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What if AM radio disappeared?

R

radionut987

There has been discussion of the same subject on the Coast to Coast and Indiana boards. But what would you miss most if the vast majority of small AM stations in Georgia signed off the air for good? Especially those stations that are barely struggling just to stay on the air, let alone those stations that have lousy signals, particularly at night. Any questions? Comments?

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by radionut987 on 03/30/06 09:50 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> But what would you miss most if the vast majority of small AM stations in
> Georgia signed off the air for good?

Honestly? Nothing.

I haven't listened to one for any reason other than the unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a number of years.
 
> > But what would you miss most if the vast majority of small
> AM stations in
> > Georgia signed off the air for good?
>
> Honestly? Nothing.
>
> I haven't listened to one for any reason other than the
> unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a number of
> years.
>
If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the 40 average quarter hour share of the total radio audience which is listening, at any given moment, to the community's only daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.

If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would likely listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which not only still ranks number one in Hall County but is the highest sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as Macon, Savannah and Columbus.

In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd County's 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome, 1470 WRGA for at least 15 minutes during the week.

WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are still very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC in Macon still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not forget 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always number one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in Thomasville, Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922, consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.

It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM 1490, both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to stations along the Golden Isles.

Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not only the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number 2, it's estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it among the top billing radio stations in America.

We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to do very well and there is nothing coming their way to change this fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal quality and a heritage of good radio that keeps these stations are the forefront.
 
> > > But what would you miss most if the vast majority of
> small
> > AM stations in
> > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> >
> > Honestly? Nothing.
> >
> > I haven't listened to one for any reason other than the
> > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a number
> of
> > years.
> >
> If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the 40
> average quarter hour share of the total radio audience which
> is listening, at any given moment, to the community's only
> daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.
>
> If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would likely
> listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which not only
> still ranks number one in Hall County but is the highest
> sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as Macon,
> Savannah and Columbus.
>
> In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd County's
> 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome, 1470 WRGA
> for at least 15 minutes during the week.
>
> WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are still
> very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC in Macon
> still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not forget
> 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always number
> one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in Thomasville,
> Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
> consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
>
> It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM 1490,
> both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to stations
> along the Golden Isles.
>
> Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not only
> the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number 2, it's
> estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it among
> the top billing radio stations in America.
>
> We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to do very
> well and there is nothing coming their way to change this
> fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal quality
> and a heritage of good radio that keeps these stations are
> the forefront.
>
Here, Here!!!
 
> > > > But what would you miss most if the vast majority of
> > small
> > > AM stations in
> > > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> > >
> > > Honestly? Nothing.
> > >
> > > I haven't listened to one for any reason other than the
> > > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a number
>
> > of
> > > years.
> > >
> > If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the 40
> > average quarter hour share of the total radio audience
> which
> > is listening, at any given moment, to the community's
> only
> > daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.


> If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would likely
> > listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which not
> only
> > still ranks number one in Hall County but is the highest
> > sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> > Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as Macon,
>
> > Savannah and Columbus.
> >
> > In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd
> County's
> > 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome, 1470
> WRGA
> > for at least 15 minutes during the week.
> >
> > WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are still
> > very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC in
> Macon
> > still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not forget
> > 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always number
> > one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in Thomasville,
>
> > Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
> > consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
> >
> > It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM 1490,
> > both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to
> stations
> > along the Golden Isles.
> >
> > Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not only
> > the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number 2,
> it's
> > estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it among
> > the top billing radio stations in America.
> >
> > We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to do very
>
> > well and there is nothing coming their way to change this
> > fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal
> quality
> > and a heritage of good radio that keeps these stations are
>
> > the forefront.

I'm with Art! If you provide good local programming and keep you signal up and sound decent, you'll have listners. If you let the station run down and just put any old crap on it to be on the air, then you'd be better off closing down or selling to somebody who will do something with the station.
I still enjoy local radio when I travel around the state.
>
 
> > > > But what would you miss most if the vast majority of
> > small
> > > AM stations in
> > > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> > >
> > > Honestly? Nothing.
> > >
> > > I haven't listened to one for any reason other than the
> > > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a number
>
> > of
> > > years.
> > >
> > If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the 40
> > average quarter hour share of the total radio audience
> which
> > is listening, at any given moment, to the community's
> only
> > daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.
> >
> > If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would likely
> > listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which not
> only
> > still ranks number one in Hall County but is the highest
> > sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> > Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as Macon,
>
> > Savannah and Columbus.
> >
> > In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd
> County's
> > 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome, 1470
> WRGA
> > for at least 15 minutes during the week.
> >
> > WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are still
> > very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC in
> Macon
> > still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not forget
> > 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always number
> > one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in Thomasville,
>
> > Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
> > consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
> >
> > It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM 1490,
> > both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to
> stations
> > along the Golden Isles.
> >
> > Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not only
> > the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number 2,
> it's
> > estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it among
> > the top billing radio stations in America.
> >
> > We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to do very
>
> > well and there is nothing coming their way to change this
> > fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal
> quality
> > and a heritage of good radio that keeps these stations are
>
> > the forefront.
> >
> Here, Here!!!
>

Agreed. I'll add another. If you are in LaGrange, you would lose the last AM station to serve the community. WTRP has the only Troup County-focused morning show on the AM dial, and has had one for more than 50 years. The other two stations that used to serve LaGrange now have syndicated sports shows. Those going off the air wouldn't be that big a deal. But if WTRP went off the air, then the public would lose a conduit to the mayors, sheriff, school superintendent, etc.
 
> I'll add another. If you are in LaGrange, you
> would lose the last AM station to serve the community. WTRP
> has the only Troup County-focused morning show on the AM
> dial, and has had one for more than 50 years. The other two
> stations that used to serve LaGrange now have syndicated
> sports shows. Those going off the air wouldn't be that big
> a deal. But if WTRP went off the air, then the public would
> lose a conduit to the mayors, sheriff, school
> superintendent, etc.
>

Add yet another station to this list: WNNG-1350 in Warner Robins. That station has done such a phenomenal job of serving that middle Georgia community since Toccoa Falls College sold it in 2001, and had its call letters changed from WCOP. Surely, most folks in Warner Robins would hate to lose that station.
 
> > > > > But what would you miss most if the vast majority of
>
> > > small
> > > > AM stations in
> > > > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> > > >
> > > > Honestly? Nothing.
> > > >
> > > > I haven't listened to one for any reason other than
> the
> > > > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a
> number
> >
> > > of
> > > > years.
> > > >
> > > If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the 40
> > > average quarter hour share of the total radio audience
> > which
> > > is listening, at any given moment, to the community's
> > only
> > > daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.
> > >
> > > If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would likely
> > > listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which not
> > only
> > > still ranks number one in Hall County but is the highest
>
> > > sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> > > Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as
> Macon,
> >
> > > Savannah and Columbus.
> > >
> > > In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd
> > County's
> > > 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome, 1470
> > WRGA
> > > for at least 15 minutes during the week.
> > >
> > > WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are
> still
> > > very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC in
> > Macon
> > > still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not forget
> > > 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always
> number
> > > one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in
> Thomasville,
> >
> > > Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
> > > consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
> > >
> > > It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM 1490,
>
> > > both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to
> > stations
> > > along the Golden Isles.
> > >
> > > Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not
> only
> > > the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number 2,
> > it's
> > > estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it
> among
> > > the top billing radio stations in America.
> > >
> > > We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to do
> very
> >
> > > well and there is nothing coming their way to change
> this
> > > fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal
> > quality
> > > and a heritage of good radio that keeps these stations
> are
> >
> > > the forefront.
> > >
> > Here, Here!!!
> >
>
> Agreed. I'll add another. If you are in LaGrange, you
> would lose the last AM station to serve the community. WTRP
> has the only Troup County-focused morning show on the AM
> dial, and has had one for more than 50 years. The other two
> stations that used to serve LaGrange now have syndicated
> sports shows. Those going off the air wouldn't be that big
> a deal. But if WTRP went off the air, then the public would
> lose a conduit to the mayors, sheriff, school
> superintendent, etc.
>


I also agree and let me throw out Newnans heritage station WCOH AM 1400.
WCOH has served its' community for over 60 years with a local morning show featuring local weather, local traffic, local news, sports, and most importantly of all local obits. followed by Ludlow Porch from 9am-12noon.
And then the noon hour every weekday features updates on local news, traffic, and weather. Followed by the "Trading Post" 45 minutes of frantic phone calling from people in Newnan, Sharpsburg, Senoia, Whitesburg, Carrollton, Hogansville, Franklin, Peachtree City, Palmetto, and yes Union City wanting to sell all sorts of crazy things , or announce a yard sale, or maybe someone is looking for help mowing their lawn. Also come fall you will be able to hear all the Newnan Cougar High School football games, which means much to those shut-ins who can't make it to the stadium.
It would be a said day in our fair state if AM radio went away. Of course that's the way I see it, I could be wrong.
What say you? you may address me as "Uncle Rich"
 
> > > > > But what would you miss most if the vast majority of
>
> > > small
> > > > AM stations in
> > > > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> > > >
> > > > Honestly? Nothing.
> > > >
> > > > I haven't listened to one for any reason other than
> the
> > > > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a
> number
> >
> > > of
> > > > years.
> > > >
> > > If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the 40
> > > average quarter hour share of the total radio audience
> > which
> > > is listening, at any given moment, to the community's
> > only
> > > daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.
>
>
> > If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would likely
> > > listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which not
> > only
> > > still ranks number one in Hall County but is the highest
>
> > > sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> > > Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as
> Macon,
> >
> > > Savannah and Columbus.
> > >
> > > In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd
> > County's
> > > 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome, 1470
> > WRGA
> > > for at least 15 minutes during the week.
> > >
> > > WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are
> still
> > > very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC in
> > Macon
> > > still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not forget
> > > 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always
> number
> > > one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in
> Thomasville,
> >
> > > Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
> > > consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
> > >
> > > It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM 1490,
>
> > > both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to
> > stations
> > > along the Golden Isles.
> > >
> > > Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not
> only
> > > the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number 2,
> > it's
> > > estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it
> among
> > > the top billing radio stations in America.
> > >
> > > We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to do
> very
> >
> > > well and there is nothing coming their way to change
> this
> > > fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal
> > quality
> > > and a heritage of good radio that keeps these stations
> are
> >
> > > the forefront.
>
> I'm with Art! If you provide good local programming and keep
> you signal up and sound decent, you'll have listners. If
> you let the station run down and just put any old crap on it
> to be on the air, then you'd be better off closing down or
> selling to somebody who will do something with the station.
>
> I still enjoy local radio when I travel around the state.
> >
>


I am with BSteve, if an owner allows crap than he/she can expect to loose listeners. Adding to Voice of Lg and "Uncle Rich," WLBB, Carrollton's hertiage station that has been off and on the air since 1947 was the voice and country music station of Carroll County for several years. There was a graduate student who did a report on the staion a couple of years back. From what I have heard Of course it was sold in 98 due to FM and AM compitors like B-92, Kiss 102.7, WPPI 1330 and Y 105.5. In the last couple of years the station was resurrected on the old WPPI/WBTR-AM 1330 frequency by Steve Gradick, who tuurned it into a news/talk station. The only "live programming" is morning news from 6-9am. As I was passing through Carrollton on a business trip a couple of months back,I turned on the station and it was no playing 24 hour AP news but to to fill in time, Gradick is using a television that is turned on CNN...yes CNN the tv station. It would be nice to see an owner return Carroll County's hometown station restored to its former glory..gloryu like WCOH 1400.
 
> I also agree and let me throw out Newnans heritage
> station WCOH AM 1400.
> WCOH has served its' community for over 60 years with a
> local morning show featuring local weather, local traffic,
> local news, sports, and most importantly of all local obits.
> followed by Ludlow Porch from 9am-12noon.
> And then the noon hour every weekday features updates on
> local news, traffic, and weather. Followed by the "Trading
> Post" 45 minutes of frantic phone calling from people in
> Newnan, Sharpsburg, Senoia, Whitesburg, Carrollton,
> Hogansville, Franklin, Peachtree City, Palmetto, and yes
> Union City wanting to sell all sorts of crazy things , or
> announce a yard sale, or maybe someone is looking for help
> mowing their lawn. Also come fall you will be able to hear
> all the Newnan Cougar High School football games, which
> means much to those shut-ins who can't make it to the
> stadium.
> It would be a said day in our fair state if AM radio went
> away. Of course that's the way I see it, I could be wrong.
> What say you? you may address me as "Uncle Rich"
>

Ah, the Trading Post. Those were fun times when I did the same on 620. Good luck up there in Newnan. Hope to see you down the road some time.

Michael Buchanan
 
Art, did you _REALLY_ just reference WSB-AM as part of a reply to a question about "... vast majority of small AM stations in Georgia ... Especially those stations that are barely struggling just to stay on the air..." ???

Somehow, I don't believe that's exactly the sort of station the question was asked about ... nor was it the sort I was referring to in my answer.

And, as you amply pointed out, WDUN is definitely NOT one of the "vast majority" of small AM stations in Georgia (or anywhere else) ... they're a great exception to what has become the norm.

If I understood the question correctly -- which was that it referred to those small AM stations who have virtually zero listeners, who put on low quality (or or worse) programming, and who would be lucky to sell 20% of their avails in a month -- then I stand wholeheartedly by my original answer.

You seem to cite a handful of exceptions, what I think you described quite well as "rare birds", but I'm not sure what they do to address the original question except perhaps to highlight the point I _think_ was intended in the first place: basically that many of the AM stations in Georgia (and most other states)could vanish tomorrow and the impact would be incredibly slight if even that much. The exceptions that you cite all appear to be good ones ... but their existence is not inconsistent with my contention either, nothing in my answer suggested that those exceptions aren't out there.

Either that, or I totally misread what the original poster was getting at.
 
>
> Either that, or I totally misread what the original poster
> was getting at.
>
After reading your post, I went back and read the original post (in the Georgia Board). I had followed the thread on the other two boards that were referenced in the original post here.

The other two boards basically trashed all AM stations and took a rather chauvinist attitude that all stations were only on the face of the earth to program in the favorite style of the writer of the particular message.

The responses here on the Georgia Board have been top drawer!

Here is the question I would pose: What becomes the deciding point on whether a current station lives or dies: What the current owner is doing with it, or what the station COULD be and SHOULD be if operated a bit more intelligently.

Should a license be 'beheaded' because the current owner is incompetent? Is it fair to a community to take away what may be their primary opportunity to ever have local service because it is being held captive by someone who is currently out of operating capital or is on a misguided ego-trip, or is lacking in the necessary skills?

Under our capitalistic system we have a "weeding" process that makes decisions on which stations live and die. Do the current regulations muddy the water on that process? What changes in the system would make it possible for a more equitable, more orderly method of fixing the bad stations or making them walk the plank?
 
I suppose I could be described as the ultimate fan of free markets, and I believe the principles are very much applicable to the radio business. If you have a station with poor programming and zero listeners, it WILL eventually go away, provided that you don't have deep pockets with which to prop it up. Outside religious broadcasters, I personally do not know of a whole lot of people who'll continue sinking money into a failing radio station for years and years. Certainly those who fit into that category won't be defined as "the majority". Bottom line: if your station sucks, nobody listens, and you have no advertisers, something has to give. However, if a station, no matter how poorly programmed, continues to exist year after year without changing owners, they must at least be doing something right. The power bills don't pay themselves.

Further, just because a particular station doesn't appeal to you personally doesn't necessarily mean that it's poorly programmed or unsuccessful. For example, I absolutely despise "Tradio". I think it's just poor radio, and I can't even bear listening to it on my own stations. However, on my AMs, it's the most popular program we have, save the obituaries. In one hour, we have 18 paying sponsors and more calls than we can take. Yes, I think it's poor radio, but it's serving a segment of our community, as well as a segment of our advertisers.

As for the question regarding whether a station lives or dies, the answer to me is incredibly obvious. If a person or company owns a radio station, you CAN'T take it away from them unless they have broken the law. Unless I woke up in the Peoples Republic of China this morning rather than the United States of America, the government doesn't have the right to blatantly take away one's assets for no particular reason other than that said government doesn't like what the individual does with the assets. Bottom line: it may take a little time, but everything comes out in the wash. Free markets DO work. Eventually.
 
>
> As for the question regarding whether a station lives or
> dies, the answer to me is incredibly obvious. If a person or
> company owns a radio station, you CAN'T take it away from
> them unless they have broken the law. Unless I woke up in
> the Peoples Republic of China this morning rather than the
> United States of America, the government doesn't have the
> right to blatantly take away one's assets for no particular
> reason other than that said government doesn't like what the
> individual does with the assets.
>
I went back and read my post twice, and then went back and read it again just for good measure.... and I am still not sure what I said and what I asked that triggered the direction of your response.

I was simply trying to encourage some people to think about.. and then talk about how they see the reduction of AM stations coming about, if they see the reduction of AM stations as a good thing.

In response to your last paragraph... at one time it was against the law in this country to operate a station that did not respond so the community needs, and broadcasters bit their fingernails as license renewal time came around for feat some fool would file on top of them. Truth was, it almost never happened, but it still worried people.

The legal relationship between broadcasters and government promulgated requirements has changed radically in the last 10 to 15 years. Is it a permanent change? Is it part of pendulum swing in political power? Is the political swing currently running a 20 year cycle or a 50 year cycle?

Some key politicians and lobbyists are looking at jail time. The connection of political conservatives and religious conservatives is possibly a fragile marriage. If the other party moved into the White House for several terms in a row, what would be the makeup of the FCC and it's direction in the future?

Will we still be wondering about pitiful little AM stations 20 years from now?
 
I was simply addressing your question of what should be the deciding point with regard to whether a station lives or dies. I certainly wasn't attempting to pick apart what you said. Rather, I think we summarily agree.

Were we as Americans better off when radio stations were statutorily required to serve their communities? I believe the answer is a resounding "yes". With more prominent media attention, I think that things such as local content, ownership limits, and public service will be more closely scrutinized.

I think it's important to remember that, while we technically own our radio stations, we are guaranteed nothing more from the FCC than the right to operate on our respective slices of bandwidth until the expiration of our license. If we are doing the job for our communities that we should be doing, we shouldn't mind proving it. After all, the FCC has bestowed upon us a great privelege as licensees which VERY few others have been granted.

The answer to your question about whether or not we'll be worring about pityful little AM stations 20 years from now intrigues me, and makes me do a lot of thinking. What are your thoughts on the matter?
 
> > > > > > But what would you miss most if the vast majority
> of
> >
> > > > small
> > > > > AM stations in
> > > > > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> > > > >
> > > > > Honestly? Nothing.
> > > > >
> > > > > I haven't listened to one for any reason other than
> > the
> > > > > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a
> > number
> > >
> > > > of
> > > > > years.
> > > > >
> > > > If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the 40
> > > > average quarter hour share of the total radio audience
>
> > > which
> > > > is listening, at any given moment, to the community's
>
> > > only
> > > > daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.
> > > >
> > > > If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would likely
>
> > > > listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which not
>
> > > only
> > > > still ranks number one in Hall County but is the
> highest
> >
> > > > sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> > > > Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as
> > Macon,
> > >
> > > > Savannah and Columbus.
> > > >
> > > > In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd
> > > County's
> > > > 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome,
> 1470
> > > WRGA
> > > > for at least 15 minutes during the week.
> > > >
> > > > WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are
> > still
> > > > very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC in
>
> > > Macon
> > > > still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not forget
>
> > > > 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always
> > number
> > > > one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in
> > Thomasville,
> > >
> > > > Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
> > > > consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
> > > >
> > > > It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM
> 1490,
> >
> > > > both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to
> > > stations
> > > > along the Golden Isles.
> > > >
> > > > Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not
> > only
> > > > the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number
> 2,
> > > it's
> > > > estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it
> > among
> > > > the top billing radio stations in America.
> > > >
> > > > We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to do
> > very
> > >
> > > > well and there is nothing coming their way to change
> > this
> > > > fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal
> > > quality
> > > > and a heritage of good radio that keeps these stations
>
> > are
> > >
> > > > the forefront.
> > > >
> > > Here, Here!!!
> > >
> >
> > Agreed. I'll add another. If you are in LaGrange, you
> > would lose the last AM station to serve the community.
> WTRP
> > has the only Troup County-focused morning show on the AM
> > dial, and has had one for more than 50 years. The other
> two
> > stations that used to serve LaGrange now have syndicated
> > sports shows. Those going off the air wouldn't be that
> big
> > a deal. But if WTRP went off the air, then the public
> would
> > lose a conduit to the mayors, sheriff, school
> > superintendent, etc.
> >
>
>
> I also agree and let me throw out Newnans heritage
> station WCOH AM 1400.
> WCOH has served its' community for over 60 years with a
> local morning show featuring local weather, local traffic,
> local news, sports, and most importantly of all local obits.
> followed by Ludlow Porch from 9am-12noon.
> And then the noon hour every weekday features updates on
> local news, traffic, and weather. Followed by the "Trading
> Post" 45 minutes of frantic phone calling from people in
> Newnan, Sharpsburg, Senoia, Whitesburg, Carrollton,
> Hogansville, Franklin, Peachtree City, Palmetto, and yes
> Union City wanting to sell all sorts of crazy things , or
> announce a yard sale, or maybe someone is looking for help
> mowing their lawn. Also come fall you will be able to hear
> all the Newnan Cougar High School football games, which
> means much to those shut-ins who can't make it to the
> stadium.
> It would be a said day in our fair state if AM radio went
> away. Of course that's the way I see it, I could be wrong.
> What say you? you may address me as "Uncle Rich"
>
I will agree with you, Uncle Rich!
WCOH has been an invaluable service to Newnan, and Coweta county, for many years. And I also agree that Newnan would be much poorer if WCOH were to "go away!"
I believe we are living in the last days of terrestial radio. Wireless internet, with decent data rates, is "here and now" in some areas.....it's only a matter of time until we all have internet access in our automobiles. Then, only the imagination limits our options.
Sat radio is the ONLY buzz I hear today from people OUTSIDE the business. I do not know one, single soul who is even curious about HD radio! I do know several people who have installed XM or Surius lately.....
I know people, and not only kids, who are loading up podcasts and listening. All kinds of stuff....just not music!!
The entertainment/educational options are getting bigger and bigger every day. Radio is NOT changing to meet the new challanges - it is the same old paradigms and the same ol' programming! There is no innovation or creativity - only research and the counting of beans.
And this holds true especially for AM. How much blood CAN be squeezed from a turnip? Well,look at you average small AM....that's how much blood you can squeeze from a turnip!
Wake up and smell the coffee oh radio gods! Your time draws near....we hardly knew yee!
 
> > > > > > > But what would you miss most if the vast
> majority
> > of
> > >
> > > > > small
> > > > > > AM stations in
> > > > > > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Honestly? Nothing.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I haven't listened to one for any reason other
> than
> > > the
> > > > > > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in a
> > > number
> > > >
> > > > > of
> > > > > > years.
> > > > > >
> > > > > If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the
> 40
> > > > > average quarter hour share of the total radio
> audience
> >
> > > > which
> > > > > is listening, at any given moment, to the
> community's
> >
> > > > only
> > > > > daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.
> > > > >
> > > > > If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would
> likely
> >
> > > > > listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which
> not
> >
> > > > only
> > > > > still ranks number one in Hall County but is the
> > highest
> > >
> > > > > sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> > > > > Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such as
> > > Macon,
> > > >
> > > > > Savannah and Columbus.
> > > > >
> > > > > In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of Floyd
> > > > County's
> > > > > 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome,
> > 1470
> > > > WRGA
> > > > > for at least 15 minutes during the week.
> > > > >
> > > > > WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton are
> > > still
> > > > > very strong AMs in their local markets and 940 WMAC
> in
> >
> > > > Macon
> > > > > still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not
> forget
> >
> > > > > 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always
> > > number
> > > > > one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in
> > > Thomasville,
> > > >
> > > > > Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
> > > > > consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
> > > > >
> > > > > It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM
> > 1490,
> > >
> > > > > both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened to
> > > > stations
> > > > > along the Golden Isles.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is not
>
> > > only
> > > > > the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or number
>
> > 2,
> > > > it's
> > > > > estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks it
> > > among
> > > > > the top billing radio stations in America.
> > > > >
> > > > > We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to
> do
> > > very
> > > >
> > > > > well and there is nothing coming their way to change
>
> > > this
> > > > > fact. In just about every case, it's content, signal
>
> > > > quality
> > > > > and a heritage of good radio that keeps these
> stations
> >
> > > are
> > > >
> > > > > the forefront.
> > > > >
> > > > Here, Here!!!
> > > >
> > >
> > > Agreed. I'll add another. If you are in LaGrange, you
> > > would lose the last AM station to serve the community.
> > WTRP
> > > has the only Troup County-focused morning show on the AM
>
> > > dial, and has had one for more than 50 years. The other
>
> > two
> > > stations that used to serve LaGrange now have syndicated
>
> > > sports shows. Those going off the air wouldn't be that
> > big
> > > a deal. But if WTRP went off the air, then the public
> > would
> > > lose a conduit to the mayors, sheriff, school
> > > superintendent, etc.
> > >
> >
> >
> > I also agree and let me throw out Newnans heritage
> > station WCOH AM 1400.
> > WCOH has served its' community for over 60 years with a
> > local morning show featuring local weather, local traffic,
>
> > local news, sports, and most importantly of all local
> obits.
> > followed by Ludlow Porch from 9am-12noon.
> > And then the noon hour every weekday features updates on
> > local news, traffic, and weather. Followed by the "Trading
>
> > Post" 45 minutes of frantic phone calling from people in
> > Newnan, Sharpsburg, Senoia, Whitesburg, Carrollton,
> > Hogansville, Franklin, Peachtree City, Palmetto, and yes
> > Union City wanting to sell all sorts of crazy things , or
> > announce a yard sale, or maybe someone is looking for help
>
> > mowing their lawn. Also come fall you will be able to hear
>
> > all the Newnan Cougar High School football games, which
> > means much to those shut-ins who can't make it to the
> > stadium.
> > It would be a said day in our fair state if AM radio went
> > away. Of course that's the way I see it, I could be wrong.
>
> > What say you? you may address me as "Uncle Rich"
> >
> I will agree with you, Uncle Rich!
> WCOH has been an invaluable service to Newnan, and Coweta
> county, for many years. And I also agree that Newnan would
> be much poorer if WCOH were to "go away!"
> I believe we are living in the last days of terrestial
> radio. Wireless internet, with decent data rates, is "here
> and now" in some areas.....it's only a matter of time until
> we all have internet access in our automobiles. Then, only
> the imagination limits our options.
> Sat radio is the ONLY buzz I hear today from people OUTSIDE
> the business. I do not know one, single soul who is even
> curious about HD radio! I do know several people who have
> installed XM or Surius lately.....
> I know people, and not only kids, who are loading up
> podcasts and listening. All kinds of stuff....just not
> music!!
> The entertainment/educational options are getting bigger and
> bigger every day. Radio is NOT changing to meet the new
> challanges - it is the same old paradigms and the same ol'
> programming! There is no innovation or creativity - only
> research and the counting of beans.
> And this holds true especially for AM. How much blood CAN be
> squeezed from a turnip? Well,look at you average small
> AM....that's how much blood you can squeeze from a turnip!
> Wake up and smell the coffee oh radio gods! Your time draws
> near....we hardly knew yee!
>
I don't agree with your assessment that radio is going to disappear. Radio innovations have always been driven in the large cities. That's why we are suffering from an image standpoint now. The numbers crunchers took over the business several years back and now they are paying the price from a p.r. standpoint but the truth remains that the industry as a whole is still very healthy and profitable. If you go back and talk to folks operating in the 1950s and 60s..or even prior to that in the hey day of radio..you will find that even in the largest cities.....you may have had 5 or 6 stations that really did well. In Atlanta, it was WSB, WQXI, WPLO and I would guess WGST although being owned by the state probably meant they weren't the most aggressive. The urban market was served well by WAOK. The rest of the stations were pretty much left to the imagination on programming and sales.

Now we have a much larger population of people and stations but when you stop to think about it.....the larger cities have a couple handful of dominant stations. In the larger markets, had it not been for consolidation, a bunch of stations would have gone dark. Is that good or bad? Depends on how you look at it.

The issue with small stations like WCOH is their audience has dwindled to such a small amount that it's tough to get results for advertisers. That doesn't mean they can't be successful financially and it doesn't mean they aren't important to their communities. Some suburban towns take pride in the fact they have a local station. It sets them apart from other suburban towns. Also, in some markets, you don't have to have a sizeable audience to sell ads. If the people selling the ads are liked, advertisers will buy from them. I always marveled at how the late Jim DeVan in McDonough GA ran a profitable sunrise to sunset AM with all ads sold over the phone. Jim would get to the station early in the morning and ad lib ads from all the area newspapers. Then his sales lady would come in and hit the phones playing spec ads over the phone. Jim did well over $200,000 a year in that type sales. Al Cohen who later went on to great success in Tifton, GA was doing $20,000 a month on 1KW WACX in Austell, GA in the early 1970s. That would be like doing $40,000 to $50,000 now. Al said they ran a phone survey once and only called people who lived within 5 miles of WACX (WAX RADIO) tower. They didn't show. Period. When Al left Austell, his requirement for buying a station was it had to be located outside WSB's signal which back then could easily be heard on car radios from Cordele, GA to Knoxville, TN in the daytime!

I think the demise of small market radio stations and this could apply to the larger ones too is the quality of the folks running them and their ability to do what has to be done to survive in today's world. That's true of any type business now, not just radio. These are not times for the weak or stupid...but then in broadcasting, it's pretty much always been that way. Back before Walmart came to town and displaced a lot of local radio advertisers, you could be stupid and still make it since there were enough local businesses who just knew they had to advertise. Ain't the case no more. Some of our top advertisers on our radio stations are categories not even on the air five years ago.

Radio is old hat. Sort of the electric companies and railroads. No one gets excited about being able to turn on a switch and have electricity in their house but it's there....it's used every day and it's important. Plus the electric companies make a whale of money. Railroads aren't what they were in the late 1800s...but they still make a ton of money.

As for the stations who never do local programming, never air a weather emergency announcement, run illegal power at night...etc. They should have their licenses revoked and clear the dial for those of us who are still doing those things and glad to be in the business.
 
> > >>
Having got my start in AM radio, doing air shifts on WJAZ (WGOP) in Albany and 3 years on WMGR in Bainbridge along with a couple of years on WVLD, I would miss AM radio. Now, as an engineer, I can not say it would be that bad. The older engineers who lived and breathed AM radio are leaving us at a fairly rapid pace. Most of us were brought up working on the FM side. I personally can work on an AM transmitter, but have big problems with directional arrays and phasing. Thank God for some great consultants in the South Georgia area that really know their stuff.

Will HD save AM? We'll just have to wait and see.<P ID="signature">______________
Robert Combs
Cumulus Broadcasting - Savannah
Any opinion expressed here are my own and do not reflect any opinions or association with Cumulus Broadcasting.</P>
 
> > > > > > > > But what would you miss most if the vast
> > majority
> > > of
> > > >
> > > > > > small
> > > > > > > AM stations in
> > > > > > > > Georgia signed off the air for good?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Honestly? Nothing.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I haven't listened to one for any reason other
> > than
> > > > the
> > > > > > > unintentional comedy they occasional provide in
> a
> > > > number
> > > > >
> > > > > > of
> > > > > > > years.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > If you lived in Toccoa, GA, you would be among the
>
> > 40
> > > > > > average quarter hour share of the total radio
> > audience
> > >
> > > > > which
> > > > > > is listening, at any given moment, to the
> > community's
> > >
> > > > > only
> > > > > > daily local news source, WNEG, AM 630.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If you live in Hall County, Georgia, you would
> > likely
> > >
> > > > > > listen some part of the day to 550 (AM) WDUN which
>
> > not
> > >
> > > > > only
> > > > > > still ranks number one in Hall County but is the
> > > highest
> > > >
> > > > > > sales grossing AM station in Georgia outside of
> > > > > > Atlanta...that includes much larger markets such
> as
> > > > Macon,
> > > > >
> > > > > > Savannah and Columbus.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In Rome, you might be one of nearly 30,000 of
> Floyd
> > > > > County's
> > > > > > 90,000 residents who listens to the Voice of Rome,
>
> > > 1470
> > > > > WRGA
> > > > > > for at least 15 minutes during the week.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > WJTH in Calhoun, AM-900 and 1230-AM WBLJ Dalton
> are
> > > > still
> > > > > > very strong AMs in their local markets and 940
> WMAC
> > in
> > >
> > > > > Macon
> > > > > > still pulls very respectable numbers. Let's not
> > forget
> > >
> > > > > > 930-AM WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia which is always
>
> > > > number
> > > > > > one or two in Decatur County and 1240 WPAX in
> > > > Thomasville,
> > > > >
> > > > > > Georgia, part of that community's life since 1922,
>
> > > > > > consistently outperforms it's sister FM station.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It's also not unusual for WGIG-AM 1440 and WMOG AM
>
> > > 1490,
> > > >
> > > > > > both in Brunswick, to be among the most listened
> to
> > > > > stations
> > > > > > along the Golden Isles.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Then of course, 50,000 watt clear Channel WSB is
> not
> >
> > > > only
> > > > > > the top ranking radio station in Atlanta...or
> number
> >
> > > 2,
> > > > > it's
> > > > > > estimated $50 million annual gross revenue ranks
> it
> > > > among
> > > > > > the top billing radio stations in America.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We're rare birds but these AM stations continue to
>
> > do
> > > > very
> > > > >
> > > > > > well and there is nothing coming their way to
> change
> >
> > > > this
> > > > > > fact. In just about every case, it's content,
> signal
> >
> > > > > quality
> > > > > > and a heritage of good radio that keeps these
> > stations
> > >
> > > > are
> > > > >
> > > > > > the forefront.
> > > > > >
> > > > > Here, Here!!!
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Agreed. I'll add another. If you are in LaGrange,
> you
> > > > would lose the last AM station to serve the community.
>
> > > WTRP
> > > > has the only Troup County-focused morning show on the
> AM
> >
> > > > dial, and has had one for more than 50 years. The
> other
> >
> > > two
> > > > stations that used to serve LaGrange now have
> syndicated
> >
> > > > sports shows. Those going off the air wouldn't be
> that
> > > big
> > > > a deal. But if WTRP went off the air, then the public
>
> > > would
> > > > lose a conduit to the mayors, sheriff, school
> > > > superintendent, etc.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I also agree and let me throw out Newnans heritage
> > > station WCOH AM 1400.
> > > WCOH has served its' community for over 60 years with a
>
> > > local morning show featuring local weather, local
> traffic,
> >
> > > local news, sports, and most importantly of all local
> > obits.
> > > followed by Ludlow Porch from 9am-12noon.
> > > And then the noon hour every weekday features updates on
>
> > > local news, traffic, and weather. Followed by the
> "Trading
> >
> > > Post" 45 minutes of frantic phone calling from people in
>
> > > Newnan, Sharpsburg, Senoia, Whitesburg, Carrollton,
> > > Hogansville, Franklin, Peachtree City, Palmetto, and yes
>
> > > Union City wanting to sell all sorts of crazy things ,
> or
> > > announce a yard sale, or maybe someone is looking for
> help
> >
> > > mowing their lawn. Also come fall you will be able to
> hear
> >
> > > all the Newnan Cougar High School football games, which
> > > means much to those shut-ins who can't make it to the
> > > stadium.
> > > It would be a said day in our fair state if AM radio
> went
> > > away. Of course that's the way I see it, I could be
> wrong.
> >
> > > What say you? you may address me as "Uncle Rich"
> > >
> > I will agree with you, Uncle Rich!
> > WCOH has been an invaluable service to Newnan, and Coweta
> > county, for many years. And I also agree that Newnan would
>
> > be much poorer if WCOH were to "go away!"
> > I believe we are living in the last days of terrestial
> > radio. Wireless internet, with decent data rates, is "here
>
> > and now" in some areas.....it's only a matter of time
> until
> > we all have internet access in our automobiles. Then, only
>
> > the imagination limits our options.
> > Sat radio is the ONLY buzz I hear today from people
> OUTSIDE
> > the business. I do not know one, single soul who is even
> > curious about HD radio! I do know several people who have
> > installed XM or Surius lately.....
> > I know people, and not only kids, who are loading up
> > podcasts and listening. All kinds of stuff....just not
> > music!!
> > The entertainment/educational options are getting bigger
> and
> > bigger every day. Radio is NOT changing to meet the new
> > challanges - it is the same old paradigms and the same ol'
>
> > programming! There is no innovation or creativity - only
> > research and the counting of beans.
> > And this holds true especially for AM. How much blood CAN
> be
> > squeezed from a turnip? Well,look at you average small
> > AM....that's how much blood you can squeeze from a turnip!
>
> > Wake up and smell the coffee oh radio gods! Your time
> draws
> > near....we hardly knew yee!
> >
> I don't agree with your assessment that radio is going to
> disappear. Radio innovations have always been driven in the
> large cities. That's why we are suffering from an image
> standpoint now. The numbers crunchers took over the business
> several years back and now they are paying the price from a
> p.r. standpoint but the truth remains that the industry as a
> whole is still very healthy and profitable. If you go back
> and talk to folks operating in the 1950s and 60s..or even
> prior to that in the hey day of radio..you will find that
> even in the largest cities.....you may have had 5 or 6
> stations that really did well. In Atlanta, it was WSB, WQXI,
> WPLO and I would guess WGST although being owned by the
> state probably meant they weren't the most aggressive. The
> urban market was served well by WAOK. The rest of the
> stations were pretty much left to the imagination on
> programming and sales.
>
> Now we have a much larger population of people and stations
> but when you stop to think about it.....the larger cities
> have a couple handful of dominant stations. In the larger
> markets, had it not been for consolidation, a bunch of
> stations would have gone dark. Is that good or bad? Depends
> on how you look at it.
>
> The issue with small stations like WCOH is their audience
> has dwindled to such a small amount that it's tough to get
> results for advertisers. That doesn't mean they can't be
> successful financially and it doesn't mean they aren't
> important to their communities. Some suburban towns take
> pride in the fact they have a local station. It sets them
> apart from other suburban towns. Also, in some markets, you
> don't have to have a sizeable audience to sell ads. If the
> people selling the ads are liked, advertisers will buy from
> them. I always marveled at how the late Jim DeVan in
> McDonough GA ran a profitable sunrise to sunset AM with all
> ads sold over the phone. Jim would get to the station early
> in the morning and ad lib ads from all the area newspapers.
> Then his sales lady would come in and hit the phones playing
> spec ads over the phone. Jim did well over $200,000 a year
> in that type sales. Al Cohen who later went on to great
> success in Tifton, GA was doing $20,000 a month on 1KW WACX
> in Austell, GA in the early 1970s. That would be like doing
> $40,000 to $50,000 now. Al said they ran a phone survey once
> and only called people who lived within 5 miles of WACX (WAX
> RADIO) tower. They didn't show. Period. When Al left
> Austell, his requirement for buying a station was it had to
> be located outside WSB's signal which back then could easily
> be heard on car radios from Cordele, GA to Knoxville, TN in
> the daytime!
>
> I think the demise of small market radio stations and this
> could apply to the larger ones too is the quality of the
> folks running them and their ability to do what has to be
> done to survive in today's world. That's true of any type
> business now, not just radio. These are not times for the
> weak or stupid...but then in broadcasting, it's pretty much
> always been that way. Back before Walmart came to town and
> displaced a lot of local radio advertisers, you could be
> stupid and still make it since there were enough local
> businesses who just knew they had to advertise. Ain't the
> case no more. Some of our top advertisers on our radio
> stations are categories not even on the air five years ago.
>
> Radio is old hat. Sort of the electric companies and
> railroads. No one gets excited about being able to turn on a
> switch and have electricity in their house but it's
> there....it's used every day and it's important. Plus the
> electric companies make a whale of money. Railroads aren't
> what they were in the late 1800s...but they still make a ton
> of money.
>
> As for the stations who never do local programming, never
> air a weather emergency announcement, run illegal power at
> night...etc. They should have their licenses revoked and
> clear the dial for those of us who are still doing those
> things and glad to be in the business.
>
Excellent points Art! You have been in the small market trenches, for sure.....your posts are always a treasure-trove of knowledge and nostalgia!!
I know they said radio was dead in the late 40's when that new fangled gadget, that made pictures fly through the air, came along! And, indeed, radio didn't die. In fact, it grew stronger, albeit in a different way.
But the pie slices are getting thin, my friend! Back in the "good ol' days" there was just not as much competition for radio to fight....it was TV and newspapers, books etc.And, as you pointed out, there were actually local dollars to chase for the local stations.
Today, we have: Two sat audio services, sat and terrestial TV, internet,podcasting.....the list goes on and on. All these entertainment activities must divvy up the pie.....and IMHO there is not enough to go around - listeners or dollars.
But I hope I'm wrong and you are right. I have always loved this ol' business and will always be a fan of radio.I think market forces may force *salvation* on the industry....I patiently await the new paradigms!!
 
> As for the stations who never do local programming, never
> air a weather emergency announcement, run illegal power at
> night...etc. They should have their licenses revoked and
> clear the dial for those of us who are still doing those
> things and glad to be in the business.



I could not have said this better myself, and it reflects my sentiments exactly.

Much has been said lately about the death of radio, and I just flat disagree. Only those stations which deserve to die, will actually kick the bucket. Those who decry the death of radio are usually those LEAST qualified to make such a diagnosis. I personally believe that those folks, like Art and myself, who derive their livelihoods from local radio, are the most qualified to diagnose the condition of our business.

A major problem in our industry is the pessimism introduced by many Wall Street analysts. Well, Wall Street analysts do not run my stations...I do. Problem is, Wall Street simply doesn't understand the broadcasting business. And what's the first thing you do when you don't understand something? You generally go on the attack. Every time I read a negative comment by a bean-counter in a trade publication, I toss it in the garbage heap and roll my eyes. A plumber can't diagnose a heart condition, because plumbers do not understand medicine. The same analogy basically applies to Wall Street analysts attempting to diagnose the death of radio. Broadcasting is a business which still, by and large, must be run with passion. Bean-counters have no passion.

If you want to guage the health of an industry, ask a cross-section of those served by the industry. If you are truly convinced that radio is dying, I'd encourage you to visit my top ten advertising clients. Tell them you think they should stop wasting their money on a dying cause. Then, see how long it takes you to get an education about the health of the broadcating business. And why will you be set straight, real quick? Because radio advertising truly benefits their businesses. Period.

If you still aren't convinced that the radio business is plenty healthy, stop by our local high school and tell them you are taking away the station that covers their basketball and football games. After all, radio is a dying industry. Rather than getting an education, as you did with my advertisers, you'll probably actually get a butt-whipping when you try to tell the football team their games aren't going to be broadcast on Friday nights. Their parents, grandparents, and cousins listen and depend on our coverage. Period.

I make this long-winded speech to say simply that radio works, provided it is executed correctly. Just like any other business, it depends upon hard work and good management. Whether you are talking about radio stations or flower shops, success only results from people doing things right. There are bad operators in every industry, and radio is no exception. However, as a whole, radio is very much a viable medium. Stations which truly serve their communities will remain viable so long as they continue being relevant to their audience and advertisers. And that's all I got to say about that.
 
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