Digital radio platforms in the New Zealand context: Implementing The Wireless and iHeartRadio

Abstract

The recent implementation of two digital platforms by the New Zealand radio industry as a response to contemporary media transformation highlights the ongoing problem of anticipating radio futures. The Wireless has been established by New Zealand’s sole public service radio network and challenges many conventions commonly associated with the radio medium; text-based and video content is prioritized by project staff in the pursuit of a younger audience demographic. An alternative commercial platform, iHeartRadio, combines the collected web streams of participating radio broadcasters with customizable music playlists, legitimizing radio brands in a new media environment. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with radio professionals, in conjunction with an analysis of industry reporting and media coverage of recent radio developments, key findings indicate that the motivations for introducing The Wireless and iHeartRadio are strongly connected to the dynamics of the local industry, demonstrating the role of organizational influence in determining the shape and form of future radio development.