Norway Phases Out Analog Radio
As of today, Norway has become the first country in the world to phase out analog signals in a move towards Digital Audio Broadcasting or DAB. By the end of the year, Norway’s radio will be 100% digital. While the digital way promises to be cost-effective for the radio stations while providing a more reliable signal for the sparsely populated, mountainous country, this decision is being met largely with anxiety and concern from Norway’s 5 million residents. One worry is the lack of digital radios in cars and the pressure to spend the money needed to keep up with the change that cost anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000 kroner (that’s $175-468 US dollars). Only about 25% of Norway’s cars are fitted with digital radios or adapters compared to 70% of outfitted Norwegian households. Another concern is for Norway’s elderly, who rely on their radios to remain tethered to the outside world, and many may be left isolated when the country switches to digital unless they have the cash and support to upgrade to a new device that picks up the signal, but the upgrade isn’t cheap, and expecting an entire country’s worth of elderly people to easily adapt and willingly upgrade to devices supporting the new technology is hopeful at best.
Photo: Richard Beebe
Album to Raise Funds for Ghost Ship Fire Victims
Former DFA Records label manager Kris Peterson has curated an album over 40 tracks long to raise funds for the victims and families of the Ghost Ship fire which claimed the lives of 36 people in Oakland late last year. The album includes tracks by YACHT, Daphni, and Helado Negro, and will be available for purchase on January 31st. Peterson has made several of the tracks available for preview now via Bandcamp.
-Taylor Wallace
