The End of Local Radio

[K6JHU]

The Commerical stations have no interest in formats such as Jazz or Classical. So even though the listeners are willing to put hard earned cash out of their pockets to support the formats (which I think shows more dedication than listeneing to incessant commercials) they are not viable to the Commerical broadcasters. So that leaves NPR to try to put three formats on one channel (e.g. spoken word, classical, jazz). The only answer to date, as far as NPR is concerned, is HD. So it is not necessarily the availablity of funding. It is the solution to a problem.

 

[northwoods]

I can't think of anything traditional music radio stations can do to get me to listen to traditional music radio. Spoken word formats are entirely different. Much of my listening is to local talk shows from around the country via the Tune In app and IHeart Radio app. These are terrestrial radio stations with local hosts I like.

Agreed on the first point. I also listen to a variety of talk shows from not only across the country, but across the globe (Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) using the tunein app, iHeart app, or Radio One app on my iPod touch (tunein for the international ones). Haven't decided yet if I'm going to break down and by the iPeak app (Peak Broadcasting) to listen to the talk stations in Fresno,CA and Boise,ID. I've already dropped listening to a few CC Talk stations that recently axed their local hosts (and will drop listening to even more if any more that I listen to face the cut).

Since local terrestrial radio does not carry my choice of music format, all my music comes from internet radio, primarily Live 365. Not only through that particular app, but also the AOL Radio app, Slacker app, as well as a multitude of others that can be accessed through the tunein app.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

So that leaves NPR to try to put three formats on one channel (e.g. spoken word, classical, jazz). The only answer to date, as far as NPR is concerned, is HD. So it is not necessarily the availablity of funding. It is the solution to a problem.

Good catch, K6JHU!

NPR stations are not all cut out of the exact same cloth. Some are a bit bland... some are creative trend setters.

Some people are a bit bland... some people are creative, curious, and appreciative of being in the company of trend setters.

HD comes in for a lot of criticism by broadcast enthusiasts, and the broad general public does not seem to be flocking to it. Maybe HD and the trend-setter wing of public radio is... at least temporarily.... a match made in heaven.

 

[northwoods]

Well, the only way drivers in our community found out about a six car pileup this morning was from our local terrestrial radio stations. Try that with Pandora, ipod, 8-track, cassette, CD, internet. As a bonus, they got a reminder to slow down and watch for black ice. Try that with XMSirius.

Bill, I live in a city with a population of about 8,600 or so, which has 5 stations (all under one ownership). 3 are FM (Classic Rock, Country, and Hot AC) with 2 AM's (General Community Talk w/some syndicated (Dave Ramsey being one) and Sports Talk-may be syndicated). With the possible exeption of Dave, none of the others appeal to me. So therefore I don't listen to them. (None of them also have live audio streaming capabilties either).

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

When I began working in radio, they were still expanding the population of stations... even as TV was putting pressure on radio. At that time there seemed to be a lot of "conventional wisdom" in the thinking that you probably couldn't have a viable, successful station in a town of less than 10,000.

Some of us were real dare-devils... trying to make radio actually work in towns of 4,500 to 8,000 people.

About 1963 I was working in a slightly larger market out the owner did a trade-out with some resort down at Fontana Lake in North Carolina. People all over town would comment: Well, I see Charlies is getting ready to go on vacation again. I am hearing the trade-out spots to pay for it. Well he came back from Lake Fontana that year talking about running across a guy driving a mobile-unit all painted up for a station in Murphy, NC so he tracked the guy down and talked shop with him for a while. Murphy at the time was a thriving city of just over 2,000 people and wonder of all wonders... it had TWO competing radio stations.

So I got out the Broadcasting Yearbook and got myself a North Carolina map. Was there anyplace, any market in North Carolina that didn't already have it's very own radio station. I couldn't locate a place in the state where the population was greater than 2,000 that didn't have at least have ONE station already. And in Illinois and Indiana there were places... trading centers... county seats of 13,000 that didn't have a station of their own. That was 1963, 1964.

Things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmm!

But five stations in a town of 8,600?

Things that make you go Dannnnnnnnnnnng!

 

[northwoods]

Radio One app

Should have said Radio.com app. My bad.