How Boston AM's will either go silent, or already are?

[Retro]

My question is which AM is the first to go all digital? Once that happens, quality of the signal can increase and interference can decrease. However, a few things. Although many car makers are adding HD Radio, the majority of the population don't have HD Radios in their cars or homes.

The next issue becomes the format of these stations. Particularly, we now have digital AM stations with better sound and range. Right now, AM in Boston is WBZ-AM, the talk radio stations, Oldies, national sports talk (WEEI-AM running 24/7 ESPN Radio), foreign language stations, and religious stations. Many of these repeat on HD-2/3 on FM and FM Translators. What programming is out there that could benefit from Digital AM? So now we have an AM band that sounds nearly as good as FM, with less interference. What do we add and remove from it? Sure, WBZ 1030 would benefit. As of now, WRKO would too. How many more will? How many FM formats didn't pan out? Would those have a shot on AM? Could there be life for an Amp Radio on Digital AM? How about an Alt format? The list goes on.

I know I shifted gears from the main topic; but in my mind, the next logical step is digital. However, where it can revitalize the band, I don't see where it will help programming. We would need to find a reason for people to flip to AM, where virtually most people don't even recognize that AM exists.

Perhaps Salem Media will re-introduce music on one of their stations as well? If nothing else, they could always broadcast their national "Today's Christian Music" feed.

 

[TheBigA]

I believe that you have forgotten that WRKO was still broadcasting a Top 40 format up to the first 6 months of 1980.

Sure, and WABC didn't drop music until 1982. The point is that they continued to provide great programming until the audiences left. AM stations kept doing what had made them successful until it was no longer viable.

 

[CTListener]

I believe that you have forgotten that WRKO was still broadcasting a Top 40 format up to the first 6 months of 1980. Other perrinial stations WHDH and WBZ very slowly dropped music ecentually all together too.

OK, 36 years for WRKO, a few more for WHDH and WBZ. The point is the same. An entire generation of listeners and then some have grown up without experiencing a mainstream musical format on AM.

 

[johnster]

68...RKO! Dale Dorman

 

[Retro]

68...RKO! Dale Dorman

So, I have known of that legend! I used to watch channel 56, and he did the voice-over's for the cartoons, that they aired back then. One day, I heard him on Kiss 108. I cross referenced his live, on air shift to his voice-over. I was Uber young back then. It was the very first time, that I had ever noticed such thing!

 

[nowradioguy]

We should also point out that sports is a talk format, and it is one of the most dynamic formats on the radio today. WBZ-FM is not only one of the top rated stations in Boston, but it is #1 in demos that are normally held by music stations. This is very different from other forms of talk radio. So sports talk is a very viable format on FM. Thankfully there are things other than politics for people to talk about on the radio.

Probably because I never listen to either WBZ-FM or WEEI-FM, I had forgotten about sports talk on FM, and that it usually does well.

 

[nowradioguy]

Perhaps the best example, WTOP wasn't exactly struggling at 1500AM, but was far from dominant.
On FM, they're solid #1 in the market - and the top billing station in America.

Sounds like something you're suggesting that WBZ-AM give some serious thought to. Of course, WHERE on the dial here could they possibly go? It should be on a frequency that has few restrictions re where it cannot go, and be of sufficient power to boom in at least a huge part of the eastern half of New England.

 

[Retro]

Sounds like something you're suggesting that WBZ-AM give some serious thought to. Of course, WHERE on the dial here could they possibly go? It should be on a frequency that has few restrictions re where it cannot go, and be of sufficient power to boom in at least a huge part of the eastern half of New England.

Maybe they could tank WWBX, at the expense of the female demo.

 

[CTListener]

(deleted)

 

[Retro]

Maybe they could tank WWBX, at the expense of the female demo.

Oops, I forgot that they are not together anymore! Does iHeartRadio still have any dead weight hanging around?

 

[CTListener]

Maybe they could tank WWBX, at the expense of the female demo.

Or WJMN, and take Kiss 108 more rhythmic as compensation.

The bigger problem is the relentless aging of the news/talk audience. Each generation is less and less interested in current events, or at least as they have been traditionally presented on radio. Stations like WBZ aren't picking up millennials at nearly the same pace that the Grim Reaper is harvesting the boomers. Moving the format to FM won't change that.

 

[Retro]

Or WJMN, and take Kiss 108 more rhythmic as compensation.

The bigger problem is the relentless aging of the news/talk audience. Each generation is less and less interested in current events, or at least as they have been traditionally presented on radio. Stations like WBZ aren't picking up millennials at nearly the same pace that the Grim Reaper is harvesting the boomers. Moving the format to FM won't change that.

You mean just like during the old days with Sunny Joe White, and Disco Vinny?

 

[CTListener]

You mean just like during the old days with Sunny Joe White, and Disco Vinny?

Yes, but substitute hip-hop for disco.

 

[Retro]

Yes, but substitute hip-hop for disco.

OK, but does Hip Hop mean Rap too? Yesterday, I heard this 2pac tune I think, that sampled "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby & The Range. I joked to an acquaintance, that if WROR were to extend their playlist into the 90's, and played that song, their listeners would be very swiftly tuning out of the station.

 

[davideduardo]

Sounds like something you're suggesting that WBZ-AM give some serious thought to. Of course, WHERE on the dial here could they possibly go? It should be on a frequency that has few restrictions re where it cannot go, and be of sufficient power to boom in at least a huge part of the eastern half of New England.

All they need in an FM is a signal that adequately covers the Boston Metro Survey Area. They don't really get any added revenue from covering other markets in MA, let alone RI, VT, ME etc. They may sell emphasizing that advertisers get those areas as a bounus, but it does not help rates.

 

[Retro]

All they need in an FM is a signal that adequately covers the Boston Metro Survey Area. They don't really get any added revenue from covering other markets in MA, let alone RI, VT, ME etc. They may sell emphasizing that advertisers get those areas as a bounus, but it does not help rates.

Well, I guess if they are not happy with Rumba in the long term, then...

Jam'n appears to be on a solid uptick, or at least maintaining anyway, maybe, perhaps at Kiss's expense.

 

[CTListener]

Well, I guess if they are not happy with Rumba in the long term, then...

Jam'n appears to be on a solid uptick, or at least maintaining anyway, maybe, perhaps at Kiss's expense.

The bar is pretty low for Rumba, given Boston's Hispanic demographics, which aren't optimal. Unless the station attracts no local advertising, I have a feeling iHeart will stick with it.

 

[davideduardo]

Well, I guess if they are not happy with Rumba in the long term, then..

Rumba does not adequately cover the Boston MSA. In fact, it only puts a 60 dbu signal over about 40% of the population of the metro. It would not make a good FM partner to transition a full market AM to.

 

[Retro]

Rumba does not adequately cover the Boston MSA. In fact, it only puts a 60 dbu signal over about 40% of the population of the metro. It would not make a good FM partner to transition a full market AM to.

Well, perhaps 94.5 will eventually be Jam'n the news then. 🤠

 

[nowradioguy]

All they need in an FM is a signal that adequately covers the Boston Metro Survey Area. They don't really get any added revenue from covering other markets in MA, let alone RI, VT, ME etc. They may sell emphasizing that advertisers get those areas as a bounus, but it does not help rates.

Some of us listeners in the 'burbs where 'BZ comes in strong but is subject to local static would probably welcome a nice clean copy of WBZ's audio for their homes and cars.

Right, but that's my wish, and "the business" is all about "revenue", so forget what I just wrote above.