I’ve been wondering about this for quite some time now. Will downloaded files finally replace radio?

I feel as broadband gains ground, there will be another phenomenon. Having the same music file in millions of different homes will not make sense. I’d rather have my selection stored with the ISP and play that on any device I have at any time! That would resolve a number of issues simultaneously. Firstly, I don’t have to spend so much time and cost managing my music library. Second, I don’t have to care about formats (Apple & the rest!). Third, the ISP can send the file to my device depending upon it’s capability in terms of format and bandwidth. And finally, nobody will have to worry about RIAA honchos landing up at their doorstep. The debates about format wars and piracy will disappear.

Of course, this requires visionaries among a number of different industries. Starting from ISPs, to content providers, to the Music and Movie industry. And I think it’s only a matter of time before these guys see sense and decide to put their heads together to give the best user experience possible.

I feel broadband combined with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), like they have in Europe will be the future and be a much more lethal combination than what we have seen till now.

BBC has already been putting their media online for some time now -
(link)

Shall we give it another, say, two years?

- abhijit.

Radio’s Death is Greatly Exaggerated says Fred, in response to this which was in response to the cover article about radio in last week’s Barron’s. Fred thinks that the next big thing in radio is HD Radio.HD Radio is the answer to the very problems tha…