If I may interject here, and bring my 24 year old thoughts into the conversation. I'm closer related to the millennials than gen z'ers, but sorta in between both. Anyway, I digress.
WTDY is in perhaps the trickiest situation in philly radio right now. Mostly all your major market formats are covered, some more than others.
Here are my thoughts on what formats they couldn't be blamed for trying next and why.
1- Country. WXTU is Philly's only country outlet. It's been that way for god knows how long. But, many large markets have multiple country stations, (i.e Dallas KSCS and KPLX, Atlanta WUBL, WKHX, Balt/Wash corridor WPOC, WMZQ, Boston WBWL, WKLB) Even Boston, north of Philly, has two country stations. I think the market is there for a competitor that plays music when WXTU is in commercials. I imagine that's how the two would co-exist in a listener's mind, "Oh XTU is playing ads, lemme go to 96.5). Would it/ should it try to blow XTU out of the water? No, absolutely not. that's likely impossible.
2- Classic alternative. A lesser-known format, but profitable and popular when done right. BUT, it would HAVE to play stuff none of the rockers (MMR, MGK, RFF) play. It would have to be unique, and lean in to playing all the alt rock Radio, I mean ALT 104.5 doesn't. But also toe the line between too obscure and too mainstream. I think with the right PDs and library curators it could easily work. Sorta reviving WDRE, but not really.
3- Pacifica Foundation/ WBAI. Not a ratings machine, but certainly would attract the WHYY/NPR/ Liberal audience. A few major setbacks though. Pacifica finically is not that great right now, especially after what happened with WBAI not that long ago.
4- Bloomberg radio. WDCH in Washington is a Bloomberg affiliate and does modestly well, and would likely attract an audience in Philly, seeing as how Philly is part of the 95 business corridor. Worth a shot at least, seeing as how I don't think Bloomberg has ever come to Philly.
Might I add that, I think attracting folks my age to radio is possible, but we'll have to think outside the box. The biggest issue with radio in our modern age is simply that it's not interactive. Spotify, podcasts on demand, have basically killed any real chance for radio to be the leading voice. You simply cannot compete with a medium that let's you hear exactly what you want to hear, when you want to hear it. Radio is controlled by someone else. Whatever they choose is what you're stuck with, even if you flip the dial, it's just another person.
So, we must then laser focus on what radio DOES have that nothing else can deliver. For one thing, it's free and doesn't use phone data. It's there when the power goes out. It's secure and doesn't track you or hack your data. It's safer when driving than using your phone. It's reliable and stands the test of time. But something I was going to say is actually no longer true. Underserved communities, local dialects and things like that don't need a community station necessarily anymore. Anyone with a half decent microphone can start a podcast or free internet stream and serve their community for next to nothing compared to trying to start an LPFM.
However, radio remains king in developing countries and poor countries. Because of limited or no internet access, MW/FM/Shortwave radio continues to deliver news and entertainment for free only limited by how far their signal travels. Until the entire globe is covered in WiFi (which isn't entirely a good thing unless it's free for all to use) radio will still be there to serve everyone else who can't access spotify or internet streams. I think we oughta lean into that aspect of radio for it to remain at least a little bit relevant.
Also, and this is just to be that guy, but I want DAB & DAB+ in America, damnit!
