From Audio/Video Revolution by Jerry Del Colliano: "The more I listen to satellite radio, the more it sounds like terrestrial radio…

"In the early days of satellite radio, the media had vast amounts of channels that allowed a listener to get much more specific with what he or she wanted to jam to.

"While there are still many times more programming choices on both XM and Sirius compared to terrestrial radio, there is also now the same kind of mindless chatter, blabbering, goofy anecdotes and even commercials on a growing number of satellite radio stations…

Terrestrial radio can't fix their programming
"Satellite radio needs to not fear terrestrial radio. The 'Jack' format is the best example of the radio industry's inability to come up with a new format that will be successful long-term. Industry insiders know this. Can you say, 'Jammin' Oldies'?

"What's Jammin' Oldies? Not too long ago, it was another radio industry attempt at reinventing the oldies station. It failed. Now 'Jack' is apparently the best terrestrial radio has come up with since consolidation started in 1996. It's same-old, same-old. Sweeps, promos, attitude, no jocks, arrogance ('We play what we want')...

"And even though the format is aimed at Generation X, don't look now, but the college campuses show masses of the next generation who can't stomach 'Jack,' let alone terrestrial radio...

Traditional radio should be scared of WiFi
"Major cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco are making a major push to get WiFi access for their entire areas. This will be a creative and powerful move that will make the Internet, email and streaming audio available to the masses at little to no cost...

"One way it empowers people is to allow them to use handheld and car audio devices to receive Internet radio. If you haven't checked it out lately, Internet radio is getting better and better in terms of programming. It truly is the ultimate in niche broadcasting.

"Make no mistake, it has a long way to go in terms of professionalism and audio production to meet the standards set by the terrestrial and satellite guys, but for free (or a few dollars per month subscription), Internet radio is a powerful new media that can additionally fragment the already splintered radio market.
 

"It is likely that the satellite radio providers will migrate over to WiFi at some point in the future. However, if one was trying to build the next radio empire like Clear Channel and Infinity, the best potential is on Internet radio. It speaks to the lost Gen Y audience in ways traditional radioand satellite radio don't and likely never will.

Here is the New World Order of Radio
"So, as the Summer of 2005 draws to an end, here is the New World Order of Radio.

• Terrestrial radio is on the skids — an imitation of itself, choked by the debt owners carry in a world that offers new options to new kinds of listeners. Void of leaders who understand the next generation.
  
   
• Satellite radio appears to have missed its best opportunity to make a good first impression. It has become 'radio-lite' — no commercials on music stations, and little to no innovation in programming. Worse, satellite radio sounds more like terrestrial radio every day.
  
   
• Internet radio is the grassroots unpolished answer to entertainment freedom for a new generation. It's free or almost free. It's devoid of arrogance or corporate panache. All it needs is WiFi or WiMax to make it on-demand on the go.
  
   
• And Apple's iPod — what can we say? It took a computer company to do what broadcasters should have and could have done if they had understood the end user the way Steve Jobs does.

"Satellite is becoming terrestrial radio, but both risk becoming further irrelevant to the coming generation."

Read the full piece by Jerry Del Colliano in Audio/Video Revolution here.