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Classic Hits on AM

The simple truth is that the sound quality on AM radio is so bad that it's almost unlistenable for music for the average radio listener. Therefore, no matter what kind of music you put on AM, not many people will be willing to endure the totally shitty sound quality in order to listen to it. I'm sorry to be the bearer of such bad news, but reality is what it is.

Tell that to Greater Media... WMTR Morristown, NJ, in the New York City MSA. $1.5 million in billings last year on a fairly limited high-band AM signal in the shadow of the New York City stations. And a 3.5 share in the Morristown embedded market consisting of Morris County, NJ.

There are quite a few of those examples, mostly in similar fringe suburban situations or in smaller markets.
 
Tell that to Greater Media... WMTR Morristown, NJ, in the New York City MSA. $1.5 million in billings last year on a fairly limited high-band AM signal in the shadow of the New York City stations. And a 3.5 share in the Morristown embedded market consisting of Morris County, NJ.

There are quite a few of those examples, mostly in similar fringe suburban situations or in smaller markets.

Apparently there are a lot of people in New Jersey who like shitty sounding radio.
 
Apparently there are a lot of people in New Jersey who like shitty sounding radio.

Or maybe you like to "awfulize" things way out of proportion.
 


But that station attributes most of its listening to its FM translator. And even with the FM, it gets between a 0.1 and 0.2 share in the ratings.

And they sound GREAT regardless of their ratings. A low-rated station can easily sound much better in selection and presentation than an overrated large market corporate montrocity.
 
And they sound GREAT regardless of their ratings. A low-rated station can easily sound much better in selection and presentation than an overrated large market corporate montrocity.

If a tree falls in a forest....
 
I'll accept that, if you will accept that you are not in the target audience of the stations we program, so why do you care?

Sure I am. 47 fits in nicely in the 25-54 target classic hits stations are seeking. I care more about presentation and the music.
 
Sure I am. 47 fits in nicely in the 25-54 target classic hits stations are seeking. I care more about presentation and the music.

But in musical taste, you are a tiny, tiny, small, minuscule minority. Stations don't program to that kind of target.
 


But in musical taste, you are a tiny, tiny, small, minuscule minority. Stations don't program to that kind of target.

I disagree. There are many people that love music just like myself, far more than your research will ever reveal. Most are not as outspoken as I am, especially on boards like this, so you'll never know. We are a minority, yes, but far, far greater than you'll ever realize. You have been known to exaggerate. Nothing wrong with that, but it's so obvious, makes me laugh sometimes.
 
I disagree. There are many people that love music just like myself, far more than your research will ever reveal. Most are not as outspoken as I am, especially on boards like this, so you'll never know. We are a minority, yes, but far, far greater than you'll ever realize. You have been known to exaggerate. Nothing wrong with that, but it's so obvious, makes me laugh sometimes.

The fault in your logic is that "target demo" means not only age, but satisfaction as a listener with the specific music played and its presentation. It doesn't matter how much you love music in general. It doesn't matter how "greater" your minority is. It does matter that we get sufficient numbers (the majority to your minority) who are satisfied to get decent ratings which translate into advertising revenue.

And the biggest "doesn't matter" of them all ... IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH YOU "DISCUSS" WHAT MUSIC WE DON'T PLAY. There simply aren't enough of you to outnumber the satisfied listeners.

I'll stop here so you can "invite me to leave" as if you owned the place.
 
I'll stop here so you can "invite me to leave" as if you owned the place.

Don't need to do that. But you're the one who has a hard time accepting my reasons. You and I will never come to a consensus. We can just discuss radio among us, like it should be and which I prefer greatly. I don't "own the place" and neither do you. Thanks.
 
The fault in your logic is that "target demo" means not only age, but satisfaction as a listener with the specific music played and its presentation.

But that's irrelevant. I'm just mentioning people who enjoy music deeply without regards to your research. Just people who enjoy music.
 
The fault in your logic is that "target demo" means not only age, but satisfaction as a listener with the specific music played and its presentation. It doesn't matter how much you love music in general. It doesn't matter how "greater" your minority is. It does matter that we get sufficient numbers (the majority to your minority) who are satisfied to get decent ratings which translate into advertising revenue.

And the biggest "doesn't matter" of them all ... IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH YOU "DISCUSS" WHAT MUSIC WE DON'T PLAY. There simply aren't enough of you to outnumber the satisfied listeners.


Note to oldies76: IT SHOULD'T MATTER if you are dissatisfied with commercial radio. There are PLENTY of other options out there. AM/FM receivers as a way of listening to music are obsolete.
 
AM/FM receivers as a way of listening to music are obsolete.

Are you sure??? You make me laugh, with a ridiculous statement like this. The world does not just revolve around your hand-held smart phone. And if it were obsolete as you say, radio would not broadcasting thru expensive transmitters to accommodate your obsolete receivers.
 
This is just my opinion.

AM/FM receivers may become obsolete when the following happens:

1. Broadband wireless internet connections are available everywhere.
2. There is no charge to access broadband wireless internet connections.

When these things occur, streaming might become a viable option to free over-the-air broadcasting.
Until then ..... AM/FM stations will continue to dominate.
 
This is just my opinion.

AM/FM receivers may become obsolete when the following happens:

1. Broadband wireless internet connections are available everywhere.
2. There is no charge to access broadband wireless internet connections.

When these things occur, streaming might become a viable option to free over-the-air broadcasting.
Until then ..... AM/FM stations will continue to dominate.

I agree with #2 but don't see any way #1 will ever happen and specifically not in combination with #2. #1 is almost achievable today in most areas of the country (but there are still big white spaces where there is no cell coverage and that isn't likely to change very soon) but there is always a cost associated with the transmission. Even if we assume it could be done successfully/financially using existing cell systems there would be capacity issues. Some significant things are going to have to happen to enable this kind of replacement for AM/FM. Perhaps some sort of hybrid satellite service?
 
Are you sure??? You make me laugh, with a ridiculous statement like this. The world does not just revolve around your hand-held smart phone. And if it were obsolete as you say, radio would not broadcasting thru expensive transmitters to accommodate your obsolete receivers.

No need to focus on live streaming. Most car radios/CD players today have a USB port. Simply download podcasts or live streaming from your favorite internet radio stations from a computer onto a flash drive and you have hours of your favorite music. Fans of '50s & '60s music might want to download podcasts from this site:


http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=2668&cmd=tc
 
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