It is a frustrating and nervous period for many as most are obliged stay at home due to the pandemic. Experts projected that as more and more Americans remain in place, television use would increase. But aside from this, during a time of crisis, radio broadcasts are also rebounding.
Radio has often proven to be a tool that quickly adapts to circumstances. Radio has played a leading role throughout history in periods of global natural disasters and health crises.
21st August 1962: A woman inspects the aerials of Floret transistor radios at the Radio Show at Earl's Court, London.
How far do we anticipate the usage of media to increase?
Media consumption can increase by 60 percent, according to a recent Nielsen report. Intuitively, while they operate, individuals can watch COVID-19 tv coverage, listen to radio or read late-breaking news online.
The Nielsen research also reveals that remote employees listen to the radio at the same rates as personnel who do not function remotely, an impressive 95 percent!
Eight out of ten radio listeners are either listening to the radio more or the same number, the new Nielsen data reveals. Below is how and when Americans listen to the radio is what has shifted.
- 26% more are listening from home;
- 19% more are listening through mobile devices;
- 14% more are listening to podcasts;
- 12% more are listening on their computers; and
- 10% more are listening on by connecting through smart speakers.
Not surprisingly, listening through their cars and vans declined by 32 percent. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the locations and devices that people listen have shifted, but the listener remains dedicated to the radio. 28% of radio listeners report further radio listening after the COVID-19 epidemic.
Why now, radio?
Trust and confidence
For most mainstream news organizations, confidence is at an all-time low. Local radio (both AM and FM) has long been a reliable outlet in times of crisis. The mindset is just the reverse.
The local coverage
Radio listeners say that listening during the COVID-19 epidemic to their favorite radio host lets them realize what is relevant locally. Radio also helps them learn what local services are available, helps them feel linked to their neighborhood, and feel less nervous and depressed. Local stations give news and statistics, temperature, traffic/highway/bridge openings, and now during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports about how each local market is being impacted. According to the Nielsen study published on March 26, Sixty percent of listeners say that they deeply appreciate and trust their local radio stations to provide their community with late-breaking information on COVID-19.
Balance
The perfect compromise between up-to-date COVID-19 news and distraction from the tension and anxiety of stay-at-home instructions and financial problems is created by radio. One of us is our favorite DJ or local news/talk celebrity, a reliable source of numbers, just with us.
Music
Studies suggest that humans are 'hard-wired' to react to music. More areas of the brain are activated by music than any other human operation. Listening to our childhood music comforts us until COVID-19 and takes us back in time.
Radio
Innovation is still a reliable part of technology. There's a radio broadcast 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Adaptation of labor relations, formats and content
Unfortunately, with professionals working from homes and timetables changed to provide coronavirus material, radio stations have had to adjust to the current scenario. Listening has risen, as with other emergencies, as the medium tends to mitigate the pandemic's social impact.
Although the findings indicate that radio is the channel with the highest scores for its handling of pandemic material, recent research by Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona shows that radio stations need to respond to the new home-based situation professionals and change schedules to provide coronavirus materials.
The study concludes that radio's technological versatility was an ally in helping the stations begin transmitting daily. With all manner of programs, radios worldwide have responded. Many have specific programs or podcasts devoted to the pandemic, some with up-to-date information, some analyzing the past or origins of the pandemic, some representing the fact and its impacts, and others with a simple goal to help explain questions about the outbreak.
The number of events that various stations across the world have coordinated, such as contests and gestures of unity to support all those impacted, also illustrate this radio's essential position. Once again, radio assumes a significant part, as has been in other moments of emergency in history.
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