Can you imagine a life without FM radio? The answer may very well have to be a yes.

There is a silent, albeit digital, revolution underway that could relegate FM to a relic of history. Something we never believed we would ever say. But that very well may be the future.

The Curse Of The Analogue

We need to accept one fact: the world is getting more and more digitized as the new millennium rolls on. (And so are our lives). Radio, too, is beginning to feel the pressure.

The inspiration for this blog came from an article we read in the Daily Mail. It stated that Norway will turn off its analogue FM service in January 2017 (The first nation to do so): No more music streaming through the air waves in the Icelandic nation. Why? Because of the rising popularity of digital stations, and the rising costs of maintaining the analogue ones (Norway will save $17 million annually after the switch).

Who Is Next

You may think why something that happens in a cold, remote nation should have the analogue folks shiver in their pants. The fact is that the ripples of digitization is now spreading around the world. The UK could be the next in line. Ed Vazily, the Culture Minster, recently stated that “The future of radio is digital.”

He has a point. Statistics reveal that 37.9% of all listening hours in the UK is dedicated to digital radio.

 

The Good

Digital radio can (and does) offer listeners premium sound quality, and a selection of multiple radio channels that reflect a greater variety and plurality in radio content. Imagine switching from a modern alternative station to a station that plays 70s French music. With just a click or a tap.

The Future

Tuning in to the FM is like an old habit. It is comforting and probably puts a smile on our face. It is here to stay for now.

The future, however, may be digital.

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