
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.
Global Presence and Finding Markets
Internet radio has ceased to be limited regionally. A radio station located in one nation can have listeners located elsewhere. Connected cars and voice assistants make this global accessibility even more intensive.
Internet radio has a bigger potential audience that is expanding as more households use smart speakers and vehicles are fitted with internet connectivity. This expansion is also through emerging markets, whereby the adoption of smartphones is increasing at a rapid rate. Internet radio stations can be able to scale more efficiently and at low cost since they have minimal infrastructure as compared to traditional broadcasting towers.
The Future of Internet Radio
The connection between internet radio, voice assistants, and connected cars will be enhanced further with the combination of artificial intelligence, 5G connectivity, and smarter infotainment systems. Increasing the speed of the internet and better voice recognition will result in easier streaming and more accurate content suggestions.
With advancing technology, internet radio will further be integrated into our lives. What has started as an alternative use to traditional broadcasting is now turning into a main source of digital audio consumption.
Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs)
- What are the ways voice assistants can be used to popularize internet radios?
- Voice assistants enable one to use internet radio with the help of simple voice commands. This is an example of convenience that can be listened to with your hands free and the elimination of technical obstacles so that users can find and listen to stations with ease.
- What is the significance of connected cars to the internet radio growth?
- Connected cars are fitted with built-in internet and streaming facilities, which allow drivers to tune into international internet radio stations rather than local AM/ FM stations. Commuting is a significant listening time, thus this greatly increases the reach of the audience.
- Will internet radio substitute traditional radio?
- As the internet radio is expanding at a high rate, traditional radio remains useful in some regions and among some groups of people. Nevertheless, the rise of voice assistants and connected cars will make internet radio take a bigger portion of the total amount of audio consumed.
