Saving AM Radio

[ted chittenden]

AM detractors don't think about any of the formats you mentioned. We only know that a viable and saleable format will work as well on FM so if those formats attract an audience and make money, they'll be fine when they move to FM. If you are suggesting that the entire AM band must be saved for narrowcasting formats, ok. Fine. You win. So let's leave everything as it is and we can pretend that we can actually hear the audio over the static and noise level. AM is so competitive that one must wonder why AM owners are trying to jam in FM translators clogging up the FM for the sole purpose of not having to be on only AM. Let's admit that AM is like a 57 chevy. It was wonderful when it was shinny and new, but in todays more competitive highways and with gas prices, it doesn't cut it. So let's put it in the scrap yard next to AM radio.


and the guys in the auto shop fixed the teachers cars with no compensation too. Geez. There is a difference between working to learn a skill and having a skill. Interns are being paid with knowledge and an opportunity to learn skills. Those who have a skill don't have to work for no compensation. Those who don't have a great skill but still "have to be on the radio-it's in my blood" and work for no compensation are not doing a service to themselves or to those earning a living in that business when they have to compete in a marketplace where minimum wage idiots will work for free. For God's sake, give yourself some worth. If you can't get money from the station at least work out a deal where they pay minimum wage and trade tires for your car or something.

16 years huh? I did it a while longer. Never uttered a word uncompensated either. Going to school to learn a skill doesn't count. It also doesn't count when you read a commercial as an audition. I've done those too uncompensated.

Oh yes....I have tuned in the AM band recently. I heard static mostly and a few sentences until I drove past a power line. I got a couple of stations with syndicated talk shows, a lot of FM stations on an unlistenable AM frequency, I'm guessing, to fill up the space. So, yes I know what's out there and I don't think it will be missed when the plug is finally pulled.

I note with interest the differences between what you are hearing on the AM band, wherever you are, and what Boombox hears on the AM band, wherever he/she is. It sounds to me like you are in a small town or rural setting, possibly in the plains states, whereas Boombox's description puts his/her setting in one of the big coastal cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, or San Francisco.

I can tell you that from my home in Phoenix, Arizona, I can hear two oldies stations, four conservative talk stations, four sports stations, a handful of Spanish outlets, including a Spanish Christian outlet, several religious stations, and a conservative business format, all on the AM band. Outside of the two oldies stations (and a third distant one from Tucson) and the occasional professional sports broadcasts (mostly football), I don't find much on the AM band to be in my taste today--yet I'd hate to see it go completely.

Why, you ask. Because of AM's distance reception qualities, especially at night. Unfortunately, most of the distant stations are playing the same damn satellite programming I can hear locally--but that wasn't always the case.

Finally, I would say, from comments on both this and other threads, that many people younger than myself have forgotten (or never learned) that earning money in radio, while important, was actually considered to be less important than providing a free public service to the community the licensed station was supposed to serve. For all of its choices, the Internet just doesn't have that requirement.

 

[Hyrum]

I note with interest the differences between what you are hearing on the AM band, wherever you are, and what Boombox hears on the AM band, wherever he/she is. It sounds to me like you are in a small town or rural setting, possibly in the plains states, whereas Boombox's description puts his/her setting in one of the big coastal cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, or San Francisco.

I live in the burbs and find that the big market signals fade and have static as much as the tiny less than a kilowatt waste of energy that is FOUR MILES from where I live. It has so much background noise that it is unlistenable. I get that some like AM. I do too. I defended it until most of the stations were purchased by the big guns who put little to no effort into the programming of said stations. Without competition even the independents stopped trying.

I can tell you that from my home in Phoenix, Arizona, I can hear two oldies stations, four conservative talk stations, four sports stations, a handful of Spanish outlets, including a Spanish Christian outlet, several religious stations, and a conservative business format, all on the AM band. Outside of the two oldies stations (and a third distant one from Tucson) and the occasional professional sports broadcasts (mostly football), I don't find much on the AM band to be in my taste today--yet I'd hate to see it go completely.

Two oldies stations? Twice as many as is needed, but that's another topic.... Formats aside, I live a short distance from a bigger market and the AM stations suffer signals that are no where near quality signals. Not even close to what they were 15 years ago

AM's distance reception qualities, especially at night.

I read the book too. I understand that. Everyone does. Can you say "Skywave"? Bet you can.

Unfortunately, most of the distant stations are playing the same damn satellite programming I can hear locally--but that wasn't always the case.

Nope. Many stations back when AM was relevant programmed live and local overnight.

Finally, I would say, from comments on both this and other threads, that many people younger than myself have forgotten (or never learned) that earning money in radio, while important, was actually considered to be less important than providing a free public service to the community the licensed station was supposed to serve. For all of its choices, the Internet just doesn't have that requirement.

I hear that . Public service. Dedication to serve what the public needs (even if few want it) Community ascertainment. Dedicating percentages of broadcast time to meet the needs that were ascertained. Jesus loves the little children.
All of it true. Now the facts. Radio is a business. People in this modern day and age need news. Most listen to music radio that eliminated news years ago. Should we force them to listen to news and make (name your favorite music station) stop for five minutes each half hour because it's good for you? It is a different environment today where the old community service has given way to cut throat business. Regarding earning money in radio being less important? Are you insane or is your daddy rich? The kid at McDonalds doesn't have a need to make sure the 2am drunk gets a burger and a bag of fries. He has a need to make some extra cash. If he loves McDonalds and wants to be there to serve, he should be working toward being the manager and later franchise owner, or he is missing something. Radio is a profit organization (for the moment) and you do nothing to help yourself if you are doing it uncompensated. I have also met hundreds of radio people going back to when AM was relevant, working in tiny 250 watt community stations up to the number one station in the number one market. Not one of them did it because of a need to serve the community. The big market guys did it for the big market bucks. The little guys did it because of money (hoping to be a big bugs guy someday) or ego. Jim down at the Woolworth told the ego guy how good he sounded everyday. Sometimes Tony the barber would put his picture up in the shop. None would take a salary cut because it was good for the public. Not a single one. The ones working for nothing or next to it did it for their ego and desires. I believe that to be true from knowing a lot of very good and very bad radio types.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

AM detractors don't think about any of the formats you mentioned. We only know that a viable and saleable format will work as well on FM so if those formats attract an audience and make money, they'll be fine when they move to FM. If you are suggesting that the entire AM band must be saved for narrowcasting formats, ok. Fine. You win. So let's leave everything as it is and we can pretend that we can actually hear the audio over the static and noise level. AM is so competitive that one must wonder why AM owners are trying to jam in FM translators clogging up the FM for the sole purpose of not having to be on only AM. Let's admit that AM is like a 57 chevy. It was wonderful when it was shinny and new, but in todays more competitive highways and with gas prices, it doesn't cut it. So let's put it in the scrap yard next to AM radio.


and the guys in the auto shop fixed the teachers cars with no compensation too. Geez. There is a difference between working to learn a skill and having a skill. Interns are being paid with knowledge and an opportunity to learn skills. Those who have a skill don't have to work for no compensation. Those who don't have a great skill but still "have to be on the radio-it's in my blood" and work for no compensation are not doing a service to themselves or to those earning a living in that business when they have to compete in a marketplace where minimum wage idiots will work for free. For God's sake, give yourself some worth. If you can't get money from the station at least work out a deal where they pay minimum wage and trade tires for your car or something.

16 years huh? I did it a while longer. Never uttered a word uncompensated either. Going to school to learn a skill doesn't count. It also doesn't count when you read a commercial as an audition. I've done those too uncompensated.

Oh yes....I have tuned in the AM band recently. I heard static mostly and a few sentences until I drove past a power line. I got a couple of stations with syndicated talk shows, a lot of FM stations on an unlistenable AM frequency, I'm guessing, to fill up the space. So, yes I know what's out there and I don't think it will be missed when the plug is finally pulled.

Sounds to me like you have an electrical problem with your car and the noise isn't being properly filtered out. Ford Explorers from the past 15 years in my personal experience are notorious for noisy and deaf AM radios.

 

[b-turner]

I'm in radio and have been since teletype, turntables and carts.

First, almost all advertisers don't want commercials at night. Back in the day when the FCC required, you had a warm bosy in he building 24/7 and you lost a good deal of potential profit because of this.

Then you are crusing along. Sales are good at $300,000 a year. Typical DJs are paid $600 a month to start. Running a warm body in the building is not an issue, so you do it because you can. Now the FCC opens a filing window for many new stations. Overnight the number of stations triples. Instead of $300,000 a year as the only station in town that you super-serve, you now have 2 competitors and can only bill $100,000 a year.

You have now lost up to 2/3rds your income. At least half. What do you do? You cut costs like crazy and eliminate everything that is not producing a profit. That 3 person news department is gone. The GM gathers news amid sales calls. You have a live morning show and that's your salesperson and rceptionist at the station. You've gone to a satellite delivered format 21 hours a day, just plugging in the commercials. It in't pretty, not what you want but the revenue demands it and you have to pay the bills for your family and the station.

So, these horrible radio people that just don't care, now you understand what happened. Big company or small, we were all forced to do this because the FCC allowed our revenue to be sliced up with all the new stations. We're just trying to survive and for bigger companies, some stations are losing money but they stay on the air because they can pull a few dollars from a profitable station in the cluster. And no that money pit gets little attention or care because the profitable deserves the attention to keep profitable. But we're semingly just money-grubbing lowlife scum because we have payroll to meet and the power bill among many others.

No AM is likely not our focus. The money-making FM is.

 

[Hyrum]

Sounds to me like you have an electrical problem with your car and the noise isn't being properly filtered out. Ford Explorers from the past 15 years in my personal experience are notorious for noisy and deaf AM radios.

I have a fairly new car and the radio is fine. I'm stating that the signals suck today compared to what they did not many years ago. EVERY AM signal. I find it interesting that in the forum we have so many defenders of the band and when you go two columns down they are whining and crying about Sirius XM because of low bandwidth and a less than perfect frequency response. Yes AM can be heard, but why would you listen to that noise unless it is great programming? And if it is great programming, why isn't it on FM where you can hear it without the buzz? Tinnitus doctors everywhere want to know.

 

[davideduardo]

It would help to know what the call letters are. Where I am sitting, 710 is KSPN, 690 is XEWW, the closest 730 is in Mexicali, and the closest 660 is in Bakersfield.

The poster was apparently referring to the three AMs on those frequencies in CDMX (the metro formerly known as Mexico City). All are relatively high power now and coexist just fine with 20 kHz separation.

 

[davideduardo]

I have a fairly new car and the radio is fine. I'm stating that the signals suck today compared to what they did not many years ago. EVERY AM signal.

It is not the signals that “suck”. What has reduced AM coverage is the astronomical increase in man-made noise from computers, wall warts, dimmers, and all other kinds of electronics. Not the fault of stations; mostly the fault of the FCC that going back to the 30s refused to license anything above medium – low power levels.

 

[Hyrum]

It is not the signals that “suck”. What has reduced AM coverage is the astronomical increase in man- add noise from computers, wall warts, dimmers, and all other kinds of electronics. Not the fault of stations; mostly the fault of the FCC that going back to the 30s refused to license anything above medium – low power levels.

Agree 100 percent. What I meant was "What I hear in the car sucks" The reason doesn't matter to the average consumer. They only know that the AM coming from the speakers is far worse than what they find on other bands and services. To most that's all that matters. I will say though that a lot of AM stations have not taken care of ground systems and their transmitter plant as well as they would have if they were making money, so a portion of the blame goes to the stations.

 

[boombox4]

AM detractors don't think about any of the formats you mentioned. We only know that a viable and saleable format will work as well on FM so if those formats attract an audience and make money, they'll be fine when they move to FM. If you are suggesting that the entire AM band must be saved for narrowcasting formats, ok. Fine. You win. So let's leave everything as it is and we can pretend that we can actually hear the audio over the static and noise level. AM is so competitive that one must wonder why AM owners are trying to jam in FM translators clogging up the FM for the sole purpose of not having to be on only AM. Let's admit that AM is like a 57 chevy. It was wonderful when it was shinny and new, but in todays more competitive highways and with gas prices, it doesn't cut it. So let's put it in the scrap yard next to AM radio.

What you call 'narrowcasting' is not narrowcasting to the ethnic minorities that use the AM band for their radio programming.

And many of those 'narrowcasting' stations -- the ones that have African American, Korean, Punjabi, Sikh, Spanish language, and other ethnic programming -- actually make enough money serving their communities to stay on the airwaves -- even though they're on the AM band. So, obviously, the listeners are hearing more than static.

As for FM being full -- it is full. That's why the ethnic broadcasters you seem to want to shrug off as unnecessary are on AM. There is no more room on FM.

and the guys in the auto shop fixed the teachers cars with no compensation too. Geez. There is a difference between working to learn a skill and having a skill. Interns are being paid with knowledge and an opportunity to learn skills. Those who have a skill don't have to work for no compensation. Those who don't have a great skill but still "have to be on the radio-it's in my blood" and work for no compensation are not doing a service to themselves or to those earning a living in that business when they have to compete in a marketplace where minimum wage idiots will work for free. For God's sake, give yourself some worth. If you can't get money from the station at least work out a deal where they pay minimum wage and trade tires for your car or something.

16 years huh? I did it a while longer. Never uttered a word uncompensated either. Going to school to learn a skill doesn't count. It also doesn't count when you read a commercial as an audition. I've done those too uncompensated.

Glad to hear it worked out for you that way, but please don't break your hand patting yourself on the back.

Oh yes....I have tuned in the AM band recently. I heard static mostly and a few sentences until I drove past a power line. I got a couple of stations with syndicated talk shows, a lot of FM stations on an unlistenable AM frequency, I'm guessing, to fill up the space. So, yes I know what's out there and I don't think it will be missed when the plug is finally pulled.

But you didn't hear any ethnic broadcasting on the AM band. Yeah, OK....

 

[Hyrum]

What you call 'narrowcasting' is not narrowcasting to the ethnic minorities that use the AM band for their radio programming.

And if there are enough of them, the programing will be profitable and find a home on FM. If we can agree that radio is a business, and must make a profit, the listeners of the narrowcasting formats will find their needs met on the internet. So far as I've seen Spanish Language stations are doing well in many major market FMs.

And many of those 'narrowcasting' stations -- the ones that have African American, Korean, Punjabi, Sikh, Spanish language, and other ethnic programming -- actually make enough money serving their communities to stay on the airwaves -- even though they're on the AM band. So, obviously, the listeners are hearing more than static.

I suppose so if they live a few miles from the undermaintained AM antenna. As I said, I see Spanish stations doing well on FMs in major markets. I don't see how many of the ethnic stations you mention making a profit anywhere except in a very few places with large pockets of the ethnicities.

Glad to hear it worked out for you that way, but please don't break your hand patting yourself on the back.

Not so. I don't claim to have done anything spectacular. I did know my worth and I demanded the compensation for it. I didn't like then, and don't like now when a guy "who just loves being on the radio" will do it free and help lower already sub standard wadges.

But you didn't hear any ethnic broadcasting on the AM band. Yeah, OK....

Probably because they are not profitable...and of course difficult to hear with all the electronic noise on the outdated AM band.

 

[K.M. Richards]

And if there are enough of them, the programing will be profitable and find a home on FM. If we can agree that radio is a business, and must make a profit, the listeners of the narrowcasting formats will find their needs met on the internet. So far as I've seen Spanish Language stations are doing well in many major market FMs.

I don't know how you managed to dismiss the answer to this which was already given in the post you replied to, but here it is for reference:

As for FM being full -- it is full. That's why the ethnic broadcasters you seem to want to shrug off as unnecessary are on AM. There is no more room on FM.

Tell me again how you want the ethnic broadcasters to "find a home on FM".

 

[cc333]

Tell me again how you want the ethnic broadcasters to "find a home on FM".

Barring a radical reduction in the prolific numbers of LPFMs and AM translators, the only practical way to make more room on the FM band is to make it larger, but that's not going to happen for a variety of reasons, such as:

1. The normal US FM band (87.9-107.9) is blocked in by the air band past 108, and TV channels 5 and 6 below 88 MHz.
2. Hardly anyone is buying new radios anymore, unless it comes in a car.

There is some precedent for expanding the band down to include the old Analog TV channels 5 and 6, so it is theoretically possible to do it here in the US, but see item #2 above.

c

 

[davideduardo]

And if there are enough of them, the programing will be profitable and find a home on FM. If we can agree that radio is a business, and must make a profit, the listeners of the narrowcasting formats will find their needs met on the internet. So far as I've seen Spanish Language stations are doing well in many major market FMs.

Yes, some Spanish language FMs do very well... in markets that generally have more than 10% Hispanic population. I know, there are exceptions to that figure but in general Spanish language media is limited to AMs or AMs with translators in markets with lesser Hispanic populations.

But there are plenty of markets where a low-cost AM can be profitable, whether it is broadcasting in Farsi in LA or Russian in New York, because the owners don't have to spend millions for an FM station that could be quite viable serving a broader group.

I suppose so if they live a few miles from the undermaintained AM antenna.

Most of the "undermaintained" AM antennae are found at stations that are not viable in any language. Inferior coverage, daytimers, small markets are among the reason why many AMs can't maintain their facilities.

Bit many AMs serving more niche groups are magnificently maintained. I hope you do not think that Lotus stations under the Kalmensons are "undermaintained" in any of their markets.

As I said, I see Spanish stations doing well on FMs in major markets. I don't see how many of the ethnic stations you mention making a profit anywhere except in a very few places with large pockets of the ethnicities.

Most ethnic stations everywhere are making excellent returns on investment. If there is a community of any size that speaks a language other than English, there is a good chance it can support its own "voice". And those stations are generally well maintained and equipped.

This is not where streaming is effective. Such communities need a place for localized content and an ad medium for both community businesses and for general market ones that value that group as customers.

Probably because they are not profitable...and of course difficult to hear with all the electronic noise on the outdated AM band.

Remember, a lot of those "outdated" AMs have translators on FM. Because many if not most ethnic communities tend to be "centralized" in specific areas, a translator can provide good FM service to them. As we know, you have to have an AM or an HD channel on a "big" FM station to get a translator, so you will find that lots of non-English operations have translators and are very profitable.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Barring a radical reduction in the prolific numbers of LPFMs and AM translators, the only practical way to make more room on the FM band is to make it larger, but that's not going to happen for a variety of reasons, such as:

1. The normal US FM band (87.9-107.9) is blocked in by the air band past 108, and TV channels 5 and 6 below 88 MHz.
2. Hardly anyone is buying new radios anymore, unless it comes in a car.

There is some precedent for expanding the band down to include the old Analog TV channels 5 and 6, so it is theoretically possible to do it here in the US, but see item #2 above.

Agreed about FM in general, but in the context we are discussing, which is making room for ethnic broadcasters, #2 will be less of a factor in expanding down to 76 MHz (repurposing TV channels 5 and 6) because the target audience will be significantly more willing to buy a new radio or two if it means getting programming in their primary language.

There is a precedent here: When the AM band expanded up to 1700 kHz, in those cases where an unserved or underserved ethnic population was targeted by a X-band AM, they went out and bought receivers capable of tuning above 1600 kHz.

In Japan, as @Michi can confirm, FM is 76 to 95 MHz, and so radios manufactured there can tune that band.

But the political will is not there to expand FM. It's been proposed before (as the link above documents) and failed to gain traction every time.

 

[K.M. Richards]

I hope you do not think that Lotus stations under the Kalmensons are "undermaintained" in any of their markets.

Thanks to Lindy Williams being in charge of engineering for the chain nationwide, they indeed aren't.

 

[davideduardo]

Barring a radical reduction in the prolific numbers of LPFMs and AM translators, the only practical way to make more room on the FM band is to make it larger,

Nope. Mexico managed to move about 80% of its AM stations to FM over the last 6 to 8 years by doing one thing: they changed the restrictions on second adjacent spacing to "zero" permitting local stations in the same city of license to be one every other channel. The only places where this did not work out were, first, a couple of very big markets (Puebla, Monterrey, Guadalajara and CDMX) where the FM band could not fully accommodate all the "moved" FMs due to band congestion already existing. And second, along the U.S. border where international agreements required keeping the spacing to the U.S. standard.

Second adjacent protection has not been needed since the 60's. That requirement was based on the days of now-superseded technology and this should be one of the FCC rules the current commission is striving to reduce or eliminate.

but that's not going to happen for a variety of reasons, such as:

1. The normal US FM band (87.9-107.9) is blocked in by the air band past 108, and TV channels 5 and 6 below 88 MHz.
2. Hardly anyone is buying new radios anymore, unless it comes in a car.

Yet changing the separation just takes an autopen signature by the Commission.

There is some precedent for expanding the band down to include the old Analog TV channels 5 and 6, so it is theoretically possible to do it here in the US, but see item #2 above.

The biggest problem is that about half of all U.S. radio stations are not profitable. This situation existed back in the 50's as revealed in the FCC financial reports that were then a requirement. And, in the early 890s, the effect of adding so many new FMs under Docket 80-90 made radio unprofitable to an even greater extent that the FCC was pretty much forced to allow consolidation.

And as radio's "share of voice" continues to decrease, there will be less and less revenue to support stations. We don't need an expanded band; we need fewer stations to remain.

Adding more stations will make it worse for everyone, as Docket 80-90 proved.

 

[luperm]

But the political will is not there to expand FM. It's been proposed before (as the link above documents) and failed to gain traction every time.

Forget about the technical or political aspects. The economics simply do not support more radio stations. Advertiser support for radio is tenuous, at best. How does dropping a bunch of new radio stations, which will further dilute advertising dollars, create a compelling business case?

 

[K.M. Richards]

Forget about the technical or political aspects. The economics simply do not support more radio stations. Advertiser support for radio is tenuous, at best. How does dropping a bunch of new radio stations, which will further dilute advertising dollars, create a compelling business case?

It could be station count neutral if the expanded FM band was only used for the moving of AM stations' programming there and the AM license surrendered.

This would be an attractive offer to the ethnic broadcasters whose audience (as I said) would be more than willing to invest in new receivers. The total station count is unchanged and the AM band is decluttered more so that the remaining stations have a better chance to succeed.

I would envision that after the migration, the Commission could open a "major change" filing window for the remaining AMs to change frequency and power to improve signal reach. I can't do anything about the external interference, but a 1kW AM which is spaced properly to a second-adjacent might be able to move to a vacated frequency that is third- or fourth-adjacent to the closest signal. Add a power bump to 2.5kW and it's a considerably different ball game for them.

Of course, I am just saying what could happen. The fact that expanded FM isn't going to happen makes all of it moot.

 

[boombox4]

I don't know how you managed to dismiss the answer to this which was already given in the post you replied to, but here it is for reference:



Tell me again how you want the ethnic broadcasters to "find a home on FM".

Tell you again? I didn't tell you the first time.

Re-read what I've said. The ethnic stations can't go onto FM because FM is full in many markets, including mine, where there are probably 10 or 11 (counting rimshots) AM ethnic stations, and FM here is FULL.

Are there some markets where Spanish language FMs do well? Sure. We have a distant rimshot here in my metro that is audible in the southern part of the Seattle-Tacoma metro, and there is another FM signal which has a marginal signal but is receivable in the same area.

The other ethnic broadcasters here are all on AM. Until more FM's go broke to where they can be purchased at affordable prices, the ethnic stations here will be on AM until AM is gone.

 

[boombox4]

And if there are enough of them, the programing will be profitable and find a home on FM.

They can't. FM is FULL. When FM's begin failing in more major markets, then the ethnic broadcasters may be able to move to FM.

If we can agree that radio is a business, and must make a profit, the listeners of the narrowcasting formats will find their needs met on the internet. So far as I've seen Spanish Language stations are doing well in many major market FMs.

There are two Spanish language stations that are rimshot/fringe/marginal signal FMs in my market (Seattle). The other 10 or 11 ethnic broadcasters are on the AM band.

I suppose so if they live a few miles from the undermaintained AM antenna. As I said, I see Spanish stations doing well on FMs in major markets. I don't see how many of the ethnic stations you mention making a profit anywhere except in a very few places with large pockets of the ethnicities.

A lot of cities have 'ethnicities'. Perhaps your market doesn't. And don't forget, 'ethnicities' includes African American talk, news, cultural info, urban oldies, and the like.

Not so. I don't claim to have done anything spectacular. I did know my worth and I demanded the compensation for it. I didn't like then, and don't like now when a guy "who just loves being on the radio" will do it free and help lower already sub standard wadges.

I was lowering no one's wages when I volunteered at a community radio station. Neither did anyone else who worked at a radio station on an internship. They were taking no one's job, and lowering no one's wages. If you truly believe that, you don't understand one of the most basic rules of economics. And if you believe that some intern was lowering your 'already sub-standard wages', maybe you were in the wrong field.

There's an old joke that radio doesn't pay well. If it doesn't, it's not because of the odd newbie sweeping the floors for free, or the intern. It's because up until the 2010's radio was a medium that was very popular and many, many people wanted to work there. You know, supply and demand, which is the most basic law of Economics. And this applied especially to young people, at least back when Radio was a popular medium. A lot of stations could keep wages low because they knew there always was a lot of new people who wanted to work in the field. They could pick and choose who they wanted to hire as an overnight board op for $5 an hour. Because there were gazillions of potential new-hires for such work at a station.

Today? Not so much. "What's a radio" is more dominant a theme among younger people than "Wow! You work at a radio station? How can I get on the air and be a DJ???"

Probably because they are not profitable...and of course difficult to hear with all the electronic noise on the outdated AM band.

Maybe not in your area, which perhaps doesn't have many ethnic minorities.

In my region, it's a different situation. And if ethnic stations are not profitable, how can they be on the air for several decades? And if AM is so completely UNprofitable, why did companies like Cumulus ditch a bunch of FM's earlier in the year, along with the AM's? If AM is so completely UNprofitable, why did a station in Market #1, with the stature of WPLJ, end up as an EMF station instead of a different, commercial format?

Radio in general is becoming outdated, not just AM. And although some stations do OK, the industry is facing financial challenges that affect not just AM, but FM, too. The ethnic stations on the AM band serve their audience. I'm sure a lot of their audience would prefer to hear the stations on FM. But FM is FULL. So they do the best they can.