The advancement of technology constantly provides a new way to produce, consume, and disseminate content over the internet. This allows for reaching a large number of people whenever any material is made available online. Thanks to these evolutions, internet users no longer need to download audio and video files to listen to or watch them, thanks to streaming technology.
Downloading files, which often come with viruses attached, to listen to a song or watch a movie, for example, requires intense broadband consumption, reduces the user's hard drive space (HD), and involves hours of waiting to execute the download. Therefore, video and audio streaming have come to make people's lives easier, as they allow content to be accessed online with instant playback on the device used. Currently, audio streaming has become a global trend, and it is about them that we will talk a little more today. Check it out!
Audio streaming: what is it?
Also known as media streaming, audio streaming performs the transfer of content produced by others, via the internet, to anyone who wants to access it. Among the audio formats for streaming, the most commonly used are MP3 and AAC.
All transmission and playback occur instantly; just start playback and wait a few seconds for a buffer to be created in your device's memory. This buffer acts as a storage or data box so that the player that plays the content does not stop if the user's internet connection worsens at any moment.
In such cases, when the internet is lacking, it may be that even with the buffer installed, it is not possible to continue the transmission completely. In this case, the audio stops, or the playback screen goes blank, indicating that it is not possible to play the streaming.
Another great feature of audio streaming is the ability to create online radios and broadcast in various formats and segments, such as educational, musical, corporate radios, among others.
Use of streaming
Currently, one of the main uses of streaming is online radios, also known as web radios, which can broadcast their content live or not, to any device. According to a study published by Kantar Ibope Media, 3.1 million people listen to the radio while commuting between two places, with mobile phones being the most used devices for this purpose.
For those who want to have an online radio, just choose a good company that provides this service and offers the necessary resources to start the project.
One of the most used options is live broadcasting through web radio, allowing constant interaction with the listener. It is also possible to schedule the content to be broadcast automatically for the desired period. Podcasts can also be made available by online radios so that the audience can listen to the content they missed at any time.
In addition to being used as an alternative radio format, which is one of the main applications today, various audio streaming services have been used in Brazil and around the world, such as Spotify, Deezer, Pandora, Rdio, among others. On these platforms, it is possible to choose the files you want to listen to, filtering the search by artist or song name, without needing to download the content to listen to it.
Despite the ease of listening to content online without taking up device space, streaming apps only work through internet access, making it impossible to listen offline, as happens when downloading content. These apps do offer this option, but only for those who pay a fixed monthly fee to use them, which allows access to this and other benefits.
Benefits of audio streaming
One of the main conveniences provided by these apps is finding a greater quantity and variety of music. Most of these streaming services segment music genres and artists so that users can listen only to what they really like. Additionally, if you are a subscriber to any of them, you can create your own personalized playlist that can be listened to at any time.
Another significant benefit is the simultaneity provided by streaming services, allowing users to listen while accessing other content. It is possible to use the internet, social networks, or conduct research, for example, while listening to music on these apps or on an online radio.
For the online radio segment, there are also many benefits. With streaming, it has been possible to revive this environment, as currently, radios operating on frequency modulation are no longer as popular as they once were, thanks to new streaming and music download technologies.
Reach and investment
For those investing in a web radio, for example, the possibility of instant interaction with their listeners is very high, thus increasing the radio's popularity and the number of listeners. Additionally, the ease of access to online radios attracts them, as they can listen at any time and on any type of device, whether mobile or not.
The audience reach is also expanded with web radios. AM and FM radios only operate on geographically limited frequencies, while streaming can be heard by anyone, anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection and access to some music streaming or online radio.
The investment to create an online radio is also low. In addition to investments in equipment, such as a good quality microphone (for live broadcasts), a computer, and a fast internet connection, hosting a web radio can cost from R$49.90, which is much cheaper than paying for a frequency modulation.
