In newer cars with video displays and HD Radio capability, the screen can show a small image next to the song information. It's typically album cover art for the song that is playing, but a lot of stations just put their station logo up and keep it there.
Satellite radio had this capability very early, and HD Radio seems to want to keep up with that.
The data itself is sent on a sideband data channel that rides along with the traditional FM channel. Lots of links to read up starting here: https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/HD_Radio_(FM)
What's interesting is that this traffic map is also loaded on Mazda cars, but shown in a different application. Somehow the system searches for a HDRadio signal in the background to update this map from an independent receiver.
I've had AM radio on for long periods and then load this app, and the traffic map is up to date. I've also driven to a different city and the map is now showing the new city.
If you asked drivers "would you like a brand icon shown on your screen for the radio station, the trade-off is a couple bucks more expensive car and more opportunity for bugs to crash your radio" -- who would say yes? Does anyone actually want this "HD Radio" technology, did anyone ask for it?
Who are the car manufacturers (and radio standards setters for that matter) working for?
"Would you like a car that updates its entire control panel, unannounced, with a software upgrade and will hide familiar buttons on you when you need them the most?"
Yes, my last car I specifically looked for HD Radio support. The metadata is nice to have, but the audio quality is genuinely much better. Especially on AM, where a lot of sports broadcasts still are, depending on the market.
And its where the stations hide their good content. it's no spotify of course, but a way more diverse offering on many stations hd2 and hd3 signals, still without ads on several as well.
I believe moving to digital also allows stations to broadcast more channels. For instance, KUOW, the source of this bug, has KUOW-2 and KUOW-3 only accessible via HD Radio that broadcast things like the BBC news feed and classical music.
Of course, maybe you'd like to have that option without being exposed to logos.
Yes, I want HD Radio. In Los Angeles, KROQ's secondary HD channel plays KROQ as it existed in the 1980's, including some old jingles and such. I think it's such a cool idea.
I'm surprised you haven't seen this before. Even as a consultant way back in 2012, many basic rental cars had this feature. It shows album art and other metadata about the currently playing track or show. I believe it's part of HD radio.
At least that's the case in the USA. I seem to recall seeing the same in European vehicles as well.
