Is Apple global live radio a threat to local radio?

MelbourneDub

By a threat to local radio, I really mean a threat to people who might be listening to Spin/Beat online etc... And as it comes as standard with the iOS update, no user action is required to get it.

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I notice Apple live radio started today and from first impressions it sounds like a U.S version of BBC Radio 1.

Lots of Celb info and insider connections seem to give it a sound that already seems established even though it's only the first day of broadcast.

Few advertisements apart from a quick sponser name announcement every few tracks. Maybe this will change with time.

Imaging sounds similar to BBC Radio 1 and presenters sound pretty comfortable already.

the_syco

MelbourneDub wrote: »

I notice Apple live radio started today and from first impressions it sounds like a U.S version of BBC Radio 1.

No. There's already several thousand stations online that people can listen to. Unless you can get it on AM or FM, it won't be in competition with the stations that are.

MelbourneDub

the_syco wrote: »

No. There's already several thousand stations online that people can listen to. Unless you can get it on AM or FM, it won't be in competition with the stations that are.

Yes but few with the power of Apple behind them and pre-installed on every phone they sell.

the_syco

MelbourneDub wrote: »

Yes but few with the power of Apple behind them and pre-installed on every phone they sell.

In a few places that has decent 3g or 4g connections, and a contract with a data allowance that doesn't crucify you? Maybe. I'd hope Apple gives an option for an upper or lower rate, for varied connection strengths.

serfboard

the_syco wrote: »

In a few places that has decent 3g or 4g connections, and a contract with a data allowance that doesn't crucify you? Maybe. I'd hope Apple gives an option for an upper or lower rate, for varied connection strengths.

Well, people spend most of their lives either at home, where they (mostly) have WiFi, and at work, where they sometimes do, depending on the job.

andyman

The way I look at it, people listen to the likes of Beat/Spin/iRadio because they can relate to them as well as enjoy the music. These stations are mostly run by people from the areas with local talent on them. I can't see Apple providing the same standard.

Would people rather listen to Fully Charged/Beat Breakfast or Apple? Easy choice for me.

hullaballoo

Bring back Ryan and Tracey!!!

Seriously, though, I am not saying that Irish radio is at the broadcasting zenith but it's not as bad as people tend to make out. I presume a lot of people are sick of the repeated playlists and maybe even the lack of original format ideas but it's the same pretty much everywhere. Try Portuguese or Spanish radio, same thing every bloody day. Even fewer songs to listen to than we have here. It's serious aural assault.

The trouble is that many people here use BBC as a comparator. It's one of the best broadcasting bodies across multiple media in the world, by any standards. My own view is that it is the very best, though again, that's going to be subjective.

As above, though, it's sometimes just nice to listen to local radio stations to hear things that are happening locally and where general societal and cultural issues are tackled.

andyman

hullaballoo wrote: »

Bring back Ryan and Tracey!!!

Seriously, though, I am not saying that Irish radio is at the broadcasting zenith but it's not as bad as people tend to make out. I presume a lot of people are sick of the repeated playlists and maybe even the lack of original format ideas but it's the same pretty much everywhere. Try Portuguese or Spanish radio, same thing every bloody day. Even fewer songs to listen to than we have here. It's serious aural assault.

The trouble is that many people here use BBC as a comparator. It's one of the best broadcasting bodies across multiple media in the world, by any standards. My own view is that it is the very best, though again, that's going to be subjective.

As above, though, it's sometimes just nice to listen to local radio stations to hear things that are happening locally and where general societal and cultural issues are tackled.

Oh absolutely, I'm not saying Beat or Spin are the highest echelon of broadcasting, but they have their audience, and a very loyal audience at that and it shows in the JNLRs.

They have very little to worry about, in my opinion.

Harry Palmr

Apple is just a generic branded stream of music from "somewhere else" and poses little threat to local radio.

Steve King

Listening in here for the first time and they've gone from a Billy Joel track to a fairly heavy new Rock song, it was the last song of one presenter's show and the first of another but still a pretty strange segue.

I cant see the likes of Spin losing any sleep over this unless it goes full CHR and with Zane Lowe looking after things the chances of that are zero.

Has anyone got a full schedule for the presenters? All Ive found online is;

Beats 1 is hosted by Zane Lowe out of Los Angeles, Ebro Darden out of New York City and Julie Adenuga in London

squonk

Maybe I'm not quite the demographic but Zane Lowe so far can be hit or miss. The tracks are all over the place which is OK but the shouting over tracks becomes a bit annoying. Also the incessant "Beats Always On" promos get annoying. What's worse, with all the shouting he does do, it can be hard at times to actually figure out who he has just played. I think Beats 1 has it's place but it's a bit generic and very focused on shilling new music. Sure there's the odd oldie thrown in for good emasure but it's nice tosmetimes to listen to the old reliables. Also, the station is high octane, in your face all the time, which is great during the day but not so much late night or first thing in the morning!