Some UK stations to leave radio aggregator apps

Radio stations including Planet Rock, Absolute Radio, Magic, KISS and Scala Radio will soon no longer be available in apps like TuneIn.

Instead the stations will be available in their own individual apps, websites and on DAB digital radio. The radio stations will also still work on Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant smart speakers.

The move affects ‘aggregator’ apps like TuneIn which offer thousands of radio stations in a single app. However, the stations will continue to be available in the Radioplayer app.

Listeners with Sonos smart speakers can add the Planet Radio music service to their devices. The Planet Radio service can be used to hear local stations, such as Metro Radio, and national stations like Magic Soul on Sonos speakers.

Some Internet and Wi-Fi radios may no longer receive stations like Planet Rock and Absolute Radio if they don’t have a DAB mode. Some Internet radios also have Bluetooth or Aux-In which could be used to play a station from a smartphone or tablet.

Bauer Media, the owner of Magic, KISS, Greatest Hits Radio and other stations, says the move to “owned and operated” platforms will allow them to “offer enhanced services to commercial partners and more personalised offerings to listeners”.

Shana Hills, Digital Chief Operating Officer for Bauer Media Audio said, “We are living in a golden age of opportunity for audio, with technology having transformed the way listeners consume and engage with our content. Digital audio has opened up an exciting new route for advertisers, alongside broadcast advertising, to access our valued audiences. Having invested in more personalised products to further this reach, we’re excited to take this step which will unlock further potential for commercial collaboration and targeting, driving significant revenue opportunities.”