The Information SuperHighway Goes To The Highway

Traditional radio has been with us forever it seems. I confess that I do listen to talk radio occasionally while mobile. You know, the NPR type of programming usually offered on AM radio. Remember AM radio?

I think that radio as we know it is definitely going to go streaming in the car. I know, it’s not quite ready for primetime yet of course. But I do believe that it’s going to happen much sooner than you think. Maybe next week. Why, because of options. Especially the number and variety of channels. Not to mention the superb quality.

Take the website Grooveshark for instance. If you’ve got wi-fi you’ve got beats. Ditto.

Imagine your audio streaming online in the car. This became a reality in 2009 with Blaupunkt teaming up with miRoamer.

And now you’ve got Pioneer getting in on the action. Pioneer has struck a deal with Pandora (Jan 7, 2010, WSJ).

Pandora is joining forces of all kinds to promote the new kid in town – Web Radio. And make no mistake, Internet Radio is going to be the future of radio.

Internet Radio is gaining in popularity. In 2003, revenue from online streaming music radio was US $49 million. By 2006, that figure rose to US $500 million.

A February 21, 2007 “survey of 3,000 Americans released by consultancy Bridge Ratings & Research” found that “[a]s much as 19% of U.S. consumers 12 and older listen to Web-based radio stations.” There were at least 57 million listeners that listened to Internet Radio on a weekly basis. More people listen to online radio than any other kind.

New technology will also allow us to take our iPods and iPhones in the car, and plug them in while we drive. In-dash car stereos will provide us with technology never heard of before. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that these functions could be integrated.

Imagine that! A box that could do it all – phone, GPS, stereo, TV, and probably even talk to us. I do believe that day is fast approaching. This could mean worldwide communication that is mobile and digital. Voice control activation is already an option.

It is quite plausible that Internet Radio could take over broadcast radio within the next 5 to 10 years. And soon enough all cars will be internet ready. According to iSuppli, an estimated 55 million global consumers will have internet access in their cars by 2016.