‘Global tech companies are the gatekeepers of our audio choices’: Calls to include radio prominence in Senate recommendations
Prominent members of the radio industry have called for the Senate inquiry into the prominence and anti-siphoning bill to include radio prominence in its recommendations, due to be delivered this week.
ARN chief executive Ciaran Davis, Nine Radio managing director Tom Malone, NOVA Entertainment chief executive Peter Charlton, and SCA chief executive John Kelly have released a joint statement, calling for radio prominence for smart speakers, as well as on the digital audio dashboards in cars.
The statement claims the regulations are “essential to both the radio industry and communities”, noting that “radio has always been there at the push of a button”, and offers vital information that could save lives in the case of an emergency.
“Smart speakers are becoming more common in Australian homes, and we are concerned this is creating a situation where global tech companies are the gatekeepers of our audio choices, shutting out local radio,” the statement explains.
“Equally as concerning is that very soon all new cars will come with a connected dashboard, with Google, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music – but there is no guarantee they will have easy access to local radio.”
The statement highlights radio’s continued prominence as both a community safety issue and necessary for the sustainability of the Australian radio industry.
“We are calling on the government to act now to ensure radio is not left behind, so we can continue to provide an essential service to communities across Australia.”
Earlier this year, the CRA likewise called for radio’s inclusion in the prominence bill.
CRA chief executive officer Ford Ennals voiced fears that, should the TV prominence framework be passed into law without radio being included, it will take years to redress this.
“Our concern is if this Bill passes without any inclusion of radio, then the window of opportunity for this important reform would be lost,” Ennals said.
“As smart devices become more prevalent, global tech giants are becoming more in control of the audio content that we can access – they are, in essence, the gatekeepers.
“All Australians need easy access to local radio, whether they are using a smart speaker or driving a connected car,” he said.
“Commercial radio provides an essential service – our stations provide local news, entertainment, and information, and we play Australian music.”
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