NIRVANIKA SINGH
Today, when I hear the word ‘Radio’, it seems to evoke a deep nostalgia for simpler times. To the majority of the present generation, the radio is antediluvian in nature. It is something that is rarely used for information dissemination or entertainment in contemporary society. The dawn of the 21st century witnessed such rapid and significant advancements in technology that the entire landscape of media and mass communication was radically transformed. The emergence of newer and more appealing forms of mass communication such as the television or the internet were primarily responsible for the radio’s dwindling popularity. Upon reading this, the radio may seem like a museum relic or an antiquity but it continues to remain strong even after the information revolution.
This may be attributed to its dynamic nature and the renaissance of sorts, it is currently experiencing. There are now innumerable ways to listen to the radio. The development of online radio has been attracting a large number of listeners. It is now possible to listen to radio shows on Youtube, Spotify and many other platforms like these. To say that I listen to the radio frequently, would be an exaggeration. However, this does not change the fact that I am able to access some of my favourite programmes on popular radio channels such as the BBC radio 1, Radio X etc. through platforms like YouTube. Apart from these, I always like listening to the good old-fashioned AM/FM Radio occasionally, because of the refreshing break it offers, from the monotony of regular media.
Thus, it is clear that, radio today, is far from a fossilised memory. It continues to remain relevant in many ways and it still commands a significant following in spite of its inability to compete with mainstream broadcast and digital media.
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