Of course, sausage making was only too recently the focus of our attention on Washington, D.C. but Political Sausagery (it's pronounced Saw-sidge-er-ee) is probably uglier than Radio Sausagery and therefore Radio Sausagery is probably more acceptable as a means to an end.
Radio Sausagery
It used to be easy to define Radio: "wireless transmission by modulating electromagnetic waves using the frequencies below those of visible light." Okay, well, maybe for some that's still a bit technical but, but at least we had something to set the standard.
Today, most people think radio is all the same whether it comes in the form of AM, FM, HD, Internet, Satellite, Cell Phone, or Podcast. The lines have blurred together and what's more important to listeners is the end content, not the delivery system. Put another way: they care about the delivery system only if it delivers their content.
AM and FM have been pronounced dead too often by critics who never seem to reflect long enough on how extensive the infrastructure is for delivery. Infrastructure can carry as much weight as innovation. Satellite Radio now has 20 million subscribers. It will one day be able to survive not necessarily on innovation but partly because of infrastructure.
The Stem of Cell Growth
Almost 8 years ago (April 2003) I wrote an article for this site entitled, "Is Your Cell Phone the Future of Radio?" At the time I said, "My gut tells me your cell phone is vehicle of natural portability - and the heir to the transistor radio which revolutionized Radio’s portability in the 1960’s. The convergence of wireless technology, content and size make the cell phone the perfect host for taking your favorite sounds to the beach, a doctor’s waiting room or the park near your home."
Now the cell phone infrastructure is ubiquitous which should explain why traditional radio companies like Clear Channel Radio and CBS Radio have invested respectable resources into phone apps like "Iheartradio" and "Radio.com" which leverage their traditional radio station signals to a wider audience.
You've Come a Long Way, Buffering
Internet Radio listening has grown substantially in the past 10 years and will continue to thrive in the future. Listening to Internet Radio on a home PC and other enabled devices
