The changing nature of broadcasting: towards user-generated radio. An explorative study about roles and motivations within online independent stations’ produsers

Often defined as the 'forgotten’, ‘secondary’ and ‘invisible’ medium, radio has been significantly under-thoretised in media studies. Due to the emergence of innovative technologies and a new participatory culture, alternative models of radio are rising, while the boundaries between producers and consumers progressively blur. In particular , online independent stations present an enviable potential for growth. Such stations are web-based and independently run, meaning they are not affiliated with any media networks. They show a correspondence with earlier models of community and pirate radio , but are also profoundly influenced by contemporary media trends such as platformisation and produsage. Because of these characteristics, this medium represents an intriguing subject of investigation. Due to the increased level of participation, it becomes relevant to analyse how radio roles related to the production/distribution and consumption evolve in the context of the converged mediascape. At the same time, exploring motivations that guide people to actively interact with this medium provides interesting insights into its converged and multifaceted nature, highlighting its connections and differences with traditional models of radio, community and pirate stations, user-generated content and music streaming platforms. Thus, this thesis aims to respond to the following research question: How can we understand roles and motivations within online independent radio? The research draws on data collected via qualitative interviews with ten stakeholders within two Dutch online independent stations, Operator Radio and Radio Tempo Nao Para. Participants have been sampled on a purposive basis, in an attempt to provide a more diverse range of answers and better illustrate the operational structure of the stations. Transcripts of the interviews are examined by means of thematic analysis with the support of the software Atlas.TI. The analysis resulted in 8 categories and 8 subcategories describing roles and motivations within online independent radio. This thesis represents a valuable contribution to radio research, to theories about convergence, participatory culture, produsage and user-generated content, and, finally, to Uses & Gratifications research, as motivations are explored through a U&G perspective. The study also represents a starting point for institutions in The Netherlands and all around the world to recognize the potential of online independent stations to shape local and global communities, as well as promote art and culture, and hence the need for policies to support their development.