Report: Introduction of news to streaming services could threaten radio

Former Assistant Editor

Streaming services including Google Play Music and YouTube Music are gearing up to introduce news content, adding another option for consumers in an already saturated media market.

A Roy Morgan report suggests that such a move could hurt radio, with many listeners already subscribed to various streaming services in addition to their consumption of radio.

More than 5.4 million Aussies use streaming services including Spotify, Google Music and YouTube Music.

The report collates the percentage of radio listeners from each network who also use music streaming and web apps.

triple j and Nova listeners were most likely to be users of streaming services, leaving those networks with “the most to lose.”

41.6% of triple j listeners and 41.2% of Nova listeners also use streaming apps, and the report suggests that the introduction of news imminently to Google Play and YouTube Music (or Spotify in the future) could see these two networks lose out on listeners numbers.

Overall, 25.9% of radio listeners also used streaming apps.

“The announcement by Google that it will soon provide breaking news over its Google Play Music streaming service opens another front in the battle for scarce advertising and subscription dollars between traditional media companies and their newer digital competitors,” said Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine.

“The more youth oriented radio networks such as Triple J (41.6% use music streaming web/apps) and Nova (41.2%) have a far higher degree of crossover than stations which appeal to older demographics such as ABC Local Radio (21.9%).”

Comment Form

Your email address will not be published.

Recent comments (4)
Post new comment
Oh not competition!
5 Mar 2019 - 8:10 am

Guess content will be king then?? Maybe more entertaining, more engaging the audience and less themselves?

Josh Olek
5 Mar 2019 - 8:55 am

Of course it is. It ALWAYS is. Radio just needs to keep doing it better.

timo
5 Mar 2019 - 12:11 pm

Better content on radio and less selling the same competition every second song would help in the radio fight.
Radio vs streaming has been around for years.. nothing new here just another streaming option.

I’d love to see the statistics of how many people listen to the radio to win free stuff. Drives me nuts! I just want to be informed and have a good laugh. If i want to win 5 million I’ll waste my money on powerball.

D
5 Mar 2019 - 9:40 pm

Three words: live local content. Radio does that better than anyone.

Jobs

See all