Is Radio Dead? asks Ben Cooper at #RDE15

BBC Radio 1 Controller Ben Cooper has delivered a strong presentation at Radiodays Europe questioning the future of radio.

Ben says as an industry we have lost control of our own distribution – with mobile phones and tablets taking over. “Hybrid Radio is vital for the future of the industry” he adds. “Radio already lost the first battle against the mobile phone!”

Talking about Zane Lowe leaving Radio 1, Ben says “I lost one of my best presenters to Apple”. He predicts Apple will launch its new streaming service in June and says “We really need to be worried”.

Compared to 10 years ago radio has lost 60% of 10-14 year old listening – 1 in 3 children have tablets, 1 in 7 have radios.

Promoting radio, Ben says “No streaming service has made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up or made me laugh out loud says Cooper. That’s what radio does. Cameras in studios are boring – it’s about Interviews, live performances and DJs messing around. The audience want LOLs”.

If we do that, Ben Cooper hopes it won’t be ‘radio is dead’, it’ll be ‘long live radio’.

How do we address the needs of the on-demand generation when we’re radio? That’ll be the challenge to discuss at RDE 2016 says Ben.

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