The new business of radio

Just downloaded the iTunes 4.9 with Podcasting support. Great implementation, in a sense it already feels silly that in the old days you were depended on time when listening to radio. Why couldn't I listen to my favourite radio show in the morning? Just because I was still sleeping? Unacceptable.

Makes me wonder about the new business model surrounding it though. Today's top radio broadcasters float comfortably on advertisers money, so what happens when people can skip through the commercials and go straight to the music? Will paid subscription models be the anwer? I'd doubt that subscription fees can compensate for the loss of those 4-figured advertising blocks. Guess we'll be hearing more from sponsered shows, vocal product placements, subliminal messages and espresso-ad-snippets instead. Oh joy.