A Once Monopolized Industry

According to the article, Only half the story: Radio drama, online audio and transmedia storytelling, Lance Dann details the dominance that BBC had on radio and audio based communications in the late 20^th and early 21st century. It details an industry of obedience as writers followed strict guidelines, in an attempt to appeal to volume of listeners. Today, we see increased creativity for writers and producers as a result of the deconstruction of a once dominated market segment of the media industry. “The development of online applications such as iTunes, iLike or Soundcloud offers producers and writers the opportunity to upload audio, with few restrictions, that can then be downloaded by users who pay either a minimal charge or nothing” (Dann 143)

        

Beyond the radio, Soundcloud is an example of an online audio streaming site that offers a vast variety of audio messages for consumers to freely listen to. In recent years, this has significantly benefited local and smaller broadcasters who have been blocked out of the industry due to the previous regulations and financial barriers in a market in which the BBC monopolized. Specifically, in the music industry, artists have been given the opportunity to publish songs with no cost, allowing them to gain an audience which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. Furthermore, “The audience to a downloaded audio piece have the freedom to choose when and where to listen” (146). Consumers can continually listen to online media through Soundcloud on-the-go. This free medium allows artists such as Hibell Music (https://soundcloud.com/hibell) to reach the large global audio market.  

        

The recent collapse of a dominated audio media industry has enabled industries such as Soundcloud to grow. Reduced legislation and restrictions have enabled artists such as Hibell Music to flourish and gain in popularity. Audio messages have become more creative, and have expanded into music and online podcast markets. Without these mediums, Hibell music wouldn’t have had the opportunity to rapidly gain popularity, as previously the BBC controlled the majority of radio and on-the-go streaming; especially in the United Kingdom.

      

Soundcloud has also captivated the attention of radio station and podcast producers. Soundcloud is now home to vast amounts of different radio stations, some musical, while others being talk shows. A radio station that has gained popularity in the electronic dance music genre is “Hardwell on Air”. Through the use of Soundcloud, YouTube, and his podcasts on iTunes, he has been able to access the global EDM fan base, enabling him to become a world renowned DJ. With no visual communication, except an appealing cover, Hardwell attempts to broadcast the latest dance music from across the world to compatible music lovers.

        

As a result of the now expansive new mediums for broadcasting and streaming audio messages, more producers have been able to express their creativity to the world. This has, in turn, opened up a once monopolized online audio and radio drama industry. Hibell Music, can now perhaps gain the popularity that Hardwell has as a result of the reduced barriers to entry in the radio and music industry. More audio content is surely better.