On the modern Russian online radio broadcasting

The subject of this research is broadcasting in the modern digital age. The object is the modern Russian online radio broadcasting. The goal lies in examination of the role of online radio broadcasting in the modern Russian digital space. The author aims to trace the dynamics of the development of online radio broadcasting in Russia and abroad, summarize the conclusions of the Russian researchers on the development trends of online radio broadcasting in Russia for the past decade, analyze the current state of Russian online radio broadcasting with its positive and negative sides, make recommendation for optimization of the study of Russian online radio broadcasting. The novelty of this article lies in the analysis of evolution of the Russian online radio broadcasting in the context of modern trends of the Russian and US information space. The conclusion is made that online radio broadcasting occupies a special niche within the global and Russian digital information space for the two decades of the XXI century. The dynamically developing information technologies enhance the convergent nature of this type of media, contributing to its penetration into modern social networks through mobile telephony. The US statistical data indicate testify to the growing popularity of online radio broadcasting in the United States. Various Russian data indicate a decline in the popularity of radio broadcasting overall, but rise of popularity of online radio broadcasting among certain segments of the Russian audience. The Russian academic community should increase cooperation with the media research centers to arrange consistent sources of statistical information for optimization of the study of online radio broadcasting in Russia.