Internet Radio Failing to Find Support?

K Fox asks: "WOXY, one of the Internet's larger radio stations, has announced that it will soon implement a monthly subscription fee, to support operations. When the Cincinnati based station went from terrestrial broadcast 97.7 to Internet only, they vowed to keep their streams free to listers. Now, they are saying that increased broadcast taxes, falling advertising revenue, and the overall uncertainty in the market (local or global?) has pushed them to change their business model. Is this a sign of things to come for the other radio stations, that broadcast over the Internet? Will digital music distribution fall solely to giants like XM and iTunes?"

Comments

Give Satellite a Chance...

[jferris]

Honestly, I tried to support Internet radio. But the pricepoint for my XM system was fairly low, and the monthly fees are very reasonable. Around Christmas, I was able to get a MyFi at a discount because I am a DirecTV subscriber. After instant rebates, $99. The only catch is a six month service commitment. But at $12.95 a month for 160 stations, including MLB and NHL, I am more than happy with it. I have a prediction about why Satellite will be bigger than anything, too. I look for XM to merge with a large nationwide cell company. This makes perfect sense for both. XM gets an investment partner with signal towers in place. XM can then have signal repeaters put on the cell towers, much like how I can pick up an incredible signal on terrestrial repeaters in Manhattan with no direct signal. The cell provider gets co-branded distribution of content. XM just signed Oprah to a contract - and like her or not, she sells.

I could just see a new "trendy" phone, like a Razr, that also acts as a satellite reciever. Give it FM broadcasting abilities, and your phone broadcasts those stations in your car or home stereo. Based upon the GPS capabilities of phones, I could see them delivering specific content to your radio, such as weather advisories, traffic conditions, etc. that are of importance to you.