Only a short couple of decades ago, radio shows were essentially one-off events.
Though many had recordings in the studio or from fans at home, there was no centralised method of collection and archiving for the masses. The online age has overcome this limitation, with a huge range of streaming platforms and media libraries on offer.
While this is fantastic in terms of content, it also introduces navigation issues. Finding exactly what you want in an enormous and growing library is already a challenge, and it’s only going to become more complicated. Instead of being left behind, there are certain tools we can use to help us separate the wheat from the chaff, so what forms do and will these take?
Unlocking Access
The primary challenge commonly faced by users today is unlocking access. Geo-blocking is perhaps the most famous example, though it’s also the easiest to overcome. VPN for Mac and PC services are established tools here, which fool internet connections into thinking they’re coming from other locations, bypassing regional restrictions.
The other solution is to simply check with different streaming services to explore which libraries of shows and podcasts are available. Just because something isn’t available on your favorite music streaming service, for example, doesn’t mean it’s not available anywhere. Too often we get invested into one ecosystem and get tunnel vision, but dozens of options are available if you care to search.
Searching What’s Available
Once you’ve unlocked access, the next step comes in tracking down the episode with the content you want, which can be tricky for long-running or poorly labelled shows. Sometimes basic searches on streaming platforms can help, but other times this won’t be enough.
The best existing solution in situations like this is to search the internet and forums like Reddit for other users seeking the same media. If there is none, track down the appropriate fan site or forum and ask the question yourself.
In the coming generations, the solution could be found in AI assistants. AI has already made progress in streaming services, and coming incarnations could be used to help with search functionality. This could be implemented with programs like Chat GPT, which could be trained on keywords on certain episodes to help with searching. More advanced AI could also work through full episodes without human input, to transcribe audio and use language models to aid in human searches.
We’re at a point now where if we don’t commit to proper searching and archival efforts, the abundance of online podcasts and radio shows is going to become a serious problem. Without the right support, we’re essentially staking piles of books on top of each other, building a library without a Dewey Decimal System with which to sort.
The existing options can help us somewhat, but they’re a stopgap measure until more powerful solutions are implemented in the future. As for how it will take before streaming platforms update their systems with new AI helpers, that much remains in question.