Do "normal" people still have conventional radios ?

Cube98

Would secondary school & college kids nowadays have a boombox thingy in their rooms with an FM radio? Would a young 20 or 30 something couple setting up home for the first time have a conventional radio or two? The UK used to be obsessed with the Idea of switching off AM/FM radio in favour of DAB, that idea has since died off, I'd imagine because if you switched it off tomorrow an awful lot of under 40s would just Stream music Instead of replace their AM/FM radio with a DAB one.

km991148

Is say no. UK I think people still listen to the radio.. but via streaming! Hard to know, a lot more choice over there.

Most people wouldn't even buy a hi-fi or sound system, instead going for BT speaker set up.

gormdubhgorm

Cube98 wrote: »

Would secondary school & college kids nowadays have a boombox thingy in their rooms with an FM radio? Would a young 20 or 30 something couple setting up home for the first time have a conventional radio or two? The UK used to be obsessed with the Idea of switching off AM/FM radio in favour of DAB, that idea has since died off, I'd imagine because if you switched it off tomorrow an awful lot of under 40s would just Stream music Instead of replace their AM/FM radio with a DAB one.

Just to clarify 'normal people' are those under 40 and once you hit that mark you are no longer normal? :eek:

I have auld radio/cd player/mini hi-fi system from way back when I was in primary. I still use it regularly. It must be over 35 years old. Alarm timer still works on it and everything. As does the remote.

It is handy to put on rather than having to mess with phone/pc etc. All the stations I want are there and I know the order of them.

Podcasts and the likes of spotify is what I would 'listen' to on the internet. Even though I know you can listen to radio on tunein radio etc. I stick to the actual radio for that.

You are correct though. nowadays the first thought is always internet fpeople of a certain age bracket.

Thelonious Monk

I am 40 and use a radio most days that I have since the mid 90s.

Cube98

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Just to clarify 'normal people' are those under 40 and once you hit that mark you are no longer normal? :eek:

I .

Lol no, what I mean is people who don't have a very keen interest in Radio

gormdubhgorm

Cube98 wrote: »

Lol no, what I mean is people who don't have a very keen interest in Radio

I know I was messing. It was worded funny though. With spotify internet radio I can see why many would not bother with the old radio.

I wonder if people will still buy radios though because they can look nice as a object in the house. I assume you can buy nice retro looking ones digital or whatever.

EmmetSpiceland

I use a ‘Sonos Sound System’ to listen to conventional radio. Do I get more “street cred” than someone listening with an old style radio?

Creamy Goodness

I’m 35 and the only equipment I have that can receive FM/DAB is my car and it’s never used. House is smart speakers and amp for the tv.

There’s no chance many college kids and below are listening to radio these days. Why would they?

ThewhiteJesus

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I am 40 and use a radio most days that I have since the mid 90s.

ah the mid to late 90's, those were the days !

El Tarangu

I am in mid-30s and have never owned a radio; I listen to Irish radio via podcasts.

I live abroad, and would not really listen to the radio here (maybe the odd podcast). I definitely would switch on the radio in the kitchen when I'm at home just to have something on in the background, so maybe I would own one if I lived in Ireland.

Brian CivilEng

I'm 39 and I got a lot of slagging in work when I bought a new hi-fi a couple of years ago. Barely use the FM radio these days though, I used DAB more often but that will all be switched to online listening soon.

I do enjoy listening to a DJ rather than a streaming playlist, but I can't put up with ads, news bulletins or "comedy" bits anymore so FM radio is almost unlistenable.

Creamy Goodness

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

I’m 35 and the only equipment I have that can receive FM/DAB is my car and it’s never used. House is smart speakers and amp for the tv.

There’s no chance many college kids and below are listening to radio these days. Why would they?

In Ireland, certainly. The way that Radio is handled. Look at RTE Lyric FM. The montrose mandarins want to close it down, and bury it like Gay Byrne RIP

flazio

Is this another one of those "They should close down 2fm because their unchangeable demographic isn't listening anymore" threads?

km991148

km991148 wrote: »

Is say no. UK I think people still listen to the radio.. but via streaming! Hard to know, a lot more choice over there.
.

And logical, thoughtful conversation, not just Goodguys and Badguys like on RTE BOC Show.

Cube98

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

I’m 35 and the only equipment I have that can receive FM/DAB is my car and it’s never used. House is smart speakers and amp for the tv.

There’s no chance many college kids and below are listening to radio these days. Why would they?

I saw written somewhere that over 60% of listeners to Spin1038 in 2020 were over 25, that licence was set up especially for the Teen-24 market.

Creamy Goodness

[Deleted User] wrote: »

In Ireland, certainly. The way that Radio is handled. Look at RTE Lyric FM. The montrose mandarins want to close it down, and bury it like Gay Byrne RIP

It’s got nothing to do with how radio is handled. It’s dying out in favour of newer formats of content.

Music streaming and podcasts are doing what Netflix and YouTube have done for TV. “Kids these days” (lol sorry I had too), want on demand and listen when it suits them, the idea of an advertisement or tuning in at a particular time is as alien as a choke in a car for mid 30’s people. If they want content that’s on radio, they’ll get it from podcasts of radio shows but tuning in live, nah.

JimmyVik

Cube98 wrote: »

Would secondary school & college kids nowadays have a boombox thingy in their rooms with an FM radio? Would a young 20 or 30 something couple setting up home for the first time have a conventional radio or two? The UK used to be obsessed with the Idea of switching off AM/FM radio in favour of DAB, that idea has since died off, I'd imagine because if you switched it off tomorrow an awful lot of under 40s would just Stream music Instead of replace their AM/FM radio with a DAB one.

You mean a normal radio like in every car on the road in the world?

Cube98

flazio wrote: »

Is this another one of those "They should close down 2fm because their unchangeable demographic isn't listening anymore" threads?

Nobody even mentioned 2fm until you did

Thelonious Monk

BBC sounds app is great for BBC radio, and no ads.

Creamy Goodness

Cube98 wrote: »

I saw written somewhere that over 60% of listeners to Spin1038 in 2020 were over 25, that licence was set up especially for the Teen-24 market.

That’s totally smart. They moved with their audience. If they stayed teen-24 they’d be out of business by now.

Declan A Walsh

FM104, Spin103 and 98FM are gravitating around the same audience these days.

I have more than one radio in the house. Clearly, I am not normal!:)

Brian CivilEng

I counted, I have 3 AM/FM radios, 1 FM/DAB radio, 2 FM/DAB/Internet radios and 4 sonos speakers.

0lddog

Most people who use proper radios dont have time to waste in places like this.

Stratvs

1 x clock/radio next to bed. Alarm is Cork’s 96FM.
1 x radio in kitchen, first thing to be turned on in morning, and last thing to be turned off at night.
Normal or not ?

0lddog

0lddog wrote: »

Most people who use proper radios dont have time to waste in places like this.

Make and models of your radio sets please.

Hurrache

I'm over the age limit for what's deemed a normal person and don't use any conventional radios in the house. I've one left, and that's taken up residency in the attic. Haven't used one in the home in years, but still have access to radio stations in every room in the house.

wally1990

I'm 30 and don't own and never had a "normal" radio in my home

But given the current times,

I do have a Google home speaker (like Alexa) and I use that solely for the radio and odd Spotify song

radioguru02

Just because most people under the age of 25 don’t listen on a traditional FM radio, it doesn’t mean they don’t listen to radio in general.
Plenty of young people listen to podcasts and watch live streams online

PsychoPete

I'm in my 20s and I've a normal radio in the kitchen that gets turned on about 6 am and off about 10pm, I just have it on for a bit of background noise

.anon.

I'm just about 'normal' (although I turn 40 in less than a year, so I haven't got long to go). I have a pocket-sized AM/FM radio in a drawer somewhere, because it might be handy in case the electricity ever goes. Other than that, the only conventional radio I have is in the car. I listen to the radio at home a lot, but it's always through a phone/tablet and a portable Bluetooth speaker. I find the BBC Sounds app absolutely flawless.

As a teenager, I was a huge Radio 4 fan (like any normal teenager) and would go to great lengths to get a half-decent, non-whistling reception on 198 LW.

Max Headroom

Radiogram, old Bush radio converted, Marantz stack system..various clock radios, ..how old am I...:o

JayRoc

JimmyVik wrote: »

You mean a normal radio like in every car on the road in the world?

When we bought our first car a few months ago, the radio in it was the first I've owned in years.


Tbh it's infuriating to use, you have to flick through ten channels to get a moment of music. It's all ads/news/talking ****e.

Declan A Walsh

.anon. wrote: »

I'm just about 'normal' (although I turn 40 in less than a year, so I haven't got long to go). I have a pocket-sized AM/FM radio in a drawer somewhere, because it might be handy in case the electricity ever goes. Other than that, the only conventional radio I have is in the car. I listen to the radio at home a lot, but it's always through a phone/tablet and a portable Bluetooth speaker. I find the BBC Sounds app absolutely flawless.

As a teenager, I was a huge Radio 4 fan (like any normal teenager) and would go to great lengths to get a half-decent, non-whistling reception on 198 LW.

I would never have thought your average teenager would have been into Radio 4.

EmmetSpiceland

PsychoPete wrote: »

I'm in my 20s and I've a normal radio in the kitchen that gets turned on about 6 am and off about 10pm, I just have it on for a bit of background noise

RTÉ Radio 1?

PsychoPete

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

RTÉ Radio 1?

A local station, never actually sit down and listen to it but the bit of background noise is grand

Doctors room ghost

I listen to the wireless all day most days.
It does be left on in the background

fryup

i've got a radio - old style with a tuning dial, can't live without it

morning obituaries cheer me up no end

radioguru02

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

I would never have thought your average teenager would have been into Radio 4.

Guessing he meant Radio 1

JustAThought

radioguru02 wrote: »

Guessing he meant Radio 1

I doubt it.

Even radios in newer cars are a thing of the past - bluetooth speakers & docking for smartphones to stream are increasingly standard. Inane chatter on 3 day old social media ‘news’ and endless interruptions for news, weather, nuacht and traffic news in obscure counties hundreds of mikes away - the hamster is long dead - the owner can’t
tell the difference and gravity and taxpayers are still keeping the wheel turning. Otherwise -
obsolete.

Sharpyshoot

Radio one liveline is just a massive cream for presenter and listeners.

My dad always listened to the local radio station when I was growing up. He still does, every morning. I tend to do the same.

He still uses a radio regularly, whereas I would tend to only listen if I'm in the car, or if i want to hear something of interest when I'm at home (rarely) I listen using live playback on their website via my desktop.

end of the road

Cube98 wrote: »

The UK used to be obsessed with the Idea of switching off AM/FM radio in favour of DAB, that idea has since died off, I'd imagine because if you switched it off tomorrow an awful lot of under 40s would just Stream music Instead of replace their AM/FM radio with a DAB one.

the switch off of fm in the UK hasn't died out, it is still going to happen, just not yet.
AM transmitters have shut and more are being so.
digital listening is apparently over 50 % of people in the uk now, so realistically fm and am are on the decline regardless.

Jim2007

Cube98 wrote: »

Would secondary school & college kids nowadays have a boombox thingy in their rooms with an FM radio? Would a young 20 or 30 something couple setting up home for the first time have a conventional radio or two? The UK used to be obsessed with the Idea of switching off AM/FM radio in favour of DAB, that idea has since died off, I'd imagine because if you switched it off tomorrow an awful lot of under 40s would just Stream music Instead of replace their AM/FM radio with a DAB one.

No idea in Ireland, but here in Switzerland every household has two or three battery operated transistor radios, which they use two or three times a year.

In an emergency it is assumed that electricity and phones will be dead and the only way the government can attempt to communicate with the population is via radio. So it’s part of the national emergency plan and its tested a few times each year.

I used tI think this was OTT, but based on current events I’m beginning to think it might not be a bad idea after all.

Jim2007

Jim2007 wrote: »

No idea in Ireland, but here in Switzerland every household has two or three battery operated transistor radios, which they use two or three times a year.

In an emergency it is assumed that electricity and phones will be dead and the only way the government can attempt to communicate with the population is via radio. So it’s part of the national emergency plan and its tested a few times each year.

I used tI think this was OTT, but based on current events I’m beginning to think it might not be a bad idea after all.

Sounds very sensible to me, actually! It's one reason I keep my old landline, as a secondary communication device in case mobile fails, although I never use it except for an emergency.

Jim2007

Jim2007 wrote: »

No idea in Ireland, but here in Switzerland every household has two or three battery operated transistor radios, which they use two or three times a year.

In an emergency it is assumed that electricity and phones will be dead and the only way the government can attempt to communicate with the population is via radio. So it’s part of the national emergency plan and its tested a few times each year.

I used tI think this was OTT, but based on current events I’m beginning to think it might not be a bad idea after all.

Back in 1859 there was something called the Carrington event, a sun-flare that caused a major magnetic disturbance on the earth, playing havoc with telegrams and making them turn to gibberish. I wonder if we aren't overdue an event like that, which would also disrupt wifi in exactly the same way (and radio and television), and even house alarms and smart appliances.

How would we ever manage? I know a pandemic has no bearing on the probability of such an event, but now that we are all focused on emergency planning, it would be worthwhile to know how the Government has planned for other emergencies (do iodine tablets expire?)

SpitfireIV

Mid 30's, always have had a conventional radio close by for as long as I can remember. Have a regular ol' AM/FM radio in the kitchen that gets a lot of use, have a big blocky 1980's PHILIPS vinyl/radio/cassette tape jobby in the workshop that going from 9 to 5 (or beyond) and of course the car radio. I've never bothered with digital or pod casts really.

JimmyVik

Deleted User wrote: »

Sounds very sensible to me, actually! It's one reason I keep my old landline, as a secondary communication device in case mobile fails, although I never use it except for an emergency.

We had a power cut last year and no phone bacuse its FTTH and not normal phone line anymore. Very bad signal on the mobile at the house. My Dad was in hospital at the time and my mum was gong up the walls to ring him. I had to drive her up to the top of the hill so she could ring him.

km991148

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

BBC sounds app is great for BBC radio, and no ads.

The BBC iPlayer Radio app was better tho.. I wish they would RSS their podcasts and have a plain radio app, but they want to control everything (presumable for user stats and adverts in some countries) and end up delivering a worse experience.

JDxtra

Under a certain age (25?), I would imagine it's almost exclusively streaming/podcasts.

Younger adults/teens see radio as something their parents listen to in the kitchen/car.

theteal

The last kitchen radio we had "died" in the last house move about 3 years ago. I had a look at the time and was fairly insistent that a new one would need internet features. These were surprisingly expensive. We ended up getting an Amazon yoke for about £15 that has done the job admirably.

Interesting discussion on the house phone above. We don't have ours connected at present but the POTS line is still there and it's part of our telecoms bundle. I had thought of removing the cable and master socket when next painting the room (broadband is via coax and if we do change provider it'll be for FTTH). The emergency use angle is probably reason enough to keep it.

EmmetSpiceland

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Back in 1859 there was something called the Carrington event, a sun-flare that caused a major magnetic disturbance on the earth, playing havoc with telegrams and making them turn to gibberish. I wonder if we aren't overdue an event like that, which would also disrupt wifi in exactly the same way (and radio and television), and even house alarms and smart appliances.

How would we ever manage? I know a pandemic has no bearing on the probability of such an event, but now that we are all focused on emergency planning, it would be worthwhile to know how the Government has planned for other emergencies (do iodine tablets expire?)

We’re at the start of the solar cycle now, will reach its “maximum” in 5 years. I’m not sure if there’s anything governments can do to stop it.

Sky One had a show about the “fallout” from a solar flare knocking out the power. Didn’t watch it so no idea if it was any good.