Listening to the radio while driving remains a key audio experience. However, with the advent of multimedia devices, radio now faces competition not only from streaming services but also from videos and games. Despite this, radio’s diversity remains a strong asset. Yet, finding and searching for the right radio stations in the dashboards of new cars can be a challenge. Iris Rothkirch, the Product Owner of the Connected Radio feature at BMW, is committed to elevating the radio experience: “We must elevate radio to the next level.”
One approach is to enhance user engagement by providing additional information about artists and podcasters directly on the car’s dashboard screens. BMW aims to introduce a consistent overlay for all media types in the dashboard, as highlighted by both Rothkirch and Kai-Michael Gutjahr, BMW’s Product Manager for Audio Entertainment. To support this, Xperi is offering a receiver emulator to their clients, allowing them to see exactly how audiences experience their station. This tool offers valuable insights into listener demographics, including when and where people listen, information that is invaluable to radio producers like Jim Receveur, CEO of Bauer Media, and Rüdiger Landgraf, CDO of Krone Hit. By leveraging this data, radio stations can optimize the timing and placement of promotions, sponsorships, and music to better match listener preferences, ultimately enhancing the in-car radio listening experience.
