“What Happened to our Audience?” Radio and New Technology Uses and Gratifications Among Young Adult Users

Abstract

Recent industry research in the United States suggests younger audiences are leaving terrestrial radio for new technologies like MP3 players, Internet radio, and satellite radio. This paper presents findings from a survey of 430 undergraduate students regarding their uses and gratifications of these new technologies. The sample consisted entirely of young adults age 18–24, where the likelihood of new media use and adoption is expected to be high. The situation in the U.S. may describe similar patterns in other countries. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, and the potential impact on terrestrial radio.

Notes

¹In this study, we use the term “streaming” to represent listening to music through a live stream on the Internet as well as to represent Internet or online-only radio stations. Therefore, the term streaming covers listening to music via the Internet regardless of the source.