class="post-template-default single single-post postid-364 single-format-standard wp-embed-responsive layout-default">
My Journal

Radio in The Time of Digital: Defiance and Transformation

Radio in The Time of Digital: Defiance and Transformation

Radio has a long history in Indonesia. Beginning in 1925, in the colonial era, the first radio broadcast titled Batavise Radio Vereniging (BRV). then came local stations owned by Indonesians which became the forerunners of unifying Indonesian youth.

In 1945, with the help of radio, the reading of the Proclamation Text was distributed throughout Indonesia, even the world. What about radio today? With the internet as the new media, is it replacing the radio as a mass media? The answer is not necessarily.

Based on a survey conducted by Nielsen Indonesia in 2016, radio penetration in Indonesia reached 38% or around 20 million people. Even though they lost to the internet (40%) and television (96%), interestingly. The listeners were actually predominantly the younger generation.

Digital Disruption?

However, it cannot be denied, that there is indeed a decrease in the number of radio listeners. According to Diera Fajriah Larasati (a Radio Announcer at Indika FM) around 2016 – 2017 in Jakarta, the radio was not even taken into account by brands as a marketing medium.

Read more: Plastic Effect on Environment

Nowadays, many advertisers are more interested in working with Instagram celebrities, or YouTube influencers. There are have a large number of followers, likes, or comments will be advertised. Sabrina Herawati (a News Traffic Announcer/Creative Officer at Indika FM) said that 2017 was the lowest point of radio when many stations died because of this.

Besides influencers, another challenge comes from paid streaming services like Spotify, Joox, Apple Music, and so on. Diera explained the flexibility in choosing songs to listen, to makes millennials prefer such services.

There used to be millions of people interacting by phone or text, now they can be counted on fingers. Feels like, I don’t care if you want to play this song. I can listen to it as well on Spotify.

Read more: 5 Beauty Skin Benefits of Sunbathing In The Morning

Diera argued that now the radio is challenged to have broadcasters with not only have good voices. “In the past, to have a golden voice is number one, now it is not. If the voice is good but the face is not, it is most likely hard to be an announcer for you.”

Although it sounds discriminating, such a thing is deemed necessary to them because of the competition with digital content, including video content from YouTube. “We also have to entertain a lot of people. If someone has a good voice but cannot be stylish nor take care of themselves, they could be eliminated,” she said.

Realization

Nevertheless, this doesn’t make the station practitioner’s spirit recede. Sabrina explained that radio also has its own strength. For example, the placement of advertisements and information on the radio makes the listener remember quickly.

“The listeners who listen to our advertisements will usually be more interested in the radio. Because they only need ears, they don’t have to see it to remember it quickly. Furthermore, we play a lot of sound effects, so they can remember it faster. Citra Dyah Prastuti, Editor-in-Chief of KBR agreed because it needs to convey information in simple and short language.

Read more: 20 Indonesian Slang Words You Definitely Need to Know

“It also delivers information faster, especially for the rural areas. Sometimes, the internet alone couldn’t even reach the highlands of Java, what about Kalimantan and others? The newspaper even takes longer.

Around 2000, newspapers needed up to two days to reach in Ambon. The local newspaper also stagnates because they lack human resources. TV is also a relatively expensive item, actually.” voiced Citra.

She also argued TV production could take a long time and price-wise is more expensive than radio. For her, that is where people can get the fastest and most accessible information.

Make Peace With Digital

Inevitably, radio does have to adapt to digital.

Loading

23 comments

  1. you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The web site loading pace is amazing. It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a magnificent job in this subject!|

  2. I do not know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else encountering issues with your blog. It appears like some of the text in your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them too? This might be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously. Kudos|

  3. If you are going for most excellent contents like myself, just pay a visit this web page every day for the reason that it gives feature contents, thanks|

  4. Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve take into account your stuff prior to and you’re just too magnificent. I actually like what you’ve received right here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which by which you are saying it. You’re making it entertaining and you still care for to stay it smart. I can not wait to learn far more from you. That is really a wonderful website.|

  5. Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange agreement between us!

  6. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I to find this topic to be really something which I believe I would by no means understand. It seems too complicated and extremely huge for me. I’m having a look forward on your next publish, I will try to get the cling of it!

  7. I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this website. I’m hoping the same high-grade website post from you in the upcoming as well. Actually your creative writing skills has encouraged me to get my own web site now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.

  8. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such excellent information being shared freely out there.

  9. Many thanks for this article. I will also like to mention that it can become hard when you’re in school and simply starting out to initiate a long history of credit. There are many individuals who are simply trying to survive and have an extended or favourable credit history can sometimes be a difficult matter to have.

  10. I think this is among the most significant info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

  11. I have not checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I?ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend šŸ™‚

  12. Just desire to say your article is as astounding. The clarity on your put up is just great and i could suppose you are a professional in this subject. Well with your permission allow me to take hold of your feed to keep updated with approaching post. Thanks one million and please carry on the gratifying work.

  13. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  14. You could definitely see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.

  15. naturally like your website however you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality nevertheless I will definitely come again again.

  16. hello!,I like your writing very so much! share we be in contact more about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this house to resolve my problem. May be that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *