SDF

Cultwo with Young-Woo Kim

The Radio Star Is Here to Stay

The Buggles sang in 1979 that “Video Killed the Radio Star”. That was 37 years ago. Imagine the sense of impending doom radio stars must have felt. Hard not to have your hearts go out to them. Or is it? It's 2016 and radio stars aren’t dead. They’re still alive, and the radio’s still playing on. If you’re nodding your head now, you either don’t have an inkling of an idea about the industry or you are in deep denial. Underneath this placid façade, you know, it’s like ducks paddling like mad to simply stay afloat. There is a passage from The Limits to Growth that reads: The lily plant doubles in size each day and covers half the pond. Will you say half the pond is still remaining? You have one day to save your pond.” That’s right. This radio industry we see now may not be as covered with lilies. But what would we need to do if we find the pond half covered? The limit to radio is encroaching but none of us are quite aware. What’s the radio got to do? Let’s talk about it.