Commercial radio wins key support from MPs over smart speakers

A senior group of MPs has concluded it is “vital” for the Government to protect radio’s availability on voice-activated devices and modernise commercial radio regulation in its upcoming Media Bill.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s pre-legislative scrutiny inquiry report said there are serious potential risks posed by tech platforms to radio’s future if they abuse their market power, for instance by pushing listeners to their own radio-like services.

The Committee’s report recommended new obligations for main voice assistant platforms, such as Google and Amazon, and called for the Government to issue clearer guidance to Ofcom on enforcing local radio content guidelines.

Matt Payton, CEO of Radiocentre, said: “This report is a ringing endorsement of the proposals in the Draft Media Bill to help secure the future of radio. Its recommendations are a welcome contribution to the debate and demonstrate the strong case for action to support radio’s place on smart speakers.”

Analysis: win for commercial radio

This is potentially a big win for commercial radio’s incumbent players, namely Global and Bauer, as the UK’s laws around commercial radio aim to keep up as listening has rapidly migrated online in recent years.

The existing provisions for commercial radio advertising, in the Communications Act that was two decades ago, aren’t fit for purpose, the industry has argued. Live radio is the most widely accessed form of audio on smart speakers, accounting for 70% of listeners’ time.

Facing this, ongoing risks facing the radio industry are that voice-activated smart speakers, such as those made by Amazon and Google, would push listeners towards their own radio-like services, and therefore limit free access to UK radio or (perhaps worse) insert their own ads around radio content.

The Select Committee report urges the Government to ensure that “radio is protected and accessible going forward” on these devices.

However, and importantly, it will be up to the DCMS, led by Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, to decide how this happens in practice under the terms of the Bill.