“Is Music Radio Dead?” The Answer is “Yes” but “Not Really!”

The question really is not: “Is Music Radio Dead?” Because, the answer is obviously: “Yes” but, “No ... Not Really!”

It does have an appearance of being dead, mainly because the doctors who are working on the patient have ‘No Experience’ in detecting the ‘LIFE’ in the body, or in knowing how to ‘Revive’ the patient lying on the table.

It really is as simple as that! However, it makes no matter where you are listening to radio from ... or from what city, state or country … in the world you happen to be ... for; in this day and age, radio has fallen to the wayside 'Corporate Emergency Rooms' for 'Control' ... not to save the patient, but all in the name of making more money, and simply put: GREED.

But American RADIO stations from the past, aside from the old British Pirate Radio Stations were the ones who were the ‘Masters’ of knowing what was GOOD and how GREAT radio felt when you had the HEART of an audience in your hand!

And now it is not controlling an audience from the 'Tried and True' method, but though 'Dictating a Play list' because 'Corporate Radio' controls the 'Purse Strings' ... and the method of; 'Courting an Audience' and wooing them with the finesse of a great music library, and the experience of professionals who can 'Put it together' for the sake of a grateful listening audience ... is an art form ... lying almost lifeless on the gurney. At least back then, when it was something you could feel ... it made for more exciting memories ... instead of the 'Bland Presentation of Music' with no feelings.

If the business model of a new emerging ‘Cultural Mainstream’ is willing to embrace a ‘Concept’ long forgotten, and to expound upon it, while loosening the reins of the restrictive play lists and adding back into the equation; the Freedom of personality 'Behind the Mic' - it will lead to the 'Spark' that was the 'Golden Age' of radio long forgotten.

It’s not just local radio that is struggling to find it’s feet in a emerging audio media - it is also becoming harder for national radio. This is, by the way, seen from a 'Global Point of View' and not just from an American view.

You can almost believe at least for the non stop music stations ... they will be out of business within the next 10 years, if that long. Online streaming media will take over the music entertainment market ... because an audience is wanting 'That Something More' in reliving of revisiting the past ... today.

When you depend on the latest technology to ‘Drive’ a medium that was once traditionally governed by radio personalities, and forsaking the "art of communication" for a barren environment devoid of any ‘Feeling’ or viable content; is it any wonder the people as an audience are going elsewhere for their entertainment, much less ‘their’ news and information?

The new stations that will survive will be able to deliver not only a 'Wide Range' of music and content, but able to offer and make the connection with the audience through the 'Expertise' of that professional personality who can 'Blend' all of those elements into 'One Dynamic' program.

From a radio personality's knowledge of the music they are playing, to reports and features from radio journalist to the 'Interconnectivity' with an audience through the 'Social Networking' provides something that every radio stations should have plenty of ... but, the personality has to 'Have the Spark' and that 'Mojo.'

The talent in radio stations across the country is there, but now it’s up to the local stations to position themselves for the radio future. Yet, here's the problem again ... money. They don't have the 'Economic Resources' to hire those 'Professionally talented Radio Personalities' so, they have to 'Strike a Deal' to meet the happy medium ... if they want to be in the business for their local audience. The same holds true for those radio personalities.

The future “Radio Experience” will be a lot different in the future, and it’s where we are headed, only we have to be 'Smarter' than allowing ourselves to be 'Fenced In' from a business stand point or from a talents point of view. It is a very fine line.

The new distribution method of radio will migrate to new hardware devices; television sets, tablets, smart phones, fridges and anything else that is connected to the Internet. And this will require radio formats - from mainly the ‘Flow of Media’ to a ‘Push & Pull Media.’

Without a doubt … the ‘New Cultural Mainstream' will have to ... and need to be interactive. The listener will expect to be able to get more information when they want it and need it. They will want to follow a link, see a picture, or even interact with the radio program from their mobile device. They will want and need this ... from not only a local level but also on a national and more growing international level.

This concept will require a number of technical and work flow changes in the new companies providing the content on all levels, but the advantages will be that; the radio station will be visible on multiple platforms. And the combination will be naturally … more exposure whereas the talent will be the basis for new business models for radio stations.

It's what JST KLSX - http://www.RockandRollHeaven.net is all about. When I get those economic resources so I can put those talented resources into play ... LOOK OUT!