{"id":8441,"date":"2016-06-03T14:25:23","date_gmt":"2016-06-03T12:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radioking.com\/blog\/?p=8441"},"modified":"2026-05-29T16:56:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:56:35","slug":"home-assistant-the-new-friend-of-radio-stations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.radioking.com\/blog\/home-assistant-the-new-friend-of-radio-stations\/","title":{"rendered":"Home assistant – the new friend of radio stations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than just a gadget, the voice assistant represents a real opportunity for radio stations to integrate into the heart of the home. What seemed futuristic a few years ago is now a daily reality for millions of people: speaking to a device to listen to their favorite radio station in the living room, kitchen, or bedroom. While Amazon<\/a> largely dominates the market with Alexa and Google continues to push its connected solutions, the question is no longer whether radio needs to adapt to voice\u2026 but how to do it effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/ A voice market reaching full maturity<\/mark><\/a><\/em>
<\/mark>2\/ Market players: Amazon, Google and beyond<\/mark><\/a><\/em>
<\/mark>3\/ Why radio stations absolutely must create their Alexa Skill<\/mark><\/a><\/em>
<\/mark>4\/ Understanding the Alexa Skill: how does it actually work?<\/mark><\/a><\/em>
<\/mark>5\/ Create your Alexa Skill with RadioKing: simple, fast, no technical skills needed<\/mark><\/a><\/em>
<\/mark>6\/ How to promote your Alexa Skill to your listeners?<\/mark><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/ A voice market reaching full maturity<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s no longer a secret: tech giants have firmly moved into our living spaces. From the kitchen to the living room, and through to the bedroom, voice assistants have become everyday companions. Tens of millions of people now use voice assistants<\/strong>, with a significant share doing so via smart speakers<\/strong>. More than one in two users has already interacted with a voice assistant, and 77% of them feel this tool improves their daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These figures are not insignificant for radio stations. According to data from National Public Media<\/a>, 45% of voice commands on smart speakers are used to listen to the radio<\/strong>, and 85% to listen to music. In short, the smart speaker is first and foremost an audio streaming device \u2014 and radio holds a prime spot within it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the first smart speakers came to market, the landscape has matured considerably. What began as a gadget for early adopters has become a mainstream device, found in homes across all demographics and generations. People aged 65 and over are actually among the most regular home users: for them, voice interaction represents a natural, accessible interface with no digital friction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\/ Market players: Amazon, Google and beyond<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amazon Echo and Alexa: the undisputed leader<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Amazon Echo is the smart speaker that popularized the concept. Powered by the Alexa AI, it lets users control connected devices, check the weather, make calls, manage purchases, and of course listen to music, audiobooks, or radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Echo lineup has evolved significantly. In late 2025, Amazon unveiled four new devices: the Echo Dot Max<\/strong>, the Echo Studio<\/strong> (a new compact version with Dolby Atmos sound), the Echo Show 8<\/strong>, and the Echo Show 11<\/strong>. These devices feature the AZ3 and AZ3 Pro chips along with the Omnisense<\/a><\/strong> platform, which merges data from cameras, Wi-Fi radar, microphones, and various sensors to make Alexa more responsive and personalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major development: Amazon is preparing the rollout of Alexa+<\/strong>, a generative AI-enhanced version enabling natural conversations without rigid keywords. Rather than saying \u00ab\u00a0Alexa, play France Info radio,\u00a0\u00bb you’ll be able to say \u00ab\u00a0Alexa, put on something informative while I make dinner.\u00a0\u00bb A revolution in voice interaction. The Alexa+ beta launched quietly in late 2025, signaling Amazon’s particular focus on this next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For radio stations, this has one concrete implication: Alexa Skills will need to be properly configured to appear in these contextual, conversational requests. A well-crafted Skill means your station is available 24\/7 in millions of homes, without listeners needing to open an app or type a URL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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