Brian Henderson | Jan. 28, 2026
Connoisseur Media this week announced a new partnership with Super Hi-Fi to re-platform select stations using artificial intelligence, a move the companies say will modernize operations, lower costs, and improve sound quality.
The announcement comes as new consumer data raises a larger question for radio broadcasters. At a time when engagement and time spent increasingly determine success across media, some industry observers question whether deeper automation moves radio in the right direction.
Super Hi-Fi said the partnership will use its AI Radio platform to master, schedule, produce, and deliver programming from the cloud directly to station transmitters. Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw will also join Super Hi-Fi’s board of directors as part of the agreement.
“Our mission is to have the best live and local radio experience in every market across America and Super Hi-Fi’s unique capabilities will allow us to do that in ways the industry just didn’t have before,” Warshaw said in a statement.
The companies say early rollouts include stations in Chicago, Tyler, Texas, Columbia, South Carolina, San Antonio, Lincoln, Nebraska, with additional launches planned in 2026.
A shift in how success is measured
The move toward AI-driven stations comes as the radio industry continues to promote its broad weekly reach. Trade groups regularly cite that AM/FM radio reaches about 82 percent of U.S. adults each week.
That figure remains accurate. What it does not capture is how long listeners stay once they tune in.
According to Edison Research’s Share of Ear data, which measured total audio listening without excluding paid streaming or satellite services, radio’s share of in-car listening drops when all choices are counted. In vehicles equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, radio’s share falls further as listeners spend more time with streaming services and satellite radio.
The difference between reach and time spent has become increasingly important as dashboards offer more choice and switching becomes easier.
Engagement now shapes listening behavior
Across media, brands are seeing the same pattern. Platforms that hold attention do so by encouraging interaction and participation. Those that feel passive lose time spent.
Marketing has already adjusted to this shift. Brands now chase engagement metrics such as comments, shares, and watch time because algorithms reward activity over exposure.
In audio, the same behavior shows up in listening habits. Subscription streaming services and podcasts tend to generate longer sessions because listeners feel a stronger sense of control or connection. Radio still attracts listeners, but data shows many spend less time listening than in previous decades.
Why automation raises questions
Supporters of AI radio argue automation allows programmers to focus on content while improving efficiency. Super Hi-Fi CEO Zack Zalon said the partnership aims to make Connoisseur “the best sounding and most profitable radio group in America.”
Critics do not dispute the efficiency gains. Their concern is timing.
As consumer expectations shift toward interaction and immediacy, reducing human presence may make it harder for stations to build loyalty. Automated systems can optimize playlists and production. They cannot respond to local moments, breaking news, or audience interaction in real time.
For listeners accustomed to responsive digital platforms, that difference matters.
A broader industry tension
The Connoisseur and Super Hi-Fi partnership highlights a larger tension facing radio. Broad reach remains a strength. Engagement increasingly determines whether listeners stay.
The industry now faces a choice. It can lean further into automation to control costs. Or it can invest in formats and workflows that prioritize interaction and presence.
The data suggests the second path aligns more closely with modern listening behavior.
Whether AI radio becomes a bridge to better engagement or a barrier to it may depend less on the technology itself and more on how broadcasters use it.
For now, the move underscores a growing divide between how radio has traditionally measured success and how audiences now decide what to listen to.
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