the past, AM/FM was the leading car listening platform. Nevertheless, connected vehicles have created the opportunity for streaming services and the use of radio stations with internet connections. Global content has also enabled drivers and passengers to access content as opposed to local stations.
Better Personalization and Discoverability
Personalization is one of the strongest points of voice assistants and connected cars. These technologies gather the preferences and listening behaviour of the user to offer custom suggestions.
As an example, a voice assistant may recommend a news station in the morning on weekdays or recommend a jazz channel in the evening based on the previous listening behavior. Connected car systems are also able to adjust to the user profiles so that preferences can be followed across devices.
