WETA’s William Harrison Shares Where Radio Is Headed
In a Radio World profile, William Harrison, chief engineer at WETA-FM, shared his outlook on where radio is headed and what could shape the industry in the near future. Harrison points to the potential loss of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding as one of the biggest pressures facing public radio, forcing stations to rethink staffing, local content, and even long-standing operational responsibilities as budgets tighten.
On the technology front, Harrison sees artificial intelligence as the dominant force heading into 2026. From assisting with programming decisions to experimenting with AI-generated voice content, he believes the technology will become part of everyday workflows. At the same time, he notes that AI raises serious ethical and legal questions, especially when it comes to voice cloning and on-air authenticity. He also expects continued movement away from hardware-heavy studios toward more virtualized, software-driven systems.
Looking further ahead, Harrison predicts a leaner broadcast landscape overall, with fewer AM and FM stations and a shrinking pool of broadcast equipment manufacturers. He also flags a growing concern inside the industry: an aging engineering workforce with not enough new talent entering the field. As listening continues to shift toward streaming platforms, smart TVs, and devices like Roku, Harrison believes radio will survive, but only by continuing to adapt how it delivers content to audiences who no longer rely on a traditional radio dial.
