Australian Ad’ publication Mi3 recently reported that radio stations in Australia have expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of smart speakers in Australian homes, suggesting that global tech companies are becoming gatekeepers of audio choices, potentially shutting out local radio. "Smart speakers are becoming more common in Australian homes, and we are concerned this is creating a situation where global tech companies are the gatekeepers of our audio choices, shutting out local radio."

The representatives also highlight the issue of new cars coming with connected dashboards featuring Google, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, but with no guaranteed easy access to local radio. "Equally as concerning is that very soon all new cars will come with a connected dashboard, with Google, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music - but there is no guarantee they will have easy access to local radio."

In a joint statement radio industry bosses are also urging the Government to commence immediate consultation on radio prominence in cars.

"It is essential to both the radio industry and communities that regulations are introduced to ensure free, easy, and reliable access to local radio for all Australians - whether they are listening to smart speakers or in connected cars," the joint statement reads.

The statement emphasises the importance of radio for community safety and the sustainability of the Australian radio industry. "This is a matter of both community safety and the sustainability of the Australian radio industry."

The representatives are calling on the government to act now to ensure radio is not left behind, so they can continue to provide an essential service to communities across Australia. "We are calling on the government to act now to ensure radio is not left behind, so we can continue to provide an essential service to communities across Australia."

We asked if this is a problem in NZ ?

Alistair Jamison, CEO of the Radio Broadcasters Association responded to say…...

“Must carry or prominence legislation is a live topic in a few markets around the world at present and whilst Connected TV’s and video content have been the initial trigger, this has now started to stretch to other smart devices and cars.

Much like Australia, we are also concerned that access to local radio content is ensured on all devices, cars included, from both an importance of local voices and stories and also a public safety point of view.  There are well documented cases of people in Hawkes Bay and Gisborne only receiving critical announcements around Cyclone Gabrielle via their car radios given they had no power and no internet.

It is our expectation that the current Broadcasting Act, which was written pre-internet and is no longer fit for purpose, will be updated or modernised across 2024 and ensuring that must carry legislation is included in the updated act will be high on the agenda for the Radio Broadcasters Association.

Radio remains a very large part of the NZ media landscape with weekly reach now exceeding TV and time spent listening stable at over 2 hours a day. We think Kiwis will continue to want great radio and audio content and its crucial that someone like Amazon is not gate keeping ease of access to that content.” 

Commentary by - Alistair Jamison, CEO of the Radio Broadcasters Association

Source: Marketing Association, 13 May 2024