ABOUT RADIO READY

Radio is facing a challenge. Simple, instant access to in-car radio is at risk as connected vehicles and their entertainment systems offer increasingly complex options. Radio Ready for Connected Cars is the campaign to secure radio's future in modern, connected vehicles. We are harnessing the energy and expertise of the radio industry to champion the interests of the listener.

Radio remains, by far, the first choice for in-car audio entertainment...

Radio accounts for 80% of in-car audio consumption.*

84% of drivers listen to the radio "always" or "mostly" on every journey.**

When asked to nominate one entertainment source they'd keep in their car above all others, drivers overwhelmingly select radio, chosen by 69%, with UK drivers feeling particularly strongly at 73%.***

Listeners still place high value on having a radio in their cars...

91% of recent and prospective car buyers said it was important that their recent or next vehicle has DAB/DAB+ or FM radio.

82% of prospective car buyers, and 79% of recent car buyers would have been "much less" or "somewhat less" likely to have purchased their recent vehicle if it did not have a radio.

Meanwhile 86% of recent/prospective car buyers "would really miss having radio in a vehicle if it were no longer available."

So, what's the risk...?

Clearly, consumers still value in-car radio very highly - and don't want to lose it.

The risk is not that people will stop choosing and enjoying in-car radio; the risk is that it becomes increasingly difficult to locate and operate within modern, connected in-car entertainment systems.

Radio Ready is committed to maintaining that value and choice for consumers into the connected future.

MORE IN-CAR LISTENING INSIGHTS

Radio Ready for Connected Cars is a collective response; a collaborative campaign welcoming voices from across the industry for a unified vision and focus. Members and Partners include commercial and public service broadcasters, industry bodies, automotive stakeholders, platform providers and industry bodies from across Europe, Australia and the US. We're adding new members and partners as our work continues and expands.

AER Antenna Group ARD Bauer BBC Commercial Radio & Audio DR EBU NRJ Global News UK Radio France Radio Hamburg Sveriges Radio Radiocentre Radioplayer Regiocast RTL World DAB Xperi
THE CAMPAIGN MEMBERS & PARTNERS

At Radio Ready, we're working to address three key areas of focus. These form the Three Pillars underpinning our campaigning efforts. In-car radio must retain its prominence and accessibility, it must be easily discoverable on screens and dashboards, and voice assistants must be reliable:

Prominent & Accessible

Broadcast and DAB radio should not become a 'legacy' feature. Listeners want to access their radio listening easily and conveniently with the minimum number of 'taps' or 'layers' of navigation.​

New vehicles should not lose broadcast radio as part of their 'baseline' spec.

Beyond value to listeners, access to radio is also crucial for emergency preparedness plans. Even if consumers no longer have a broadcast radio in their homes, many should still have one location where radio is expected to be available - in their vehicles.

Discoverable

Broadcaster apps should be prominently positioned in app stores - easy to find, download and launch.​

Broadcaster apps must be discoverable and linked from broadcast listening - not "apps instead of broadcast" but combined as a seamless listener experience.​

“App Linking” is also important. If a listener is tuned to a station on FM or DAB, the dashboard should display the broadcaster’s digital destination on the same screen. providing a clear path to digital offerings: catch-up, podcasts, metadata-rich experiences etc.

Reliably Voice-Controlled

Voice control is the safe and convenient option for consumers but it can often be unreliable. A few failed attempts and users will simply give up.​

Voice control should be consistent, delivering the requested station correctly every time, and from the source specified by the broadcaster.​

When a user requests a podcast or an on-demand option, the system should provide them with the broadcaster's own app and content, not route them elsewhere.

Radio Ready is more than a statement of intent. We're currently working in a couple of key areas to deliver practical solutions.

Metadata

Metadata

On modern dashboards, "radio has to look as good as it sounds." But Metadata is more than merely decorative; it drives discovery, trust, and functionality. It is increasingly important for station identity, programming info, logos, artwork and links to be consistent.

For this reason, we're building understanding of how metadata flows through aggregators, OEM systems, and apps and supporting implementation plans that can be adopted broadly. This includes the definition of practical hierarchies of what matters most for each in-car system so broadcaster standards can be aligned.

Policy & Legislation

Policy & Legislation

We're also working to ensure that the vital importance of broadcast radio is properly understood for the next wave of EU digital and automotive regulation.

We want to make sure that policymakers and legislators understand the real value of radio to its listeners. If radio becomes more difficult to find and operate, or stops being included by in new vehicles by default (as Tesla has recently indicated), the public loses something truly valuable; something that won't easily be returned and reinstated.

Looking ahead, Radio Ready believes that hybrid radio is the best option for the listener, combining the resilience and coverage of broadcast radio and the extended offer made available by IP. This will meet the campaign's three key areas of focus, ensuring broadcast radio remains a prominent, easy-to-access and reliable way to listen in the connected car environment while broadcasters can connect listening to their own digital products in a way that works for audiences as well as for platforms.

DROP US A LINE & GET INVOLVED...

To find out more about Radio Ready's international work, please feel free to send us a message.

hello@radioready.info