James Cridland

James Cridland is a U.K.-based radio futurologist, and owner of MediaUK, a website that has covered radio news for 20 years.

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James Cridland: The trouble with David Jones – and what it says about radio

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

In this week’s column, James compares terrestrial radio to an Australian department store. More exactly, the comparison explains that removing personality and expertise from a consumer experience can be ruinous to the business. A particularly engaging and cogent piece. Be sure to read the notes below the column as well, for vital news. Example: All of BBC local AM radio transmission will be shut down by end of year. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s Radioland: New Australian broadcast rules – covering AI and kids

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In this week’s column, James declaims: “While the Americans have, sadly, stopped innovating in radio as far as I can see – and I’ve evidence that they stopped 19 years ago – other parts of the world are offering much more interesting and exciting output.” DAB is part of that, of course. And this column calls out WSQK, part of the UK’s Global network. With startling originality, the station puts all its features within a Stranger Things universe. Here’s the trick: the entire station is an advertising vehicle for Stranger Things, the Netflix series that has just returned for a new season. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s Radioland – WSQK: showing how radio innovates like no other

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

In this week’s column, James assesses innovation in radio. American: no innovation for 19 years. Other part of the world get kinder marks, and this iece focuses on WSQK, a globally produced station owned by, um, British network Global. Thing is, WSQK is a pop-up station that fits into the Stranger Things franchise — “a full, 24/7, six-week long radio station deep into the Stranger Things universe,” as James explains. “And everything is perfect”. James invokes real stations to listen — the writing and production are superb — and take notes. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s Radioland – The biggest radio stations in the US

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In this week’s exceptionally deep and thoughtful guest column, James puts a focus on the BBC Sounds media and radio app, which is scheduled to be discontinued outside of the UK today. Also covered: how BBC Sounds is performing inside the UK. (Preview: Slight gain; older listeners.) Moving on from the BBC, James reports on the biggest radio stations in the U.S., one great YouTube video, a retroactive look at “AI Ashley,” census data about radio listenership, visual advertising in radio, and James’ “universal radio” idea. Buckle in. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s Radioland – BBC Radio overseas: a new plan after BBC Sounds closes

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

As James’s regular readers know, he has been interested in the availability of BBC Radio outside the UK. And there’s been some movement. The BBC Sounds app will be turned off for listeners outside the UK on 21 July 2025 — but there’s more to it than that. And a lot more news. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends – Radio in the car: and bad software

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James Cridland buys a new car and reports on its audio features — especially the radio tuner. DAB is there, and FM, but no AM at all. Not a crisis, he observes, because AM is simulcast on DAB. But there is unfavorable UX in other ways, and the screen fail one usability test after another. All this while James is at the 14th Atelier Radiophonique Romand in Switzerland, listening to Tomas Granryd discuss the EBU’s Connected Car Playbook. Swinging over to a review of that document, James finds a mix of great ideas and self-serving ones. As always, an interesting read. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends – Radio advertising: your winners and duds

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James unearths an old print ad for two Australian radio stations, and puzzles over a few conundrums. “There’s a lot to unpack from this press ad over thirty years later.” ALSO: A study from Audacy, an amazing face\t about Star Wars, the BBC applying for funds, James’ visit to the Pacific island of Niue, and more. Continue Reading →