Public Radio's Audience Stalls

[Mark_Giardina]

http://www.current.org/audience/aud0520radio.shtml<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[doc9464]

> http://www.current.org/audience/aud0520radio.shtml
>

With Tomlinson gone, I hope PUblic media like PBS and NPR will get back to what theyt were doing ...and its what people loved....i believe without the external meddling..the growth will begin again...with the return of sanity

 

[XL]

> > http://www.current.org/audience/aud0520radio.shtml
> >
>
> With Tomlinson gone, I hope PUblic media like PBS and NPR
> will get back to what theyt were doing ...and its what
> people loved....i believe without the external meddling..the
> growth will begin again...with the return of sanity

Public radio's audience "stalling", isn't surprising. But, it's not a big deal. Any smart GM would realize that eventually, listenership in markets will peak -- this is no different from the commercial stations. Public radio will continue to gain listeners.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

I'd like to see a more detailed study as regards formats.

I would think that music and cultural-formatted NPR member stations have lost enough listeners to cause the overall listening to public radio to stall, and so-called "dual format" stations (part news/info and part music) have lost listeners during music hours..

I suspect NPR stations that program all-news and information formats probably continue to gain listeners.

If that's the case, it may lead to even more NPR member stations dropping music to go 24/7 news and information, especially since that's where the pledge $$$ are. As it is, many NPR stations have dropped music ansd cultural programming in the last few years to go 24/7 news and information for the express purpose of trying to get more donations from listeners. When Washington's WETA-90.9 dropped classical music to go 24/7 news and information earlier this year, the station admitted the major reason for their doing so was to attract more revenue from listener-donors.

 

[uncamark]

> I'd like to see a more detailed study as regards formats.
>
> I would think that music and cultural-formatted NPR member
> stations have lost enough listeners to cause the overall
> listening to public radio to stall, and so-called "dual
> format" stations (part news/info and part music) have lost
> listeners during music hours..
>
> I suspect NPR stations that program all-news and information
> formats probably continue to gain listeners.

I also think that those stations that don't go all-news-talk may head toward AAA--particularly with the success of the Current in the Twin Cities, that seems to be the only music format on public radio with any kind of growth pattern.

 

[XL]

> I'd like to see a more detailed study as regards formats.
>
> I would think that music and cultural-formatted NPR member
> stations have lost enough listeners to cause the overall
> listening to public radio to stall, and so-called "dual
> format" stations (part news/info and part music) have lost
> listeners during music hours..
>
> I suspect NPR stations that program all-news and information
> formats probably continue to gain listeners.
>
> If that's the case, it may lead to even more NPR member
> stations dropping music to go 24/7 news and information,
> especially since that's where the pledge $$$ are. As it is,
> many NPR stations have dropped music ansd cultural
> programming in the last few years to go 24/7 news and
> information for the express purpose of trying to get more
> donations from listeners. When Washington's WETA-90.9
> dropped classical music to go 24/7 news and information
> earlier this year, the station admitted the major reason for
> their doing so was to attract more revenue from
> listener-donors.

This has been going on for several years. More NPR stations went to more news after 9/11/01. NPR itself has been cutting back on the number of cultural programming it produces, music especially, because affliates have been having problems fundraising during those shows. While some complain, if those complaining were in the same financial boat, they'd make the switch as well. If people aren't going to support the programming, then changes need to be made.

Plus with commercial stations cutting back their news product, listeners have been going to their NPR affliate for news.

The good thing is many NPR affliates are offering the music formats on their internet or on their digital signal. WKSU/Kent, Ohio (www.wksu.org) is a great example of one NPR affliate doing so.