— FM radio is still going strong. Other countries have adopted DAB (digital audio broadcasting) radios — a format shunned by the U.S., killing its chances in North America — which also have large audiences. Norway, Switzerland and a few other nations either have dumped FM radio entirely or are in the process of going all-in with DAB. Then, of course, there’s satellite radio. Although pretty much just a North American thing, it has tens of millions of listeners.

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Here’s a comment from Edita Kudláčová, head of radio for the European Broadcasting Union: “Radio has always been there for us in our cars, a much loved and greatly trusted companion. I can’t imagine what could fill the gap if it were ever to disappear from the dashboard. We must continue to innovate – together! – to ensure that radio distribution is fit for our increasingly connected world.”

And then there’s this from Stefan Möller, president of the Association of European Radios: “We need to work together as an industry and collaborate with the car industry to maintain radio in the car; this is also important from a safety point of view.”

These broadcasters, including the BBC, Radio France, NRJ (France), Global (U.K.), Bauer (U.K.), RTL (Luxembourg), Radio Hamburg (Germany), and Australia’s Commercial Radio and Audio as well as the country’s RCA Engineering group, are behind a new international initiative called Radio Ready that will see radio stay in cars even as vehicles become more connected. There are three pillars: 1) Radio must remain prominent and convenient with the dashboard, 2) radio-related apps must be easy to find, and 3) voice assistants must be able to offer access to radio content. Anything less risks making traditional broadcast radio too hard to find and use.

The more international pressure is placed on manufacturers (as well as software suppliers such as Canada’s QNX as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), the more radio will be protected within infotainment systems. Other broadcasters are invited to join the movement.

This is from Tobias Nielsen from Britain’s Bauer Media Group: “It is essential for democracy and public safety in times of emergency, as well as the cultural value that radio offers, that it remains accessible, prominent, and easily discoverable in connected cars in the future.”

No argument from me. And let me add in one more thing: Broadcast radio is free. No subscription required. As entertainment media goes, it’s about as frictionless as it gets.

Let’s hope this turns into a worldwide movement.

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