In late May, Radio-focused mobile strategy and development firm jācapps, born by longtime Detroit-based broadcasting consultant Fred Jacobs, announced it is moving “to make sure AM stations can easily get their streams on smartphones, tablets, and into cars.”
Now, the CEO of global streaming audio platform TuneIn is singing a similar tune — even after recently questioning the viability of AM radio after 101 years of serving on the kHz band.
TuneIn on Monday announced it is offering all licensed AM broadcasters in the U.S. no-cost inclusion in its TuneIn On Air service “to help extend their broadcast reach.”
As the company explains, TuneIn On Air “digitally optimizes the reach of audio content to over 30 million TuneIn users across the U.S.”
With Xperi Corp.’s DTS AutoStage offering a similar promise for radio, TuneIn shares that AM broadcasters that choose to join TuneIn On Air will also get access to TuneIn’s custom data analytics platform, Amplifier, for insights into listener engagement and preferences.
“With the accessibility of terrestrial radio on the decline, from electric vehicles without receivers to smart home systems that rely entirely on digitally streaming content, the industry is at a critical crossroads,” TuneIn says. “Accessibility of AM content also increases to over 200 connected devices that partner with TuneIn, including, but not limited to, Amazon Alexa; Google Home; Sonos and Bose speakers; all iPhones and Android-based phones; and Tesla, Fisker and VinFast electric vehicle integrations.”
That said, access to the content relies on the viability of AM radio stations as linear broadcast entities. On Monday (6/5), TuneIn CEO Richard Stern commented, “The future of AM Radio is on the top of all of our minds. TuneIn is committed to helping AM Radio thrive in the digital world. It offers such a vast and rich library of audio programming that is integral to millions of Americans’ daily lives. Offering AM broadcasters the opportunity to digitize through TuneIn On Air for free is one way we can build a brighter future together.”
That’s a slightly different tune than what Stern shared with the media on May 18, with the introduction of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. In an “initial statement,” Stern said, “AM transmission is a legacy distribution technology that is over 100 years old. Insisting that modern EVs carry AM receivers is like demanding iPhones support rotary dialing. There are more efficient technologies such as DAB and IP to deliver AM broadcasts to listeners. These new technologies point to a brighter future for the art of broadcasting and allow broadcasters to more meaningfully connect with modern audiences. I think as an industry, we have trouble decoupling the content of radio, and the vital relationship our listeners have with our content, from the nuts and bolts of distribution. AM Radio content will live on and thrive long after the last broadcast tower falls or car radio is replaced with a modern infotainment system.”
“This is not the solution to the existential challenges facing terrestrial radio distribution in the U.S. We’ve all received the wake up call. Digital investment and transformation needs to be a top priority for the industry going forward.” — Richard Stern, CEO, TuneIn
On May 23, with the news that Ford Motor Company had reversed its decision to eliminate AM radio availability in its OEM in-dash audio entertainment systems, Stern was asked for further comment by RBR+TVBR regarding the medium. He said of Ford’s move, “I think this is an affirmation of radio, and the important role it plays in the fabric of our listeners’ lives. Giving the industry more time to adapt is a good thing, but this is not the solution to the existential challenges facing terrestrial radio distribution in the U.S. We’ve all received the wake up call. Digital investment and transformation needs to be a top priority for the industry going forward.”
