Radio

Now THIS is the kind of radio I want to see in my car’s dashboard!

Last Thursdays, radio types from across Ontario gathered in Toronto for the annual Ontario Association of Broadcasters Convention. It’s an annual get-together to discuss all things happening in the industry and how to deal with the technology that shaping media consumption.

First up was the always-fascinating Brisbane-based radio futurologist James Cridland. He travels the world scouring the broadcast and tech industries for the coolest innovations by radio groups (You should subscribe to his newsletter. Seriously.)

His presentation was loaded with interesting stuff, but the thing that got the most attention was the new beta of Radioplayer’s software, which may end up powering a lot of (or at least a portion of) your next car’s infotainment system. This is what a car radio may–should!–look like going forward. (I have a feeling Blackberry’s QNX division will have something to say about that, but never mind.)

What started as a desktop application and a smartphone app is growing into a powerful piece of software for auto infotainment systems. The consortium behind Radioplayer–a non-profit industry group where all monies earned are plowed back into R&D–is working hard to have this software come standard in new vehicles.

I, for one, am all for this. Check out the latest iteration.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38025 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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