Interesting analysis of AM Radio

[rbrucecarter5]

http://www.dailynews.com/arts-and-e...ons-have-to-lose-but-go-back-to-music-formats

It looks like KTRH and a couple of sports stations are the dominant AM stations in the ratings here - with the rest of the band almost irrelevant. Being a bit of a stereo music fanatic, I wouldn't be very anxious to listen to AM music formats. And the only thing more dead than AM is C-Quam stereo, although at least one of my HD radios decodes it. Still - with the proliferation of "iDevices" and the poor quality headphones and earbuds that come with them, maybe there is a market for mono AM radio music formats - since quality sound reproduction is not a primary driver the way most people listen to music.

I tend to agree with the article - AM has little to lose by trying music again. And I do admit - I occasionally listen to that software defined radio from the Netherlands for music stations - European AM already has more stations that play music I like than both the AM and FM bands combined here. Even if they are in mono.

 

[ContinuousWave]

AM stereo is easy to do....exciters can be found for cheap (and the Delta exciter is not that expensive..wish I had one of those as I like the switches all available from the front panel where as the Motorola 1300 requires taking the damn thing apart to set the delay switches).....processors are another issue...but my CQUAM even without the 9100 online sounds better than FM stereo....did a comparison between my station and KCOL.....my audio sounded more natural and richer....Could be how KCOL is processing and my CQUAM exciter is not 100% correct yet on audio delay so the sep is not at good as it could be BUT its at least 25-30 db.....on some Beatles songs, it is fantastic....wish I had a way to record the stereo on the lap but it does not have a line input

 

[TheBigA]

I tend to agree with the article - AM has little to lose by trying music again.

So go out and buy an AM station for $500K and start playing music. That's what several former radio people have done around the country. In Knoxville, in the Boston area, in lots of places. You don't have to be a church to buy a radio station. Regular secular people can do it. You just have to have a desire, and a willingness to spend money. Seem like only religious or Spanish groups have that desire. They play music too, if you listen. Instead you want other people to spend their money to do what you want. It doesn't work that way. If you want something, YOU have to spend.

One of the legendary stations, 650 WSM still plays music 24/7. Their ratings are pretty low, but the station is an advertisement for the Grand Ole Opry.

 

[davideduardo]

I tend to agree with the article - AM has little to lose by trying music again.

Yes, the only thing they have to lose is money. Unless, as BigA says, you have money to spare and do not mind kissing it goodby, an AM playing music for the general market is not going to be something with an obvious path to profits.

There are still many options for an AM, but the ones that include playing music are very few and very risky.

Existing stations have a lot to loose, as the majority are profitable or, in some other way advantageous, to their owners.

And I do admit - I occasionally listen to that software defined radio from the Netherlands for music stations - European AM already has more stations that play music I like than both the AM and FM bands combined here. Even if they are in mono.

Europe is wildly eliminating AM stations. France has closed nearly all of theirs, and nations like Austria are down to just a couple of remaining facilities. The BBC is closing many facilities as equipment ages. The huge facilities of Radio Luxembourg and Radio Monte Carlo are now gone. Obviously, you don't have an awareness of what is going on with radio in Europe.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Obviously, you don't have an awareness of what is going on with radio in Europe.

Just what I hear on the software defined radio. Three or four really good music stations.

 

[TheBigA]

Everyone thinks they have a solution for AM. The FCC thinks it is "revitalizing" AM by allowing owners to buy FM translators. I don't understand how that helps AM. But that's the FCC for you. But once these small AM stations buy FM translators, they start playing music. The writer of that article should look around a bit.

 

[JimTexBell]

You know the old saying: It's easy to make a small fortune in the radio business. You start with a large fortune.

 

[TheBigA]

You know the old saying: It's easy to make a small fortune in the radio business. You start with a large fortune.

Not really. The people I know who are doing this have taken their IRAs and 401Ks and used that to borrow money. It doesn't take much to buy a small AM station.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The FCC thinks it is "revitalizing" AM by allowing owners to buy FM translators. I don't understand how that helps AM.

The idea is NOT to revitalize AM in of itself, but instead to throw a lifeline to AM station operators by allowing them to operate in the more popular, better sounding FM band. I suspect that in the not-too-distant future that many of those operators will be allowed to shut down the AM side and continue on FM only, as that is where all the audience will be.

But once these small AM stations buy FM translators, they start playing music. The writer of that article should look around a bit.

That's because the FM signal is now the primary outlet, as far as the station operator is concerned. The AM is irrelevant, as most of the audience will have migrated to the FM.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Not really. The people I know who are doing this have taken their IRAs and 401Ks and used that to borrow money. It doesn't take much to buy a small AM station.

Borrowing from IRA's and 401k's for speculative investments is a really stupid idea that you will probably regret when you reach your senior years. You should only borrow against those in extreme emergencies.

 

[TheBigA]

That's because the FM signal is now the primary outlet, as far as the station operator is concerned. The AM is irrelevant, as most of the audience will have migrated to the FM.

Yes I understand, but the point of this thread is to play music on AM. I'm pointing out ways to do that.

Borrowing from IRA's and 401k's for speculative investments is a really stupid idea that you will probably regret when you reach your senior years. You should only borrow against those in extreme emergencies.

These people are already retired. They have a passion for radio and oldies music. When you have a passion for something, you tend to do things that might be considered stupid. But these are people who have chosen to put their money where their mouth is. Unlike most of the posters here. They have a business plan, and they share in their passion with former radio sales people and former radio engineers. Perhaps they're not as stupid as you think.

 

[stan]

Europe is wildly eliminating AM stations. France has closed nearly all of theirs, and nations like Austria are down to just a couple of remaining facilities. The BBC is closing many facilities as equipment ages. The huge facilities of Radio Luxembourg and Radio Monte Carlo are now gone. Obviously, you don't have an awareness of what is going on with radio in Europe.

Europe has moved FM to digital broadcasting also. Perhaps that would be a good idea here as well, and not HD radio but true digital.

 

[TheBigA]

Europe has moved FM to digital broadcasting also. Perhaps that would be a good idea here as well, and not HD radio but true digital.

Only in one or two very small countries. And even there, it hasn't been very successful. Certainly not as a for-profit business.