When was the last time you listened to a radio station via the internet? In the last six months? Quite possibly. In the last year? More than likely. But, when was the last time you listened to an internet-only radio station? Never? I can believe that.
Which is odd, because two or three years ago internet radio, along with DAB, was touted as the future of the industry. It was a fair assumption. After all, the populace was doing everything else - including shopping, arranging dates and watching movies - over the internet. So why wouldn't they flock to the web for radio entertainment?
A couple of years ago I worked for an internet radio station, so I have something of an inside track on the subject. Despite an enormous effort by everyone involved, the station's audiences remained stubbornly low. This wasn't for the want of quality programming. We regularly featured live bands in session and well-known names presenting shows. We even had an exclusive interview and performance from Jake Bugg. So why were we attracting just a fraction of the audience we could reasonably expect had our station been available on FM?
Funnily enough, I think we can look to television for an explanation. The received wisdom states that the BBC iPlayer is an unqualified success, a technological marvel and the undeniable future of TV viewing. Within a year, we'll all be chucking our plasma screens and watching Eastenders on the laptop. But, hold on. Although the iPlayer enjoyed a 177% increase in use in 2012, at least 90% of BBC TV programming is still viewed via an aerial on the screen of a traditional set.
So, whether or not the visionaries choose to acknowledge it, it's clear old habits die hard. Even the most 'wired' among us still lean towards the TV to watch a programme as it's broadcast, rather than defaulting to a computer screen's 'catch-up' service. The same is true of radio.
Unfortunately, no matter how many web radio stations appear - and no matter how good they are - when the average Briton fancies popping the radio on, they'll reach for ... well ... a radio. And while DAB reception continues to disappoint, that means trusty old FM.
I don't mean 'trusty' ironically, by the way. As long as your radio is tuned in, a simple flick of a switch will produce a decent station with a good signal. No browsing, no buffering, no clicking, no hanging - all of which can and does, apply to internet radio. It's no surprise that almost every web station of substance is in the process of applying for an FM licence.
Also consider the environment in which an enormous chunk of British radio listening is conducted: the car. Despite manufacturers' boasts, in-car DAB is generally a hopeless affair, and web radio in a vehicle is an impossibility because of the insufferable patchiness of wi-fi coverage. Which leaves the driver with FM and its unbeatable reliability.
There's also the issue of bulk. Because almost anybody can start broadcasting via the internet in a few minutes, there is an inevitable plethora of internet broadcasts taking place at any given time. Consequently, the task of filtering the extraordinary amount of rubbish to find a station meeting your requirements is simply too much hassle to be worthwhile.
Interestingly, all this stands in direct contrast with the rise and rise of the podcast. Arguably spearheaded by Ricky Gervais, podcasts are a firm and burgeoning feature of internet use. The Rocking Vicar podcast draws more listeners than a Rocking Vicar internet radio station ever would. Why? Because it's convenient. It can be streamed on demand, or taken away and consumed on any number of devices. It's compact and handy - whereas a web radio station is demanding and unwieldy. What's more, unlike radio, podcasts were designed for the web.
This situation may well change in time. Perhaps HM Government will realise guaranteed, super-fast, national wi-fi is an essential investment, and all those internet stations will be available everywhere. Or maybe our smart-phones will evolve to the point where there is little difference between radios, TVs, laptops, tablets and phones, putting every broadcaster on a level playing field.
All this is possible, even probable - but, for now, most internet radio stations must reconcile themselves to playing in the third division of broadcasting.
Which is odd, because two or three years ago internet radio, along with DAB, was touted as the future of the industry. It was a fair assumption. After all, the populace was doing everything else - including shopping, arranging dates and watching movies - over the internet. So why wouldn't they flock to the web for radio entertainment?
The reasons are complex and the complete answer somewhat elusive. However, it's still true that internet radio remains a very niche media product - and in the UK, nobody has managed to make it popular, let alone profitable.
A couple of years ago I worked for an internet radio station, so I have something of an inside track on the subject. Despite an enormous effort by everyone involved, the station's audiences remained stubbornly low. This wasn't for the want of quality programming. We regularly featured live bands in session and well-known names presenting shows. We even had an exclusive interview and performance from Jake Bugg. So why were we attracting just a fraction of the audience we could reasonably expect had our station been available on FM?
Funnily enough, I think we can look to television for an explanation. The received wisdom states that the BBC iPlayer is an unqualified success, a technological marvel and the undeniable future of TV viewing. Within a year, we'll all be chucking our plasma screens and watching Eastenders on the laptop. But, hold on. Although the iPlayer enjoyed a 177% increase in use in 2012, at least 90% of BBC TV programming is still viewed via an aerial on the screen of a traditional set.
So, whether or not the visionaries choose to acknowledge it, it's clear old habits die hard. Even the most 'wired' among us still lean towards the TV to watch a programme as it's broadcast, rather than defaulting to a computer screen's 'catch-up' service. The same is true of radio.
Unfortunately, no matter how many web radio stations appear - and no matter how good they are - when the average Briton fancies popping the radio on, they'll reach for ... well ... a radio. And while DAB reception continues to disappoint, that means trusty old FM.
I don't mean 'trusty' ironically, by the way. As long as your radio is tuned in, a simple flick of a switch will produce a decent station with a good signal. No browsing, no buffering, no clicking, no hanging - all of which can and does, apply to internet radio. It's no surprise that almost every web station of substance is in the process of applying for an FM licence.
Also consider the environment in which an enormous chunk of British radio listening is conducted: the car. Despite manufacturers' boasts, in-car DAB is generally a hopeless affair, and web radio in a vehicle is an impossibility because of the insufferable patchiness of wi-fi coverage. Which leaves the driver with FM and its unbeatable reliability.
There's also the issue of bulk. Because almost anybody can start broadcasting via the internet in a few minutes, there is an inevitable plethora of internet broadcasts taking place at any given time. Consequently, the task of filtering the extraordinary amount of rubbish to find a station meeting your requirements is simply too much hassle to be worthwhile.
Interestingly, all this stands in direct contrast with the rise and rise of the podcast. Arguably spearheaded by Ricky Gervais, podcasts are a firm and burgeoning feature of internet use. The Rocking Vicar podcast draws more listeners than a Rocking Vicar internet radio station ever would. Why? Because it's convenient. It can be streamed on demand, or taken away and consumed on any number of devices. It's compact and handy - whereas a web radio station is demanding and unwieldy. What's more, unlike radio, podcasts were designed for the web.
This situation may well change in time. Perhaps HM Government will realise guaranteed, super-fast, national wi-fi is an essential investment, and all those internet stations will be available everywhere. Or maybe our smart-phones will evolve to the point where there is little difference between radios, TVs, laptops, tablets and phones, putting every broadcaster on a level playing field.
All this is possible, even probable - but, for now, most internet radio stations must reconcile themselves to playing in the third division of broadcasting.
