Social pluralism on the air: Internet radio in Israel.

PLURALISM; INTERNET radio; RADIO stations; MASS media; MONOPOLIES

Internet radio stations that broadcast exclusively on the Internet are a growing phenomenon in Israel, providing a stage for new and diverse voices in Israeli society. This article charts the activity of Internet radio stations in Israel and evaluates their social contributions by focusing primarily on music selection, broadcast content, and target audiences. It shows that the establishment of Internet radio stations is connected to progressive trends in Israeli society. New and varied voices, not necessarily heard before in traditional media and especially traditional radio, have been given a platform for the first time. This makes Internet radio an important expression of social pluralism in communications media, which is essential and necessary for the healthy maintenance of a democratic society with so many internal divisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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