During Disrupt, Lady Gaga’s manager and Atom Factory founder, Troy Carter, suggested that the area ripe for disruption in the music industry by technology is terrestrial radio.
For those who still get in their car to listen to music, Carter feels like there are openings for startups to build on top of the platform to bring people what they really want to hear. He shared: “I think the opening right is figuring out terrestrial radio, that’s the one space that Sirius could have done it with subscription radio, but you look at Clear Channel and CBS, it’s not what people want. People just get in a car and turn on a local station. It’s going to be interesting when you get in your car and you’re listening to a 17-year-old kid in Russia.”
While calling out Sirius as somewhat of a failure in disrupting radio the way that we thought it would, it comes as a bit of a shock that a music mogul like Carter wants to re-focus on radio.
If you’re able to empower DJs all over the world to share the music that they love, and tie it with the power of broadcasting it over the airwaves, more bands and artists can get the attention that they deserve. Currently, big radio stations control what people here, so democratizing that system could be a massive opportunity.
A company like Slacker Radio has the type of product that could play a role in what Carter suggests.
In regards to the state of the music industry, Carter thinks that technology has always pushed things forward and is an essential part of selling albums and concert tickets: “I don’t think tech has screwed the music industry, the music industry has to adjust to change. When people in remote villages throughout the world can access music, it’s a good thing.” he said.
