The future of in-car radio is back under the spotlight this week as broadcasters, automakers and regulators gather in Germany for the WorldDAB Automotive Forum.
Taking place on Thursday, June 11 at Spark Europe in Frankfurt, the one-day conference is regarded as the leading international forum where the automotive and broadcast industries come together to discuss the future of in-car audio. Organised by WorldDAB, the event brings together senior decision-makers, technology companies, broadcasters and policymakers to explore how radio is evolving in the era of connected vehicles.
Learn more about WorldDAB in the video below:
At the centre of discussions will be a familiar but increasingly urgent challenge: how radio remains visible and easy to access as connected car dashboards become more complex and app-driven.
New international research is set to be unveiled at the event, including the Car Buyer’s Research by Fifty5Blue, which will explore how drivers interact with car audio systems and how interface design, default settings and dashboard layouts influence listening habits.
The findings will feed into wider industry debates around radio prominence, discoverability and hybrid radio systems. Other sessions will cover DAB+ development, broadcast infrastructure, cross-border coverage, media plurality and new policy tools designed to support radio’s place within increasingly connected vehicles.
WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst says that radio remains “a trusted, accessible and immediate medium”, adding that evidence from new research will be essential in shaping future automotive and regulatory decisions.
Alongside the Forum agenda, momentum is also building around Radio Ready, the broadcaster-led campaign aimed at keeping radio easy to find and simple to use in connected dashboards.
The initiative has recently expanded its backing with advertising body egta joining the coalition, bringing commercial media partners into a movement already supported by broadcasters and industry organisations across 15 countries.
Founded by Bauer Media Group and Swedish Radio in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Radio Ready now brings together 25 organisations working to maintain radio's visibility within modern in-car systems.
Bauer Media Audio's Tobias Nielsen says the core issue is “not demand for radio but ensuring it remains easy to find and access”.
Supported by companies including Garmin, BBC, JVCKenwood, Alpine, Ford, BMW and Nissan, WorldDAB Automotive has become a key annual meeting point for both the automotive and broadcast sectors.
With stakeholders from broadcasting, automotive and policy converging in Frankfurt, the debate continues to centre on a simple question: in the era of connected vehicles, how does radio stay front and centre on the dashboard?
Read the e-brochure for the event here.
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