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Future of AM Radio
- Thread starter mgpt6
- Start date
JIBGUY said:
It's about more than "numbers" or even getting a "committed" listenership. They have to be able to be monetized in a significant enough way to pay the bills. At WCAS our "folk" format got notably LOWER ratings than the Oldies which proceeded it, or the "community service" (Wickus Island) which preceded that, but they couldn't generate enough revenue to meet the costs. What WCAS had was a visible, saleable community (alternative 70's lifestyle in Cambridge & Somerville) which local merchants would support. WJIB has found an entirely different model, and good for you, but I seriously question whether jazz, or Woodstock-stuff, or most anything else would attract enough patrons to survive. Especially if the costs of running even a skeletal staff and non-grandfathered transmitter site were factored in. (And then I guess I'm talking about something run as more than a hobby for a juke-box with airwaves aficionado.)
No disrespect intended, but this isn't really a business model which is likely to survive - and like others in the thread, I don't even think the big boys on AM are immune to the encroachment on their formats by the FM sticks. Of course some of them will simply be flipped as owners of hard-to-replicate franchises (I.e. news, talk-personality) simply change locations from AM to FM, but methinks those kilocycles are destined to go silent sooner or later.
I realize this thread is about the future of AM radio. But, after earlier this year "retiring" after 40+ years from radio (on-air and in ad sales and ad sales management)...I also question the long-term health of FM radio as well.
Why? The overwhelming number of music-format radio stations in the US are, IMHO, boring. Lifeless. Same-old, same-old 300 to 400 tracks played over and over and over and over. What's worse is, other than commercials, promos, sweepers, and sales-driven promos...there's really nothing to listen to.
No real local nuggets of info that a listener would care about or find interesting.
I'm not talking about 3 minute "bits" or joke-service comedy liners read by morning teams.
Back in the 70's and 80's we could add a bit of local info/spice over a 10-second intro a few times an hour. Or, at the end of a stopset maybe 10-seconds or so of something local/topical. We didn't do such things every time we cracked the mic...maybe 3 or 4 times an hour. But...it was local content...quick...but made you feel like there was a real person playing those songs talking about things going on in the community.
Today it's just...DULL, passionless, droll, beyond boring, really. Automation.
So, while those FM folks talk about the possible death of AMs...they might want to consider their own future. To me, radio's in trouble. And many who work in the industry privately admit it.
Why? The overwhelming number of music-format radio stations in the US are, IMHO, boring. Lifeless. Same-old, same-old 300 to 400 tracks played over and over and over and over. What's worse is, other than commercials, promos, sweepers, and sales-driven promos...there's really nothing to listen to.
No real local nuggets of info that a listener would care about or find interesting.
I'm not talking about 3 minute "bits" or joke-service comedy liners read by morning teams.
Back in the 70's and 80's we could add a bit of local info/spice over a 10-second intro a few times an hour. Or, at the end of a stopset maybe 10-seconds or so of something local/topical. We didn't do such things every time we cracked the mic...maybe 3 or 4 times an hour. But...it was local content...quick...but made you feel like there was a real person playing those songs talking about things going on in the community.
Today it's just...DULL, passionless, droll, beyond boring, really. Automation.
So, while those FM folks talk about the possible death of AMs...they might want to consider their own future. To me, radio's in trouble. And many who work in the industry privately admit it.
It's a shame but they feel most listeners don't want that. Just music. And if anything many have
turned to their Ipods. With the debut of 101.7 some have said "we used to have to rely on
our Ipods to hear this...now it's on the radio!"
Heck on my station we do interviews, live performances, bits of info on the artist (I do,
certainly). We also have a mighty 130 watts... (but! Streamcast)
turned to their Ipods. With the debut of 101.7 some have said "we used to have to rely on
our Ipods to hear this...now it's on the radio!"
Heck on my station we do interviews, live performances, bits of info on the artist (I do,
certainly). We also have a mighty 130 watts... (but! Streamcast)
Tim said:
You must mean something other than droll. Droll is a compliment. It refers to sly humor. Since you obviously meant some negative adjective, I can't figure out what you were likely trying to say. I probably would not be alone here in being appreciative if you told us what word your meant.
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