By Jeff Brunken
This year’s Consumer Electronic show gave us plenty of gadgetry for the music lover. From $1000 ear buds to a home robot with the ability to serenade you while it works: there was ample ear-candy for every audiophile.
Interestingly, however; at a show firmly rooted in home and personal electronics, the proliferation of streaming audio as a component of automobile infotainment proved to be one of the most conspicuous developments. A record number of automobile manufacturers participated in this years’ CES, including Audi, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia and even Subaru (in their first CES appearance). A common theme for most of these mega-companies was the integration of streaming music into increasingly sophisticated car audio systems.
Clearly, the drivers (pun intended) for this evolution include the maturation of content providers and managers. Aha Radio, which links the content of personal user devices to in-dash systems, and is already seen in some Honda and Porsche installations, announced that it will be integrated into upcoming Ford Sync, (which also features Rhapsody Music Service), Chrysler Uconnect, and Subaru Starlink OEM systems, as well as Alpine car radios.
Chevy exhibited its new Spark and Sonic models equipped with its OEM MyLink Radio and highlighted another personal device app-linked system for streaming content-provider; TuneIn Radio. Chrysler also announced connectivity with iHeartRadio, Slacker, and Pandora.
Some debate exists about the specific origin of internet radio, but the early 1990s are generally regarded as the point where the world began to take the new platform seriously. This when the first internet radio “stations” made their appearance as well as attention-getters like the live streaming of a 1994 Rolling Stones concert. Despite challenges like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and enduring disputes over fees and royalties, internet radio continues to proliferate.
A somewhat ambiguous term; the “internet radio” label has been applied variously to a live stream from a conventional brick-and-mortar station, on-line “pirate radio,” archival sites, or the more familiar internet-only content providers.
A 2012 Pew Research Center report, “The State of the News Media 2012,“ gives insight into the growth of streaming audio:
- ” as many as 40% of Americans now listen to audio on digital devices “
- ” that [number] is projected to double by 2015 “
- ” three out of four people say they like or love satellite audio “.
And, with particular relevance to our post here:
- people using cellphones to bring audio into their cars nearly doubled from 2010 to 2011.
Internet radio brings unparalleled choice and access to the discriminating listener. And, as this year’s CES also shows us, it now brings us unprecedented mobility.
Jeff worked as a researcher & technical writer for a Fortune 500 company and has a serious gadget problem. He loves music, but was an instrumentalist long enough to know that the world is a better place if he just listens instead. Tweet at him @jbrunkn
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