- The day in 1992 when the F.C.C. allocated a spectrum in the "S" band (2.3 GHz) for development of Satellite Radio (not the day XM hired Opie & Anthony or the day SIRIUS announced Stern’s new contract).
- The day RealAudio was debuted in 1995, making streaming audio possible and ushering in the Internet Radio Age.
- The day Motorola announced iRadio and the ability to turn your cellphone into a radio
- The day, not long ago, Podcasting was conceived by Adam Curry.
Each one of these events had immediate impact on Radio because they changed the distribution model. What was once the singular domain of AM & FM radio, changed each time one of these events transpired.
The only thing more important than radio programming is who controls the programming and how it gets to the intended listeners.
These were extremely significant advances which have had - and continue to offer - serious challenges to Old Radio (AM & FM) by bringing more listening alternatives and broadcasters into the arena.
Out of these four that I’ve listed (and it’s just a quick list), if you were to ask me which was most important, I would tell you Internet Radio. Think about it: now, any 16-year-old kid can begin his own radio station and operate it month-to-month from his bedroom through Live365.com for the equivalent cost of two tickets to the movies, popcorn, and drinks.
-- And his broadcast is available globally.
The time is coming when listeners will have the choice of tuning into any Internet Radio stream no matter where they are because one day the whole country will be one wi-fi hotspot.
So, you can marvel at Stern's exodus to SIRIUS Satellite Radio but as for me, I think the power technology has given to that kid is a real paradigm shift which demands respect and is worth pondering today.
