I just read an article on Bell Media of Canada laying off their employees and selling almost half of their radio stations. After pulling something similar in 2023, they mentioned that "radio is not a viable business anymore" this time. Sounds like things will only go downhill from here on.
My childhood had lots of moments spent with the radio. I feel less lonely listening to the human voices and interactions on the programs. Newer generations seem to prefer something more practical. These radios are less accessible from smartphones or other popular gadgets they use as well, so the traction is just not enough.
I'm sure there are still people like me who will stick around, but we can't save an entire industry.
gofar99 Messages: 1955 Registered: May 2010 Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
I own a number of devices that will get AM and more that will do FM, but I don't recall using the AM in the past 2-3 years and FM only about once a month. Vinyl, CD and DVD are pretty much the only things I listen to regularly. Once in a while reel to reel tape and cassette. With on line services available for free in many cases that can be received (via web) on phones thus most folks don't see the need for radios. XM and Siris for autos if you want to pay is fine, but I got rid of that a while back. Now I just stick a USB drive in the port and can have anything I want. Additionally radio used to be important for news and weather. Any smart phone can get as much of that as you want.
Wayne Parham Messages: 18793 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
I love my old tube radios and usually spend an hour or two listening to talk radio every day while I'm working. I just love knowing that the radio I'm listening to presented news broadcasts of the history of the world during most of the last century.
Additionally radio used to be important for news and weather. Any smart phone can get as much of that as you want.
No phones allowed while driving, and it can get confusing to check the routes before we start, so those news and weather programs are the best friends on the road. They also give live, up-to-date information as it happens, which is helpful. Music wise, I agree the competition is tough.
Rusty Messages: 1202 Registered: May 2018 Location: Kansas City Missouri
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
I listen to radio mainly in the car, and NPR usually because the commercial stations play such banality. For me. There is a nice local community radio station that has good programming. My favorite is the Dr. Mike show. Old country music, rockabilly and bluegrass. Which, a little dab'l do ya on my part again. Those old vocalists always sounded like they had a clothespin clamped on their nose singing.
My childhood had lots of moments spent with the radio. I feel less lonely listening to the human voices and interactions on the programs. Newer generations seem to prefer something more practical. These radios are less accessible from smartphones or other popular gadgets they use as well, so the traction is just not enough.
I'm sure there are still people like me who will stick around, but we can't save an entire industry.
I am the same! I spent my entire childhood listening to the radio. I am an only child and radio was a great companion for me. I must confess though that I haven't listened to it for so many years, but it will always have a special place in my heart.
Back before the communications act of 1996 there was a limit on how many radio and tv stations a company could own in a market. There were still many locally owned and managed radio stations at that point.
After the act, the big companies started a radio station buying frenzy that had many stations bought and sold several times over a short time span. Each sale drove up the debt held on that station and required those stations to run formats that were uber commercial just to keep up with that newly acquired debt.
DJ's weren't allowed to say much anymore, if in fact there were still DJ's at the stations. Commericals started taking up more and more minutes in the hour. And playlists were culled to 100 or 200 songs. Great songs perhaps but they didn't play many of them.
So you ended up with stations that had a very bland presentation, no local connection, and a ton of commercials. This is not a recipe for long term success.
When I was a kid radio was pretty entertaining. Lots of great memories listening to some great stations with very talented DJ's.
So you ended up with stations that had a very bland presentation, no local connection, and a ton of commercials. This is not a recipe for long term success.
So the guy in Canada was right: It's not viable. Because people like him make it unviable simply by their business practices.
This is what happens when corporations buy something they know nothing about.
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