I've worked in AM radio during college back in the 90's and still listen to it today over most of the FM stations near where I live. I wondered if there are others out there who listen mostly to AM radio and particularly those who listen to AM radio for music and information over much better sounding FM stations also available. If you listen to AM over FM, why do you listen to it? I realize there is more talk on AM, but some local stations do play music on AM and these people who listen for that reason are who I'm targeting this question toward.
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Anyone Prefer AM Radio Over FM Radio For Music And Information?
- Thread starter guyinmgm
- Start date
Do I like AM radio better than FM for music AND information? No.
Information, yes. Music, not so much. Every AM music station I could possibly like either has NO on-air personalities, or they throw in things that shouldn't be in their format's playlist combined with having too much static anyways.
But there is something about AM that I just really, really love. I used to spend hours every night (several years ago), just going one-by-one up and down the AM radio dial and catching stations from as far away as Lincoln, Nebraska, here in Phoenix, AZ!
Information, yes. Music, not so much. Every AM music station I could possibly like either has NO on-air personalities, or they throw in things that shouldn't be in their format's playlist combined with having too much static anyways.
But there is something about AM that I just really, really love. I used to spend hours every night (several years ago), just going one-by-one up and down the AM radio dial and catching stations from as far away as Lincoln, Nebraska, here in Phoenix, AZ!
In my town not much to listen to on the AM band other than talk. Up the road a bit are several small town stations that still play music. Most are country music and one still playing ac/oldies and doing it quite well. I listen to it when I get in range. Mostly live announcers and more entertaining than the FM stations in their area that are on satellite.
I used to listen to AM at night picking up signals from WLS, WBAP, WOWO, WABC and many others but that has gotten almost impossible to do anymore, also with most of them doing talk formats it's not worth the effort.
I used to listen to AM at night picking up signals from WLS, WBAP, WOWO, WABC and many others but that has gotten almost impossible to do anymore, also with most of them doing talk formats it's not worth the effort.
knoxbob said:
It was how I found such shows as Coast to Coast AM and the Phil Hendrie Show back when I was in elementary school. Found Coast to Coast on 770 KKOB, Albuquerque and found Phil Hendrie on 850 KOA Denver... and struggled through times of a lot of static, not knowing what a syndicated show was back then... ;D
I prefer AM probably right now as it's strange to hear the music of today on AM with the maximum of AM stations becoming gospel,ethnic, or talk.
Where I am, most of the stations have gone talk and it takes me to leave my area to really get a feel of AM music radio these days. But I find these music stations are usually more locally connected than the FM station that just uses a city name in ID only anymore.
I grew up near two of the legendary AM top 40 stations in the South. WNOE and WTIX and to this day still prefer some music in Am quality over FM probably because of the memories associated by them.
It's sad what has happened to many stations however, with either disrepair or even giving up the licenses fully. But at least I see a new breed of radio operator bringing back the AM radio even if it's for love more than money.
RFLA
Where I am, most of the stations have gone talk and it takes me to leave my area to really get a feel of AM music radio these days. But I find these music stations are usually more locally connected than the FM station that just uses a city name in ID only anymore.
I grew up near two of the legendary AM top 40 stations in the South. WNOE and WTIX and to this day still prefer some music in Am quality over FM probably because of the memories associated by them.
It's sad what has happened to many stations however, with either disrepair or even giving up the licenses fully. But at least I see a new breed of radio operator bringing back the AM radio even if it's for love more than money.
RFLA
AM over FM or Satellite?
To me, it's like watching LIVE sports in HD, then saying, "no thanks, I prefer analog black and white. YUK
To me, it's like watching LIVE sports in HD, then saying, "no thanks, I prefer analog black and white. YUK
I like listening to oldies on AM mainly because thats where I heard them for the first time. also many old songs from the 60's sound kinda funny on FM mainly because to the FM proccessing that causes some songs to sound tinny and shrill. Plus many of those old songs were actually mixed to sound good on a cheap mono radio in the first place, and when you put it through a good set of speakers it can sometimes sound worse believe it or not.
I really don't care if its AM FM or CB as long as they have a good disk jockey and they play some decent music. But I think its sad that so many once great AM stations have gone down the tubes and they don't even maintain their transmitters and audio anymore.
I really don't care if its AM FM or CB as long as they have a good disk jockey and they play some decent music. But I think its sad that so many once great AM stations have gone down the tubes and they don't even maintain their transmitters and audio anymore.
I have to echo Flytraps comment of not really caring what the technology platform is, my need is content.
That said, I think a lot of AM stations are missing golden opportunities for revenues by assuming the possum mode and thinking that they don't have a leg to stand on. Given the right format, an AM station can make some impressive revenue and numbers.
That said, I think a lot of AM stations are missing golden opportunities for revenues by assuming the possum mode and thinking that they don't have a leg to stand on. Given the right format, an AM station can make some impressive revenue and numbers.
A
andreajesus
Guest
Yes, depending on:
1) the kind of music one likes (in certain formats - 50/60's oldies, gospel, talk - you know, the formats that generally skew AWAY from the 25-54 demographic that Madison Avenue likes - it is the AM stations that are playin the doowopps, that are playin the Kirk Franklins and the Yolanda Adams, that have the Michael Savages, the John Gamblings - you know, the people that DO NOT care about the latest Ne-Yo or J-Lo or Justin record, you know what I'm saying?)
2) also on where one lives and the particular radio dynamics surrounding that area - give you a good example. In NYC where I live, between 6/3/05 and 7/12/07, there were NO oldies of ANY kind being played on FM on a MASS level - even though there was a VERY GOOD FM station (WBZO) playing them - a LOT of people were not able to pick up the station (they were based out of Babylon); it was the AMs (WMTR 1250/1170, WNNJ 1360) that was REALLY selling it at that time...
1) the kind of music one likes (in certain formats - 50/60's oldies, gospel, talk - you know, the formats that generally skew AWAY from the 25-54 demographic that Madison Avenue likes - it is the AM stations that are playin the doowopps, that are playin the Kirk Franklins and the Yolanda Adams, that have the Michael Savages, the John Gamblings - you know, the people that DO NOT care about the latest Ne-Yo or J-Lo or Justin record, you know what I'm saying?)
2) also on where one lives and the particular radio dynamics surrounding that area - give you a good example. In NYC where I live, between 6/3/05 and 7/12/07, there were NO oldies of ANY kind being played on FM on a MASS level - even though there was a VERY GOOD FM station (WBZO) playing them - a LOT of people were not able to pick up the station (they were based out of Babylon); it was the AMs (WMTR 1250/1170, WNNJ 1360) that was REALLY selling it at that time...
guyinmgm said:
When I'm not DX'ing or scanning the dials, I usually listen WSCN 100.5, our local MPR News station. When the programming on MPR doesn't interest me, I'll occasionally switch to AM. In the past at night I would check out KOA, WLS, CBW, among other stations, but this has become a less rewarding experience with IBOC splatter making many of my skywave regulars hard to listen to in a car, where I can't null out the noise. Generally, however, I'm an FM listener.
AM radio is dying a slow death. at one point when news talk was hot, it looked like Am might get a reprive....but owners have since neglected there equipment, and now, AM is all but impossible to get with a clear loud signal.
landtuna said:
Of course!Funny how I get KAZG better than KFYI.
Now some AM Talk stations are moving over to the FM side. We know how it's doing in Phoenix, but it'll be interesting to see how it does in other markets. At least we can HEAR them clearly, now.
Where I live, the following local AM stations play music:
KSSK AM 590 AC
KRTR AM 650 Soft AC/Oldies (same as WDUV/Tampa)
KHCM AM 880 Country (simulcasts 97.5 FM)
KKNE AM 940 Traditional Hawaiian
KORL AM 1180 Filipino music
KZOO AM 1210 Japanese music
KHRA AM 1460 Korean music
At night, I can pick up KHBC AM 1060 from Hilo on the Big Island. KHBC plays the most interesting mix of music: rock, classic rock, standards, jazz, blues, country, classic country, and Hawaiian music. I love the small-town sound of KHBC, which runs 5000 watts day and night.
KSSK AM 590 AC
KRTR AM 650 Soft AC/Oldies (same as WDUV/Tampa)
KHCM AM 880 Country (simulcasts 97.5 FM)
KKNE AM 940 Traditional Hawaiian
KORL AM 1180 Filipino music
KZOO AM 1210 Japanese music
KHRA AM 1460 Korean music
At night, I can pick up KHBC AM 1060 from Hilo on the Big Island. KHBC plays the most interesting mix of music: rock, classic rock, standards, jazz, blues, country, classic country, and Hawaiian music. I love the small-town sound of KHBC, which runs 5000 watts day and night.
KOOL Listener Lauren said:
AM talk has been moving to FM for a number of years, and in all cases has been successful... in some, amazingly successful. Remember, the objective is to imporve the 25-54 numbers, and that is instant. Jut look at SLC, Dayton, Jacksonville, Charleston, Indianapolis, DC, etc., to see how truly well this move does in improving the sales demos of 25-54.
Phoenix s an example of how successful this can be where the two KTAR's now have a 5.0 share against KFYI's 2.6 in 25-54!
I think AM is great for certain kinds of music.
I used to listen to a lot of top-40 and jazz on AM back in the 60's. There was a warmth and punch to the sound that seems to be missing in today's radio. Those formats can still sound great on AM. I listened once to KRML in Carmel, CA which broadcasts jazz in stereo and it sounded wonderful on my little Sony SRF-AX15.
Part of AM's problem, I feel, are the receivers being made today. The majority don't do AM justice. To hear Coltrane or The Beatles on an old tube Grundig with "magic eye" tuning was heaven.
I understand Jeff Deck's Meduci AM stereo tuner offers amazing fidelity for only $150.00.
The other problems afflicting AM are increased environmental noise, an over-crowded band and HD-AM. And then we have unimaginative programmers who think AM is only good for a few types of formats. Here in Los Angeles, the only music stations on AM are Hispanic.
But AM has the potential to sound great broadcasting music. Just ask Bill Norman with his station WNMB in Myrtle Beach which broadcasts oldies in stereo. He's always getting complements from listeners on the quality of his audio, "better than FM", they say on his website.
So to answer your question, I would gladly listen to music on AM if I could get it. But to truly savor it, I would probably need my old Grundig.
C5
I used to listen to a lot of top-40 and jazz on AM back in the 60's. There was a warmth and punch to the sound that seems to be missing in today's radio. Those formats can still sound great on AM. I listened once to KRML in Carmel, CA which broadcasts jazz in stereo and it sounded wonderful on my little Sony SRF-AX15.
Part of AM's problem, I feel, are the receivers being made today. The majority don't do AM justice. To hear Coltrane or The Beatles on an old tube Grundig with "magic eye" tuning was heaven.
I understand Jeff Deck's Meduci AM stereo tuner offers amazing fidelity for only $150.00.
The other problems afflicting AM are increased environmental noise, an over-crowded band and HD-AM. And then we have unimaginative programmers who think AM is only good for a few types of formats. Here in Los Angeles, the only music stations on AM are Hispanic.
But AM has the potential to sound great broadcasting music. Just ask Bill Norman with his station WNMB in Myrtle Beach which broadcasts oldies in stereo. He's always getting complements from listeners on the quality of his audio, "better than FM", they say on his website.
So to answer your question, I would gladly listen to music on AM if I could get it. But to truly savor it, I would probably need my old Grundig.
C5
Carmine5 said:
The only Spanish language radio station that plays some music is KHJ (KIIS and Power are Hispanic stations... KHJ is a Spanish language station) but only as fill between the talk of people like Humberto Luna and Jaime Piña who are pretty much talk hosts. The other Spanish language AMs are talk, sports and religion.
For the reasons you mentioned... noise levels, band congestion and receivers, there is no way for AM to sound good again.
Which of the 11 listeners says that? The station has not shown in the ratings for at least 6 or 7 years.
Obviously the noise issue is real, and seems to be getting worse by the year due to many factors, broadcaster and non-broadcaster created.
AM will never sound as good when compared to other transmission types, just as FM will not sound like XM, DRM, etc. However, AM can sound very acceptable in most cases, and equal to FM in the small receiver arena.
In 90% of the cases I've dealt with, the biggest issues are lack of a good ground system (deterioration), improperly adjusted tuning networks, improperly aligned transmitters or processors. When corrected, the stations can be very pleasing to listen to, and accepted by the public on the merits of both technical quality and programming.
Along with the noise floor increasing, I think the ignorance factor is also increasing. A lot of station management I deal with know their stations are in trouble. They just don't know what has happened, whom to call, and how to deal with it.
AM will never sound as good when compared to other transmission types, just as FM will not sound like XM, DRM, etc. However, AM can sound very acceptable in most cases, and equal to FM in the small receiver arena.
In 90% of the cases I've dealt with, the biggest issues are lack of a good ground system (deterioration), improperly adjusted tuning networks, improperly aligned transmitters or processors. When corrected, the stations can be very pleasing to listen to, and accepted by the public on the merits of both technical quality and programming.
Along with the noise floor increasing, I think the ignorance factor is also increasing. A lot of station management I deal with know their stations are in trouble. They just don't know what has happened, whom to call, and how to deal with it.
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