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Radio In The Digital Age: My Prediction For The Next 5 Years

Author Sammi Reeves
Radio has transformed in many ways over the last century, but what will it look like in the next 5 years? This is my prediction.

Radio has remained a powerful media medium for more than a century. It’s become our trusty companion on our commutes, our friendly pal during chores, and, quite simply, our background noise throughout life. But it’s no secret that radio has faced challenges in the digital age. Is it all doom and gloom for our age-old medium and 102.7 VGS? Not a chance.

The Rise Of Niche Radio

It’s apparent that several music consumers have turned to digital apps and offerings. I mean, after all, streaming services offer a vast library of music. But let’s face the facts – listeners crave curation and a sense of community. Radio stations with a hyper-focused format, catering to specific genres, specific hobbies, and specific demographics, remain strong and continually gain traction. I predict this traction will continue to grow, as niche formats know their audience and will continue to cater to them.

National stations may struggle because they just don’t have that connection to the specific communities that the station is broadcasting in. But I think local stations who connect with their community will thrive. There is so much that local stations offer – local news coverage, interviews with interesting people in the community, local events, and so much more. It’s the fact that local stations are able to connect with the community in these ways that ensures that this sense of connection will remain strong, even with all of the digital influence around.

Radio Redefined

The radio of today has already spread its wings and is no longer confined to the AM/FM dial. The media format has made a (somewhat) seamless integration into using smart speakers, voice assistants, mobile apps, and connected cars to stretch the listener experience beyond the dial. You can even stream stations from websites, such as radio.com. Consumption has already become extremely convenient, and I believe radio will only continue to become more and more accessible as technology continues to develop.

While the medium has vastly changed over the course of it’s lifetime, radio is still very much alive, and it’s not going anywhere. The industry will continue to adapt and innovate to survive in the digital age, and your favorite station (102.7 VGS) is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Sammi Reeves is the afternoon show host on 102.7 VGS. Before her radio career, she worked several jobs in the media industry, specifically involving social media and media buying. As a content creator for 102.7 VGS, Sammi writes Las Vegas content centered around local restaurants, events, and need-to-know news.

These Songs Turn 5 in 2024

It is quite baffling that 2019 was five years ago! Time really does fly by, and it seems like it wasn’t that long ago that these pop songs dropped. Billie Eilish’s debut studio album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? released in March of that year, with her gorgeous vocals shining on tracks like “bury a friend,” “ilomilo,” and “i love you.” That same year, Lizzo’s third album, Cuz I Love You, was released the following month. She took radio waves by storm with bangers like “Truth Hurts,” “Tempo,” and “Juice.” Taylor Swift also released new music in 2019 with her seventh studio album, Lover. It was the singer-songwriter’s first album after her departure from Big Machine Records. The album featured such tracks as “Cruel Summer,” “Lover,” and “The Archer.” According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, it was the global best-selling studio album of 2019, with sales of 3.2 million copies.

New Perspectives and Artists

Ariana Grande’s fifth studio album, thank u, next, was released six months after her fourth studio album Sweetener. It was Grande’s most personal album recorded up to this point in her career, following the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and the end of her engagement to Pete Davidson. Songs like “thank u, next,” “fake smile,” and “7 rings” reflect on the artist’s personal flaws, grief and denial, as well as independence and self-empowerment. A newcomer to the pop music scene this year was Lil Nas X, who had major success the year prior with his collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus on “Old Town Road.” His EP, 7, featured the award-winning track and the remixed version. The song went 17 times platinum in the US alone, and the music video has over 1.2 billion views on YouTube.

Take a look below at five songs that turn five in 2024:

  • 'bury a friend' -- Billie Eilish

    We love this synth-pop track, with dark and violent lyrics Eilish sings so well from the perspective of a monster under someone’s bed. She said, “Anything could be the monster — it could be someone you love so much that it’s taking over your life. I think love and terror and hatred are all the same thing.” And yeah, we know “bad guy” is on that album and yes, that’s a classic too. Don’t come at us! We just love “bury a friend.” 

  • 'Old Town Road' -- Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus

    Besides Lil Nas X’s 2021 track, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” all his versions of “Old Town Road” continue to have classic status. The song initially gained popularity on TikTok and later that year, was certified diamond by the RIAA for selling ten million units in the US, making it the fastest song to be certified diamond.

  • 'Lover' -- Taylor Swift

    The title track is so timeless and it will surely be played at weddings for years to come. Swift said while recording, she imagined the production to sound like “just the last two people on a dance floor at 3 a.m. swaying.” The music video is just as romantic, but with a playful idea of Swift and her lover living the ups and downs of their life within a dollhouse.

  • 'break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored' -- Ariana Grande

    In this iconic pop R&B track, Ariana sees a guy at a club and is attracted to him, only to realize that he has a girlfriend who looks just like her — high ponytail and all. By lingering as a third wheel to the couple, he keeps looking back at Ariana. But by the end, she pushes him away and goes for his girlfriend. The video’s climax was seen as “queerbating” by some, but her choosing her lookalike insinuates she would rather love herself.

  • 'Juice' -- Lizzo

    Lizzo’s funky pop song was the lead single from Cuz I Love You. The self-esteem empowering track has an equally fun and empowering music video showcasing Lizzo’s self-love. In the video, the singer takes part in an ’80s-style workout program, late-night talk show, and selling products on an infomercial.

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Author Sammi Reeves
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