In the closing of Dian Robinson's constructive argument she states, "The terrestrial radio stations that have a future will continue to be innovative with delivery, content, and revenue streams." This statement has a great deal of truth to it. However, it also states the direction that terrestrial radio is headed, no future. Without a great amount of directional change, terrestrial radio will no longer exist. The points that were made were leaning towards the decline popularity of traditional radio, with the optimism of having a future with the right ideas and positive thinking. However, other forms of listening to music are just a few steps ahead of terrestrial radio. Other forms of listening have already created innovative delivery, content, and revenue streams.
Terrestrial radio's delivery is a step behind compared to the others. I admit, I still listen to traditional radio; However, I often find myself changing through the stations trying to find a song that I want to listen to. With other forms, such as YouTube and iTunes (iPods), I get the songs I want to hear delivered to me instantly without listening to other songs in between. In addition, Pandora delivers the genre of music I want. Although, if a song comes on that I do not want to hear, I just give it a thumbs down which means it will never be played on my station again. With terrestrial radio that option is not there which makes this a step behind on their delivery. I would have to listen to someone else's "playlist" hoping that they will eventually play a song I like. I would not consider terrestrial radio an instant delivery form of listening compared to the others.
The content of terrestrial radio is lacking compared to the others. With YouTube you can subscribe to someone's channel and stream through their music which gives the exact content you want. Also, with YouTube you have the freedom to choose any song you want when you want it. With an iPod it is your personal music list with the freedom, much like YouTube, of choosing the exact song at the exact moment you want it. Also, as mentioned before, I have complete control of Pandora as to whether I like a song or not, and future songs are played based on my thumbs up or thumbs down. The content terrestrial radio gives might deliver the genre of music I like, but it will never give me the right content on demand like the others.
Building revenue is what makes terrestrial radio a successful business. Without revenue the business would be a flop. However, the other types of music listening are gaining more revenue because they are nation, and also globally, wide. With iTunes you pay for only the music you want which is always under two dollars with unlimited times of listening to the song, no commercials involved. YouTube gains revenue by showing a three to five minute advertisement before the selected video, and often can be skipped after watching for ten seconds. Pandora is completely free to listen to, but they will have about a five minute advertisement about every seven songs. In addition, Pandora also has the option of no advertisements if you pay a monthly fee. Internet streaming has already been innovative with their revenue making iTunes, YouTube, and Pandora each multi-million dollar businesses. Terrestrial radio is nowhere near these dominating companies with the amount of revenue they bring in each year.
With the dominance of Internet streaming, terrestrial radio is suffocating. Terrestrial radio will die because of these dominating companies. As internet streaming gains popularity, the terrestrial radio is being ignored. I can not vision a future for terrestrial radio because the other forms are being used each day. With the help of smartphones, internet streaming is available everywhere giving us complete access to the right music, at the right time, with a minimal fee or fewer advertisements than terrestrial radio. It is not delivering to the levels that internet streaming is, making them a "thing of the past". If terrestrial radio does not have active listeners that aren't listening to the ads being played, then the businesses will not pay the radio station to play their ads if they are not being listened to. Therefore, no revenue for the station which causes it to forfeit and go out of business which would be the death of terrestrial radio.
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