Should you build a product in this niche? An answer from the numbers: search demand, competitors, napkin economics and what to build first.
Updated · How TGGET measures a niche
Verdict · confidence: high
Decision: Maybe. High confidence. The market is crowded with giants (Spotify, Pandora) and demand is declining (-19% YoY). However, search results are mixed with one weak SERP for 'app for sirius xm radio', and paid traffic is affordable ($1.28 CPC). The primary risk is licensing copyrighted content, which limits the business model but doesn't prevent an MVP focused on free/public streams.
| Factor | Value | Level | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demand | 6,600 searches a month | medium | 0 |
| Change over a year | -19% over a year | stable | 0 |
| App store | 19 of 45 apps with 10,000+ ratings, median 6,449 ratings | held by large apps | -1 |
| Search results | 1 of 3 checked search results are weak, 0 strong | mixed | 0 |
| Paid traffic | $1.28 a click, people pay in this niche | affordable | +1 |
| Barriers | licensed content: Distributing copyrighted radio broadcasts requires licensing rights from broadcasters and copyright holders. | covered in the risks | — |
Sum of scores: 0. The verdict is computed by rules from the numbers of the research; its explanation is written by the model.
Source: TGGET, researched on 27 September 2026.
Entry point: "app for sirius xm radio": 60,500 searches a month, weak search results.
Positioning
A lightweight, ad-free internet radio aggregator for live news, talk, and public broadcasting, focusing on reliability and simplicity without the clutter of music streaming giants.
For whom: Users seeking live news, talk radio, and public broadcasting without music-focused algorithms, excessive ads, or subscription fees.
Main job: Listen to live radio stations (news, talk, public) instantly and reliably without interruptions or complex interfaces.
Platform
IOS+ANDROID
Monetization: Freemium with optional premium for advanced features (e.g., no ads on all streams, offline caching). · Competitors like Spotify and Pandora use ad-supported and subscription models. Users complain about ad frequency, suggesting willingness to pay for ad-free experience.
1Too many ads interrupting the listening experience, making it annoying and breaking flow. strong
Evidence: 12 complaints from Spotify reviews citing 'too many ads', '4 ads every 2 songs', 'ads when looping'.
What the product does: Offer a clean, ad-free or minimal-ad interface for public and free-to-air stations.
2App freezes, crashes, or disconnects from devices (e.g., Apple Watch), ruining the experience. medium
Evidence: 5 complaints from Spotify reviews mentioning 'freezes up', 'unbearably slow', 'disconnecting from watch'.
What the product does: Optimize for low resource usage and stable background playback across devices.
3High subscription costs for limited features (e.g., skip limits) compared to free alternatives. medium
Evidence: 3 complaints from Spotify reviews citing 'ridiculous expensive', 'limit to listen', 'need a limit to listen'.
What the product does: Provide free access to a wide range of public radio stations without paywalls.
| Feature | Pain | Priority | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Stream Aggregation | — | must | Users search for 'radio app free' and 'internet radio app' to access diverse streams beyond major brands. |
| Ad-Free Playback Mode | №1 | must | Directly addresses the top complaint of excessive ads in dominant apps like Spotify. |
| Stable Background Playback | №2 | must | Users complain about disconnects and freezes, especially on mobile and wearables. |
| Simple Favorites List | — | should | Users want quick access to their preferred stations without navigating complex menus. |
| Competitor | Type | Pricing | App | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| siriusxm.com SiriusXM: Music, Sports, Talk & Podcasts, Live & On Demand | SaaS | yes | no | — |
| siriusxm-internet-radio.en.uptodown.com SiriusXM for Android - Download the APK from Uptodown | SaaS | yes | no | — |
| iheart.com Listen to the Best Podcasts & Shows Online, Free | iHeart | site | no | no | — |
| iheartmedia.com iHeartMedia, Inc. | site | no | no | — |
| iheartradiofamily.com iHeartRadio Family App: Music & Radio Stations for Kids | SaaS | no | yes | — |
| Spotify: Music and Podcasts Spotify | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 42,297,605 |
| Pandora: Music & Podcasts Pandora Media, LLC | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 11,320,553 |
| SiriusXM: Music, Sports & News Sirius XM Radio, LLC | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 3,079,536 |
| TuneIn Radio: Music & Sports TuneIn | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 1,119,674 |
| iHeart: Radio, Music, Podcasts iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 644,614 |
Price
$4.99/month for ad-free premium.
Competitors like Spotify charge ~$9.99/month. A lower price point for a niche, ad-free radio app can attract users frustrated with high costs and ads in larger apps.
Does it add up
Economics work if retention is maintained. CAC ($12.80) is recovered within the first month. LTV ($59.88) provides a healthy margin. Key risk is high churn if users find free alternatives.
Customer acquisition cost
$12.80 (Assuming 10% conversion rate from click to paid user, based on $1.28 CPC).
Paid search: CPC $1.28 · bids $0.35–$1.21 · competition: Moderate
Revenue per customer
$59.88 (Assuming $4.99/month price and 12-month retention, a conservative estimate for a utility app).
Assumptions to validate:
Product · 31 · 482,180
iheart radio app (74,000) · app for sirius radio (60,500) · app for sirius xm radio (60,500) · sirius satellite radio app (60,500) · in tune radio app (33,100) · tunein radio app (33,100)
Commercial · 7 · 24,860
pandora radio free music app (6,600) · radio app free (5,400) · free radio scanner app (4,400) · pandora internet radio app download (2,900) · pandora radio download app (2,900) · free police scanner radio app (2,400)
Comparisons · 2 · 5,800
best police radio scanner app (2,900) · best radio scanner app (2,900)
home · Product
title: Free Radio App - Live News & Talk (33)
H1: Listen to Live Radio Without Ads
description: Access thousands of live radio stations for news, talk, and public broadcasting. Free, ad-free, and reliable. (109)
radio app · radio app free · internet radio app
Compete against Spotify and Pandora by focusing on talk/news niche and ad-free experience.
feature · Commercial
title: Free Police Scanner Radio App (29)
H1: Live Police Scanner Radio
description: Listen to live police scanner feeds in real-time. Free and easy-to-use. (71)
free police scanner radio app · best police radio scanner app
Target niche audience with high intent. Moderate competition in this sub-niche.
faq · Informational
title: Radio App FAQ (13)
H1: Frequently Asked Questions
description: Answers to common questions about our radio app, streaming quality, and features. (81)
Capture long-tail informational queries.
| Topic | Format | When | Phrases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Free Radio Stations for News | article | monthly | live radio app · net radio app |
| How to Listen to Police Scanners Online | guide | quarterly | best police radio scanner app · free police scanner radio app |
Yes, our app offers free access to thousands of live radio stations. We also offer an ad-free premium version for an enhanced experience.
Yes, we aggregate live police scanner feeds from various locations. Check our scanner section for available feeds.
Yes, our app supports stable background playback, allowing you to listen while using other apps or when your screen is off.
Name: RadioFree (9/30)
Subtitle: Live News & Talk (16/30)
Keywords: radio,scanner,free,stream,podcast,music,public (46/100)
Category: Music
Promotional text: Listen to live radio without ads. News, talk, and public broadcasting at your fingertips.
Screenshots:
Name: RadioFree: Live News & Talk (27/30)
Short description: Free live radio app for news, talk, and public broadcasting. Ad-free experience. (80/80)
Key phrases: radio, live, news, talk, scanner, free, stream, public, ad-free, background
RadioFree is your gateway to live radio without the clutter. Listen to thousands of live stations for news, talk, and public broadcasting. Enjoy an ad-free experience, stable background playback, and a simple, lightweight interface. Perfect for news junkies, talk radio fans, and those who prefer public radio over music algorithms. Also includes live police scanner feeds. Download now for a cleaner, more reliable radio experience.
The research has no Google Play data: recommendations rely on queries and the App Store.
Benchmarks: 4.5+ (Targeting higher than Spotify's 4.77 by focusing on reliability and ad-free UX) · 1,000+ (Initial goal, based on median ratings of 6,449 for top apps, but aiming for niche leader status) · Localizations: en
| Name | .com | .app | App Store | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RadioFree radiofree | taken | taken | free | Clear, descriptive, and highlights the ad-free value proposition. |
| LiveRadio liveradio | taken | — | free | Directly targets the 'live radio' search intent. |
| TalkRadio talkradio | — | — | free | Focuses on the talk/news niche, differentiating from music apps. |
| PureRadio pureradio | — | — | free | Emphasizes the clean, ad-free experience. |
| StreamRadio streamradio | — | — | free | Highlights the streaming capability and simplicity. |
Domains checked via RDAP, names via the App Store. Check trademarks before registering.
Listen to Live Radio Without Ads
Access thousands of live news, talk, and public radio stations. Simple, fast, and ad-free.
Yes, our app does not show ads for public and free-to-air radio streams. We may offer optional premium features for advanced users.
Yes, we aggregate live police scanner feeds from various locations. Availability depends on the region.
Yes, our app supports stable background playback, allowing you to listen while using other apps or when your screen is off.
| Channel | What the data supports | First step | Effort | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Ads Organic search | CPC is affordable ($1.28) and competition is moderate. Weak SERP for 'app for sirius xm radio' offers an entry point. | Launch campaigns targeting 'radio app free' and 'app for sirius xm radio' with ad-free messaging. | low | now |
| App Store Optimization App stores | High competition in App Store, but niche keywords like 'police scanner' have lower competition. | Optimize app title, subtitle, and keywords for 'radio', 'live', 'news', 'scanner', 'free'. | medium | now |
| Reddit & HackerNews Communities | High engagement on HackerNews for radio/SDR apps (e.g., ShinySDR, AzuraCast). Users value technical quality and ad-free experiences. | Share app on r/radio, r/technology, and HackerNews as a 'Show HN' post, highlighting ad-free and lightweight features. | medium | at launch |
| YouTube Guides Content and video | Informational queries for 'how to listen to police scanners' and 'best radio apps' can be addressed with video content. | Create a video guide on 'How to Listen to Live Police Scanners Online' and link to the app. | high | later |
| Public Radio Stations Partnerships and integrations | Partnerships with public radio stations can provide exclusive content and credibility. | Reach out to local public radio stations for potential content partnerships or featured placement. | high | later |
Metrics:
Interview questions:
| Risk | What to do |
|---|---|
| Licensing issues for copyrighted content. | Focus exclusively on public domain, free-to-air, and explicitly licensed streams. Avoid aggregating major commercial broadcasters without permission. |
| High churn due to free alternatives. | Build a strong brand around reliability and ad-free experience. Offer unique features like police scanners and stable background playback to differentiate. |
| Technical instability leading to negative reviews. | Invest in robust backend infrastructure and thorough testing for background playback and connectivity issues. |
| Difficulty in acquiring users in a crowded market. | Leverage niche keywords (police scanner, ad-free) and community marketing (HackerNews, Reddit) to target specific audiences. |
The report was written by a language model from the collected research data and may be inaccurate; each recommendation cites its source, verify it against the raw data. Generated 2026-09-27T18:14:54+00:00.
Data: search demand, search results, the App Store, public-interest and developer community signals. The verdict is computed by rules from these numbers; the explanation and the plan are written by a language model. Both are evidence to check, not a promise.
There is demand, but not everything is in its favour. TGGET scored “radio app” 0 on a scale from -6 to +5. In its favour: paid traffic is affordable. Against it: the app stores are crowded with large apps. The verdict is “Needs validation”.
TGGET measured 6,600 monthly searches for “radio app” in the United States in September 2026. Search interest is about stable: -19% over a year.
1 of 3 checked search results are weak and 0 are strong. 45 competing apps were found in the App Store; 19 of them have more than 10,000 ratings, and the median app has 6,449 ratings.
A click in paid search costs about $1.28, and competitors in this niche charge for their products.
Through “app for sirius xm radio”: 60,500 searches a month and weak search results.
TGGET computes the verdict by rules from five measured factors: demand, its change over a year, competition in the app stores, the strength of the search results and the cost of paid traffic. Each factor adds or takes away points and the sum decides, so the same numbers always give the same answer. A language model writes the explanation and the plan; it does not choose the verdict.
Three full researches are free: demand, sub-niches, competitors, App Store and community signals, and a report like this one. Type a phrase or describe the idea in your own words.
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