If David is right, then why is the NAB putting up fight with LPAM? They have already have sent out their spin machine; spitting out the standard fear tactics to scare the public.
If you program what young people can't get anywhere else, and it's on AM they will listen. I myself, was surprised to find out how many high school and college students are listening to an AM station that is playing the music they wanted to hear with DJ's they know taking their request.
I think one thing that keeps younger folks from listening to AM has more to do with their surroundings; AM does not fare well around dimmer switches, computers, televisions and video games. Most younger folks are surrounded by RF noisemakers day and night; Just try listening to your favorite AM station on the radio next to your computer. Even I use an AM to FM translator here on the AZ ranch, to listen to some of my favorite regional AM stations while I'm on the computer in the office.
We are fortunate that the higher AM band tends to be less bothered by the noisemakers, than the lower band.
I can listen to our own part 15 AM stations in my office, despite the fact they are a 1/4 mile down the road, anything below 1500 is trashed with noise.
Our Arizona radio campus is full of young people (95) in their 20's, who listen to AM regularly. The talk shows they want to listen to are mostly on AM, the stations they set up are mostly AM. We ar giving another generation a reason to listen to AM.
This summer we showed a bunch of young folks on our tour, just how easy it is to set up their own legal radio stations that won't get them busted by the FCC, or get them sued by the RIAA for running a hobby internet radio station. If it was not for the major downturn in the economy, I think a couple hundred more radio stations would have gone on the air this year. Their were allot of folks seriously interested in what we had to show them, from community organizers to hobbyist, and all ages; the fact it was AM, didn't bother them one bit.
Tom & William are right! Give them a reason to listen, and they will. If the AM station has live local DJ's from the local high school, you can bet the parents are going to listen to their little Johnny or Jill on the AM radio station that has them on the air, and so will their neighbors and uncles etc. If the Uncle just happens to own the local car dealership, here comes the revenue that would never end up at one of David's type of radio station; AM or FM! I don't think broadcasters of David's mindset could ever understand community radio, and how to sell it. Community radio, requires the station management develop relationships with the business and community it serves, which can takes months if not years to develop. It is most noteworthy that smaller market stations saw their revenues grow 10 - 20% this year, while big corporate radio saw their revenues and stocks take a plunge.
William, Keith and I have all learned; you better know the community you plan on setting up shop in! Failure to do so can be a real nightmare, or cost you your freedom. Our nut case is still making calls and causing us trouble, and has now set his sights now on a poor rancher.
Steve
www.radiobrandy.com
