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Radio in 2025

M

MediaLover

What do you guys think will happen locally for radio in 2025?

My guess is some of the stations will tweak, likely a lot more departures on and off-air, and maybe some online stations going on the air.
 
I look for it too stay pretty much the same. I think some stations are so afraid to change anything or try anything new because they're afraid of losing what little local advertisers they have left. The thing that'll probably make them start needing new set of underwear every other hour is if the National advertisers [boner pills, Balance of Nature, IRS is gonna get you ads] decide it's not worth spending money on them any more.
 
Yabadabado1 said:
I look for it too stay pretty much the same. I think some stations are so afraid to change anything or try anything new because they're afraid of losing what little local advertisers they have left. The thing that'll probably make them start needing new set of underwear every other hour is if the National advertisers [boner pills, Balance of Nature, IRS is gonna get you ads] decide it's not worth spending money on them any more.
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I think radio would be hurt more if Geico, Progressive, O'Reilly and AutoZone decided to abandon radio.
 
I would expect at least one station in the market to start using an AI-generated air talent(s) for their broadcasting slots. This would allow the robot voices to talk in present terms (time and weather and news updates) and to speak about the hottest news and sports instead of having someone voice-track/pre-record their shifts with limited current events info. The only good thing about this will be the station may sound a bit more relevant with the times, but it all will depend if the AI-bot does not sound like an AI-bot.

And iHeart/Audacity/etc... will continue to cut more of what's left of live, local voices.
 
Thank God for the college stations. I listen them more frequently now than in years past. Let's hope they don't get gobbled up by the media giants.
 
skiwest said:
Thank God for the college stations. I listen them more frequently now than in years past. Let's hope they don't get gobbled up by the media giants.
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Or have their licenses turned in by the schools because few students are interested in radio anymore and the stations serve no educational purpose.
 
CTListener said:
Or have their licenses turned in by the schools because few students are interested in radio anymore and the stations serve no educational purpose.
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Well, perhaps they could then become listener supported stations similar to WHKR. Most of the local college stations have good coverage in the Cleveland area.
 
I don't listen to the Fish and I am not familiar with EMF. I assume the Fish airs local programming and EMF airs non-local satellite-fed programming. If that is the case, that sucks.
 
skiwest said:
I don't listen to the Fish and I am not familiar with EMF. I assume the Fish airs local programming and EMF airs non-local satellite-fed programming. If that is the case, that sucks.
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Correct, EMF currently operates two national formats (K-Love which is similar to The Fish), and Air1 which airs contemporary worship music (think what people sing Sunday morning in church these days). Outside of a 'marketing' person to drum up local support they do not have local studios/personalities - some markets they do air a 30 minute "localized public affairs" type program though to keep the FCC happy.
 
skiwest said:
I don't listen to the Fish and I am not familiar with EMF. I assume the Fish airs local programming and EMF airs non-local satellite-fed programming. If that is the case, that sucks.
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Fish is local in AM and PM drive, K-Love (the more likely option for 95.5) is 100% off the bird.
 
MediaLover said:
Well, Salem is selling seven of their Christian AC stations, including WFHM 95.5 The Fish in Cleveland, EMF (the group behind K-LOVE and Air 1).

Salem Media Group Sells Seven Stations To EMF; Repay All Debt With New Investor
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If I were to lay down some (imaginary) money, I'd say K-Love goes to 95.5, with Air1 on the translators.

K-Love plays the same basic stuff as the Fish, so format wise, it's a wash.

The main difference is that you lose the local touch, as K-Love is 100% satellite.
 
vjm said:
If I were to lay down some (imaginary) money, I'd say K-Love goes to 95.5, with Air1 on the translators.

K-Love plays the same basic stuff as the Fish, so format wise, it's a wash.

The main difference is that you lose the local touch, as K-Love is 100% satellite.
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I wouldn't be surprised if EMF buys another Cleveland station to use as Air 1 to compliment WFHM.

A part of me wishes Ideastream grabbed 95.5 to bring WCLV back to the signal.
 
At least the other shoe has dropped (for now). I hope EMF is happy with a full-power station here. I was concerned they would pull a New York 95.5 on us, buying a major station and sending it into robo-oblivion.
Still, it means the market loses a commercial frequency, which is probably good news. Even though the Fish wasn't a big player, it still siphoned off some business that now may go elsewhere. Of course, this doesn't mean EMF may not gobble up another station here to satisfy its seemingly insatiable appetite.
Hey, with all this money, perhaps Salem will spend some on WHK! 😂
 
And what of reports that Salem was going to move the 95.5 transmitter from the tower in Warrensville Heights on the east side of 271 to another tower down the road on the west side of 271? Will that happen now?
Another tidbit: In the Great Swap and Sale, it was reported Salem paid Bob Conrad some $55 million for 95.5. Now, they're selling 7 stations including 95.5 for $80 million. Who saw who coming, eh?
 
For starters, 25 will not be an election year, so no revenue from that. Although it seems a large portion of political just goes to TV and online media. I think 25 will be bleak for radio. Radio has got to figure out how to grow income. It seems that for the last many years the focus has been on cutting costs. If a business, any business does not grow its income, the outlook is not good.
 
Santa fe said:
Another tidbit: In the Great Swap and Sale, it was reported Salem paid Bob Conrad some $55 million for 95.5. Now, they're selling 7 stations including 95.5 for $80 million. Who saw who coming, eh?
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EMF got a good deal with this purchase of stations - My understanding what has been 94.9 KLTY Dalas sold for around $60 million back in the day when signals were valued a lot more.
 
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