Traditional media is dying as general circulation newspapers and magazines lose their audience to digital platforms that offer immediacy and near-infinite variety. The days of the major programmed radio and television media, including cable are being impacted as consumers select à la carte programming instead of overpaying for unwanted content or hit-or-miss over-produced content.
Even the daily news has given way to a form of infotainment where facts and commentary are mixed and muddled to attract an audience.
Each and everyday consumers are cutting the cord.
Advertising has also changed from the analog to the digital realm and the largest platforms are awash in cash. Unfortunately, it is far easier to jigger audience numbers and artificially inflate the audience of digital media which is now impacting those who purport to sell "verified" eyeballs.
We are entering an era of voice-controlled smartphones and dumb televisions which simply display anything that is cast to them over a fast internet connection.
The old problems of program discovery, separating desired programs from background noise is still problematical.
However, one of the biggest changes is in consumer habits, with a very large segment of the audience preferring to split their attention between content and performing another task. Audiobooks that require a certain amount of concentration are giving was to easy-to-listen summaries and podcasts.
Even Instagram and YouTube influencers are making serious money without the need for corporate involvement or a major investment in content production infrastructure. Witness podcaster Joe Rogan's exclusive contract with Sweden-based Spotify, the music streaming service, which could be worth up to $100 million depending on Rogan's performance metrics.
While corporate interests are trying to develop proprietary platforms and capture valuable content, the game has changed and employees of traditional media channels and content producers should maintain their vigilance lest they are disintermediated from their personal income stream.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?