Image credit: Olena Bohovyk

As more FM radio stations stop broadcasting are we moving quickly to a future without traditional broadcast radio?

In 2017, Norway became the first country in the world to switch of FM radion stations completey. This year, Switzerland will finally complete its phasing out of FM broadcasts first announced in 2019. Now, more radio stations in the UK are ending FM broadcasts.

Nation Broadcasting have announced the end of two of their UK FM licenses in Scotland and will switch off two FM transmitters in Wales next year. They’ve told OfCom – the UK’s media regulator – that they expect their stations Nation Radio Scotland and Radio Pembrokeshire will see DAB listeners overtake FM listeners in the next licensing period.

According to OfCom, there are still 246 FM radio stations broadcasting in the UK. The UK government have protected FM services by assuring that they will continue running until at least 2030. However, the costs of running an FM station are starting to influence broadcasters over keeping their stations on the old format.

The transition to DAB at the turn of the century complicated things. It presented a new way to broadcast radio but, at least in the UK, many stuck with their old FM systems so that a quick and clean change of format didn’t happen.

But it’s not just the slow switch to DAB that’s seeing FM listeners drop off. Music streaming services have changed the way that we listen. On-demand music available anywhere has clearly taken priority for music listeners and curated playlists have helped take the place of radio’s DJs collecting what’s hot and what they want to share.

Digital streaming services are huge, but the demand for radio is still there. The IFPI revealed in last year’s global report that 17% of music consumption still came from broadcast radio – though it doesn’t distinguish if that includes DAB which might make the number much lower. Data suggests that a surpisingly generous 20% of U.S. teens still listen to AM/FM radio, shedding a more positive light on the old format’s existence.

However, it seems to be just a matter of time until DAB and streaming services take over FM radio. Nation Broadcasting cited “declining local revenues, declining audiences, and increasing costs” as their reason for shutting down their FM broadcasts.

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