Would you wait 4 years for a licence?

When you log onto the Community Radio webpage for Ireland (https://craol.ie/startups/) the first point you will see is that "It takes between two and four years from first conceiving the idea for a community station to signing a contract for a full license."

I don't know about you but I can go online now to RadioKing (or any online service) and have a radio station up and running online by the end of the day. OK, not a community station but a functioning audio service, nonetheless.

I wonder, with so many restrictions (such as not being allowed to make money from a Community station) will the old model survive much longer?

A physical radio is not necessary any more.  Alexa and her stable of friends mean that all of your audio streams from one device.  A 'Community Station' can be online on FM on DAB...it doesn't matter anymore because the sound comes from the one source...your smart speaker.

You can run a podcast for your local area (we have set up several over the past year with clients). All have a VERY loyal audience and all make money through sponsorships. Local podcasts are HUGE news.

Very few people will wait between two and four years for the privilege of being on FM when they can be on a smart speaker tomorrow!