I have spent some time putting together some key areas of my dissertation which should help inform and allow me to draw conclusions on my dissertation question “Does UK radio have a viable role as a social tool and media platform in the future”. I have decided to focus on the UK, otherwise i think my arguments will become too convoluted. Here are some of the key areas i have outlined:
Changing roles of radio
Where did it come from? How was it perceived? What was its primary focus? How has this changed over the past century? The power of radio was once unmatched, for example it played a hugely important role for morale during wartime Britain as a social tool, connecting cut off areas with the rest of the country. Does radio still have this power to unite? Has the focus of radio switched too far towards financial gain and stepped away from its role as a social platform. How has its role as a core platform for the release of new music changed over the decades?
Current state of Radio
Listening figures trends. What is the current situation for radio, commercial vs BBC. How is it adapting and changing to keep up with technological developments in other media sectors? In the commercial sector, how suitable is radio as a means for advertising? How does radio innovate to keep ahead of the game and give other advertising platforms a run for their money (press, viral, internet etc.).
Next step - future predictions
Explore the argument that less people from the younger generations are listening to radio, and gauge its impact. If this is the case, how will this affect private and commercial radio. Falling listener figures could put the cost of advertising on the air up, which could push potential advertisers to search for more cost effective alternatives. Explore how this snowball effect could influence other areas. How can it be stopped? How can radio innovate to stay alive in an increasingly dynamic, interactive and on demand world?
There are many areas which im sure i will discover and need to look into in more detail to balance my research, but i feel this is a positive starting point, and allows me to sink my teeth into something.
Tags: prid301