Wednesday, February 10, 2010
WBUR & WGBH battle it out...politely. ;-)
The recent change of WGBH to a news & information format places it directly against long established WBUR.
Boston Magazine had this story about the stations.
A Very Civil War - WGBH - WBUR - Boston public radio stations - Jon Abbott - Paul La Camera
Thanks to a series of moves late last year by public broadcasting giant WGBH, the Hub is now home to two all-talk public radio stations. Let the battle for the hearts and minds of tweedy, tote bag–loving Bostonians begin.
WRKO drops Coast to Coast for Howie re-runs
After running Coast to Coast for many years, WRKO AM 680 has dropped it (shown: host George Noory) in favor of re-runs of Howie Carr, weeknights from 1 to 5 am. This may have to do with the fact that CTC's syndicator, Premiere, is allied with Clear Channel, owners of the new WXKS AM 1200 which will debut in April. It stands to reason that WXKS will "clear" Premiere shows like Coast to Coast, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity on its new talk station. Premiere's Rush Limbaugh is run
on WRKO but eventually could find its way to the new AM 1200, too.
Coast to Coast has also gotten dropped from WABC in New York,
in favor of the new syndicated Doug McIntyre show.
The conspiracy theory/paranormal talk CTC is known for (including its weekend versions with original host Art Bell) may still be found on various other stations across the nation.
Glenn Beck may be gone from WRKO, too; he is still listed on "Weekend Shows" but the lineup for next Sat lists "Rusty Humphries" in the Sat night slot that had been best of Beck
Monday, February 08, 2010
Pirate radio looking for interns....
Many of us have been surprised by the brazenness of the local pirate operators.
They ignore FCC rules, the solicit sponsorships, host concerts and events, interview local politicians, they don't respond to FCC notices, etc.
Here is an ad for 102.9FM "Choice FM" on Craiglist looking for interns. On this add they proudly proclaim that they are running well over legal power for a Part 15 broadcaster.
Wouldn't this admission of 2010 watts be enough for the FCC to shut them down?
Choice 102.9 FM Radio Intern (Boston)
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Larry Justice anyone....?
Many folks remember Larry Justice from WBZ, WROR, among other stations.
Where is he now? Apparently selling Real Estate in Florida!
Larry Justice Realtor
(Get a load of the picture on the page of Larry at the Beatles press conference!)
....on another note, someone sent me some information about Larry from when he was in Washington at WPGC. Take a look at this one-sheet...here! Larry did a promotion at WPGC where he "took over" the radio station. Here's the aircheck.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The People-Meter knows the Truth...!!!
There has been a lot of discussion in the past year as the Personal People Meter (PPM) became the new way of collecting listening information for Arbitron.
Since that change in methodology, a few changes in listening patterns have emerged, as one type of methodology favors different types of listening over another.
But, as Arbitron claims, the PPM hears all...and knows the truth of what you really listen to!
New Ratings System for Radio Gives Guilty Pleasures a Boost.
Never Listen to Céline? Radio Meter Begs to Differ
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A radio show about golf....?
I've always said that golf is a disease. ;-) When I see people out golfing in rain and snow (I live near a golf course), and see how many people congregate, I've deduced that golf is a contagion. ;-) It can dominate conversations, make enemies, make people dissappear all day! (You know I'm kidding right?)
Most New England golfers are going thru withdrawal right now in the middle of Winter.
Liza Churchill has a golf show on WATD in Marshfield.
Goldie Bounce Golf on WATD in Marshfield
Thursday, January 14, 2010
News Talk 1200 to launch in April
Clear Channel has announced that WKOX AM 1200 will become "News Talk 1200 WXKS" in April. They hope to feature talk hosts from the Premiere syndicator that is part of Clear Channel, including Glenn Beck (now heard in a "best of" Saturday nights on WRKO), Sean Hannity, and even perhaps Rush Limbaugh when El Rushbo's contract with WRKO expires. There also will be local talk hosts and a news department.
The station had been progressive talk from April 2004 until December of 2006 when it flipped to Spanish "Rumba". Rumors of a flip back to talk, primarily conservative, have
been around for a long time and now are confirmed. The station now has a stronger signal, with a tower in Newton; it has 50,000 watts like WRKO but RKO AM 680 is lower on the dial (with a tower in Burlington) and is generally easier to get.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
1 Show and someone's disgruntled....
Yesterday, Emily Rooney and Callie Crossley began their local shows for the new incarnation of WGBH-FM. (See previous post below)
After only 1 show, someone out there doesn't like it.
A rough start to WGBH radio's new local shows
From reading the commentary, it appears to be laced with partisan complaints.
However, I like the first comment listed below the story:
This is a non-story. Fist day of a full time five day a week job. Let it go man. Talk to me in a couple of weeks.
After only 1 show, someone out there doesn't like it.
A rough start to WGBH radio's new local shows
From reading the commentary, it appears to be laced with partisan complaints.
However, I like the first comment listed below the story:
This is a non-story. Fist day of a full time five day a week job. Let it go man. Talk to me in a couple of weeks.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
WGBH-FM adds 2 local shows....
I was hoping to get this up before the week began. After flipping their Classical format to 99.5, WGBH-FM went to a news/information/talk format.
This week they added some local programs to it's lineup! Emily Rooney from WGBH-TV's "Greater Boston" program will have a daily show at Noon. (Yes, it's Andy Rooney's daughter.) Callie Crossley, a WGBH-TV contributor will have a 1 hour show following at 1PM.
The Globe's Johnny Diaz had this:
WGBH adds 2 shows to radio lineup
Monday, January 04, 2010
The Herald's Jessica Heslam has this article on some of the personality changes that occurred in Boston Media over the last decade:
Boston lost some major talent in local TV, radio
"The city saw an exodus of some of the biggest names in broadcast TV news as the Internet continued to drastically alter the way media organizations deliver - and consumers get - the news."
Thursday, December 31, 2009
WCRB to WGBH & All Classical 99.5....
A lot of interest has been generated by the purchase of WCRB by the WGBH organization.
WCRB-99.5FM turns into a listener supported All-Classical station. WGBH-FM 89.7 turns into an NPR style news and talk station.
Here is a recap of the articles that were published befoire during and after the transition.
Anticipating what it will mean to the radio dial:
11/18/09: ’GBH takeover of ’CRB alters more than letters
A Harvard blogger offers these thoughts on the future of WGBH and public radio.11/25/09: WGBH and public radio’s future
Classical music fans over at the Boston Musical Intelligencer reported that the new WCRB will no longer broadcast the BSO's Friday afternoon concerts.
12/10/09: WGBH to Discontinue BSO Friday Afternoon Broadcasts
The folks over at Mass High Tech chronicle the many innovations from WCRB over the years:
12/9/09: WCRB sale to WGBH marks end of broadcast innovator
Over at the Globe, Jeremy Eichler writes about the disappearance of Classical Music from the radio dial. (Besides a throwaway line about HD Radio, Jeremy doesn't seem to know how easy it is to pick up WGBH's HD3 channel, which rebroadcasts WCRB's programming to an even wider audience.
12/18/09: A new WCRB, and a shrinking classical dial
And saving the best for last ;-) the inimitable Alex Beam from the Globe had these thoughts:
12/18/09: Gentlemen, start your pledge drives
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
WBZ-TV gets you in the Christmas spirit...?
Friday, December 11, 2009
WHAV's Ed Johnson honored.....
WHAV was a 1KW station serving Haverhill with news and other local-yokel stuff. It has now morphed into a Spanish station. However, there are a few folks who have kept the flame of WHAV alive as an internet station WHAV.net. It is also available on local cable channels in the Merrimack Valley, and as a low-power station (Part 15?) in downtown Haverhill at 1640AM.
I think I recall Tom Bergeron talking about how helpful Ed Johnson was to his early career. It's nice to see that one of the "nice guys" in the business is remembered.
Station to Honor Long-Time Employee
The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune had this story:
WHAV plaque honors longtime announcer Edwin Johnson
I congratulate the efforts put behind keeping WHAV alive on the internet and elsewhere as WHAV.net. However, I think the operators of WHAV.net have to understand how people listen today.
WHAV.net occasionally has special programs, talk shows, but they are at odd times. Nowadays, people want to hear something when they want to hear it. While the music stream can continue day and night...special programming has to be available "on-demand"....as a stream or a podcast.
If I go to the website and see Jack Bevelaqua hosts the popular Open Mike Show"....in this day and age, no one is going to wait until "Tuesday at 6:30" to hear the program. When they ran a recent special on the history of WHAV...same thing. And if they are available "on-demand", they have to be EASY to find!
Great effort, but don't run an online station like a regular radio station.
On demand streaming of special programs and podcasts are the name of the game!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Curtis Sliwa national show soon to end
In September of 2008 we told you that WTKK had hired Curtis Sliwa to be a weeknight host. Soon afterward, other stations picked him up, too, and soon it was a national show. But it will shortly be off the air. (Though he has now signed to do a show
for WNYM in New York)
Citadel/ABC pulled him off WABC this week, replacing him with John Batchelor who, for now, will be heard seven nights a week (soon to be six). For now Curtis' show continues on his affiliates like WTKK 96.9 but it will probably end around December 11. Citadel is offering the Batchelor show to affiliates; for now we have not heard if WTKK will pick it up or not but we suppose they will.
Sliwa's show focused on news and popular culture (movie reviews, celebrities, trends). It has been reported that he will start a show on WNYM (AM970) in the New York City area
on January 11, mornings, according to
North East Radio Watch
UPDATE: The show did indeed end with its Dec. 11 broadcast. At the start of the show WTKK ran a promo for the John Batchelor show which takes its place on Monday,
Dec. 14.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Switch is on, Dec 1 at 6 a.m.
Word has it WCRB FM 99.5 will go off air at midnight on Monday Nov 30 (actually early Tue. Dec 1). The new WGBH-owned station will debut six hours later as "All Classical WGBH".
Here is 99.5's schedule. The Boston Symphony Orchestra's Saturday night broadcasts continue
though the Friday afternoon broadcast won't.
The move means changes at WGBH 89.7 as well, including the loss of the folk and blues shows on Saturday. And some classical fans who live south of Boston may find that the classical programs that moved to 99.5 won't be picked up as easily.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
RIP: Alan Dary
Alan Dary passed away last month, and the obituary finally appeared in the Globe.
Alan Dary, popular host of Boston radio shows; at 89
I am not old enough to remember Alan during his heyday...but people still spoke of his Sunday Morning request show years afterward on WHDH.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Globe writes about WWZN, prog talk
Today's Boston Globe has a story about the efforts of Jeff Santos and others at WWZN 1510 in bringing progressive talk back.
Clear Channel's WKOX and WXKS had hosts from Air America and Jones from October of 2004 till December of 2006, before the format changed. A very "blue" area had little or no progressive talk until February of this year, when it started to make its way (via brokered time) onto AM 1510. Thus, listeners didn't have to get satellite radio or pick up some shows at night via "skywave" from stations like WWKB in Buffalo.
This is not the only left-leaning place on the dial, though; some say that Eagan and Braude on WTKK, Steve Leveille on WBZ, and others also express left-of-center viewpoints.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
WCRB - WGBH Changes due 12/1......
Looks like the date for WGBH to take ownership of WCRB is 12/1.
FCC approves WGBH purchase of radio station
Kind of quiet for such a big change.
WGBH-FM loses their daytime music programming in favor of news/talk/information. (Has anyone heard what the lineup will be? Hasn't WBUR locked up the best NPR programs? Will WGBH start with any local programs right off the bat? I mean it's TWO weeks away!)
I assume WCRB without commercials will play longer peices of music, and move away from the partial "movements" that made WCRB so sucessful. Have they announced any plans or who will be on the air? Will WCRB staffers like Laura Carlo be on the new incarnation of WCRB?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Interesting note. As bad as WCRB has been struggling over the last few years (especially with the sub par signal of 99.5's Lowell transmitter), it's ratings are still heads and tails above WGBH-FM's ratings.)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Believing in radio.....
And who says there are no good news stories about radio. ;-)
You might find this article interesting.
Rescuing Radio - Time
Because he quit the biz eight years ago, Wilson, with Lucy, in chair, and Bear, can afford to invest in radio.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
WGBH plans to drop blues, folk
According to the Globe and the WGBH site, WGBH-FM 89.7 plans to drop its weekly blues show and some of its folk programming (though A Celtic Sojourn and Prairie
Home Companion will stay). This will happen should the FCC approve the sale of
WCRB-FM 99.5 to them.
By next month, WCRB could be running non-commercial classical music overseen by
WGBH, and 89.7 would focus on news and talk.
Blues and folk have been parts of the WGBH lineup for years. The late Mai Cramer
hosted "Blues After Hours" for over a quarter century (Brendan Hogan has done it
more recently). WGBH is telling its listeners they have other alternatives
if they still wish to hear blues or folk, and it was a "difficult decision"
Thursday, November 05, 2009
How are the TV News ratings......
Boston TV news ratings for October.
October TV News Ratings
Channel 7/WHDH looks like they are in trouble. Can't just be the Leno thing at 10...it looks more like a systemic problem.
No 10PM numbers yet.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Kopper's FreeformBCN has big plans
This Boston Herald article says that former WBCN DJ Sam Kopper is running FreeformBCN on HD radio (a WZLX-HD signal) and online...for now it's automated but there are plans to bring back some vintage WBCN names. And News Dissector Danny
Schecter is already doing some left-leaning political commentary.
The station offers freeform and freewheeling rock of the past and more recent times. WBCN left us in August but this is in the spirit of the original "Rock Of Boston".
“We are bringing back the musical, the sociopolitical, the radio technique of the great days of progressive rock radio - the great days of ’BCN, ’68 through the ’70s,"
says Kopper.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Callahan Changes....?
-
Got this short note by email....
Keith, On Sep 25 morning and afternoon WEEI AM mentioned Gerry Callahan would move
to the Big Show immediately. Since then NOTHING! Not on WEEI, not in Globe / Herald,
Not in your Blog. Was it a joke?
Regards,
Jim XXXXX,
Salem, MA
Anyone esle hear this? Was it a joke?
Update:
On Oct 15 Dennis mentioned Callahan moving, Ordway said he didn't show up. Today Dennis said Gerry will be back Monday. Either it is an internal war or a stupid prank
Got this short note by email....
Keith, On Sep 25 morning and afternoon WEEI AM mentioned Gerry Callahan would move
to the Big Show immediately. Since then NOTHING! Not on WEEI, not in Globe / Herald,
Not in your Blog. Was it a joke?
Regards,
Jim XXXXX,
Salem, MA
Anyone esle hear this? Was it a joke?
Update:
On Oct 15 Dennis mentioned Callahan moving, Ordway said he didn't show up. Today Dennis said Gerry will be back Monday. Either it is an internal war or a stupid prank
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
RIP: Alan Dary
Alan H. Dary died of kidney failure 10/2 after a brief illness. He had been in hospice care in Manchester, NH since Monday. Alan was 89 years old.
Born in Shelton, CT, his first radio job was at WSUN in St. Petersburg, FL in 1946. He later worked at WBRY in Waterbury, CT before moving to WORL in Boston from 1951-56, where his music show was called the "Dary-Go-Round."
From 1956-61 Alan was one of the inaugural crew of local disc jockeys at WBZ in Boston. His original airshift there started at 10:20 at night.
From 1961-63 Alan returned to WORL for a mid-day music show. From 1963-74 he was part of the airstaff at WHDH in Boston. From 1974-76 Alan worked at WMEX in Boston. An avid Red Sox fan, the WMEX duties involved hosting a pre-game show from the bleachers at Fenway Park where he awarded prizes to fans who could answer baseball trivia questions correctly.
In 1977 Alan and his late wife, Charlotte, moved to Londonderry, NH. He hosted the morning show on WGIR AM in Manchester for three years, later working at WKBR in Manchester and returning to Boston when the former WXKS AM featured a nostalgia format.
Here is Alan's page on the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasting.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
WEEI + ESPN RADIO Announce Affiliation Agreement
WEEI, ESPN RADIO Announce Affiliation Agreement
October 7, 2009 (Boston, Bristol, Conn.) —The WEEI Sports Radio Network and ESPN Radio, the nation’s largest sports radio network, will join forces to bring ESPN’s national programming and personalities to New England’s top rated sports radio station.
The Boston- and Bristol-based broadcasters announced an affiliation agreement that will bring ESPN weekend and overnight programming to WEEI 850 AM, as well as a variety of play by play programming, including the Major League Baseball playoffs, the NBA and NBA playoffs and the College Bowl Championship Series, highlighted by the 2010 BCS National Championship Game in January. MLB playoff programming will begin this week.
Staring November 2, 2009, WEEI will syndicate ESPN’s overnight programming including AllNight with Jason Smith (1-5 a.m. ET Monday through Friday), as well as select weekend programming in and around its local coverage.
As part of the agreement, Adam Schefter, ESPN’s NFL Insider, will join Dennis and Callahan every Friday during the NFL Season beginning this week, and Peter Gammons, ESPN’s veteran Major League Baseball insider, will join The Big Show with Glenn Ordway every week during the upcoming baseball playoffs and once a week next season. A slew of ESPN personalities will also be joining WEEI shows on a regular basis, throughout the week and the weekend.
“This partnership is a win for everyone, especially our listeners,” said Julie Kahn, Entercom New England VP and Market Manager. “As WEEI’s footprint grows across the New England on the airwaves and across the nation online, ESPN brings invaluable national content and insight.”
Added Traug Keller, Sr. VP, Production, Business Divisions, “The recent success of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins make this an exciting time to be entering the Boston market on one of the nation’s premier sports stations. Combining ESPN Radio’s content and personalities with WEEI’s local reputation is a win-win for both parties, as well as for the area’s passionate fans.”
Jason Wolfe, Entercom New England’s VP of AM Programming said, “This newly formed partnership will continue to solidify WEEI as the region’s foremost authority for sports coverage. Adding Peter and Adam, who we’ve enjoyed regular relationships with in the past, in addition to the many incredibly talented hosts and commentators that ESPN has in its stable, creates must listen radio for our audience.”
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
RIP: Sharon Fogaren, Pauline Yates
From the New Bedford market's WFHN:
Sharon Fogaren, 43, DJ on popular radio show
40 years at WCAP. From secretary to station manager...
Pauline Yates; guiding light at WCAP-AM in Lowell; at 84
Saturday, October 03, 2009
WTKK Shuffles Its Talk Lineup
Having recently celebrated their tenth anniversary, Greater Media's WTKK-FM 96.9 is
now shuffling its talk host lineup. Don Imus is being cut back to two hours, only one
of which is live, weekdays from 5 to 7 am. Former afternoon talkers Jim Braude and Margery
Eagan begin 15 consecutive hours of live and local talk from 7 to 10 am, followed by Michael Graham (10 am to 2 pm) who gains an hour, Jay Severin (2 to 6 pm) whose show gets pushed to an earlier time, and Michele McPhee (6 to 10 pm) who gains an hour. The rest of the lineup is the syndicated Curtis Sliwa from 10 pm to 1 am and Phil Hendrie from 1 to 5 am.
Two years ago WTKK thought they would be adding Howie Carr to their lineup in morning drive but a judge ruled otherwise. Now Carr, still at WRKO till 2012,
has had a blogger calling himself "Ernie Boch III" from the left-leaning
Blue Mass Group, urging advertisers to dump their spots due to the show's content. The real Ernie Boch Jr. however, who has long supported Howie (when his family owned WXTK on the Cape, they were the first
to syndicate Howie), has denounced the "impostor" and offered a reward to find out
who he is. He told Carr, “I’m going to tell you who he is so you can terrorize him every afternoon.” The "Carr who drives Boston home" was pleased by the show of support by Boston's "car czar".
Labels: ernie boch wtkk wrko howie carr blue mass group
Manchester: So long Ed Brouder.....
It's always disheartening when radio loses a good talent for some silly reason, or no reason at all.
I'm not sure what the reason, but Ed Brouder will no longer be doing news at WZID/WFEA.
Everyone who knows Ed knows him to be a talented radio pro, and a gentlemen...which is something we need more of in this business.
Here are some comments in the Manchester Union Leader about Ed (along with another newsman being lost in NH due to retirement).
Two Fine Newsmen: Manchester Will Miss Them
Not retiring but no longer a radio voice for news and information in Manchester is Ed Brouder, who has left WZID and WFEA after 17 years and is teaching communication classes at Hesser College.
Brouder could teach his students volumes by just recounting his career to date, but he is too modest for that. In addition to providing local news summaries in the early morning hours, he found time to write several books, including histories of radio in New Hampshire and of the Manchester airport. He has also devoted countless hours to worthy causes, from Red Cross blood drives to the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethons.
Radio news is not what it used to be in Manchester, where three stations at one time fielded local reporters. Ed Brouder did an admirable job of trying to fill that gap. He will be missed in that role.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Off the air: WGBH's Richard Knisely
This is probably more a case of one hand not knowing what the other hand is doing, but while WGBH was procuring classical radio for Boston in the form of WCRB......they were letting go of one of their best known classical announcers.
Off the Air: WGBH's Richard Knisely
“The real issue is that they have been laying people off like me, claiming extreme financial difficulties, and now they suddenly have $14 million to buy another radio station,” Knisely says. “And it’s a classical music station. People are seriously questioning what’s going on. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense. The only way it makes sense is that they wanted to cut my large salary.”
Let's hope they find a place for him in the new efforts with WCRB. Seems awfully callous on the part of WGBH not to have thought this through. And since WGBH is a union shop, let's hope the union steps up on his behalf.
BTW...Knisely's "large salary", as revealed by him was $63,000. A rather paltry amount in the scheme of things.
Maybe they could lay off one of their fourteen vice-presidents all making between 200 & 300k a year?
Now, what becomes of Eric Jackson's program?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
WGBH to buy WCRB....
From Fybush.com
Boston's largest public broadcaster, WGBH, is buying the market's commercial classical radio station, Nassau's WCRB (99.5 Lowell), ending years of speculation about the long-term future of classical radio in the Hub and doubling the daily radio output from WGBH's Allston studios.
Details of the deal are being announced this afternoon - but NERW believes it will involve the transformation of WCRB from commercial to non-commercial operation, in a move strikingly similar to WNYC's impending acquisition of New York City's WQXR.
Unlike that deal in New York, it appears that at least some of WCRB's airstaff will stay with the new WGBH-run 99.5. Like that deal in New York, it appears that the transaction will move WCRB into WGBH's Allston studios from the longtime WCRB facility in Waltham. And like the New York transition, it appears that the purchase of WCRB will allow WGBH to complete the shift of its main FM facility on 89.7 to full-time news and talk by day, which may explain the recent departure of WGBH afternoon classical host Richard Knisely.
There's no immediate word on a purchase price for WCRB, which last changed hands in 2006 as part of a complex deal that sent the station's intellectual property to Nassau and its former frequency, 102.5, to Greater Media. In recent months, Nassau has been beset by financial problems, with control of most of its stations passing to a group of lenders led by Goldman Sachs. That lenders' group now holds 100% of WCRB, which has been rumored to be up for sale - and the deal to transfer the station to WGBH closes the book on some strong rumors that had 99.5 becoming part of Entercom's cluster and perhaps flipping to sports as an FM home for WEEI.
And the move has implications for another format fight, too: assuming 89.7 goes full-time news and talk, how does WBUR respond to the new competition to its own very successful all-news/talk format?
More at the WGBH web site:
Keep Classical Alive: WGBH is taking classical music commercial-free 24/7, and you can play a part!
And from the Globe:
WGBH will buy classical radio station WCRB
Friday, September 18, 2009
Laquidara: Radio sucks today
You may have heard that former WBCN morning man Charles Laquidera was inducted last night into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame (along with Fred Cusick, Emily ROoney, Gil Santos and others). The press release is here.
Here is an interview that Laquidera did on Tuesday with NECN & WTKK's Jim Braude:
Laquidara: Radio sucks today
he also did a small print Q & A with the Boston GLobe as well:
Radio days
You can find out more about the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fam at their web site: www.massbroadcastershof.org
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Is AM Radio Still Relevant?
As people bemoan and debate the future of radio....the discussion will eventually turn to what will become of AM radio. We know there are demographic challenges to the AM band. We also know that much relevant programming has vanished from the AM dial in favor of specialty, foreign language, and paid religion. (Not that here's not a place for some of that, it just not something that will bring the masses to AM radio.) And here in Boston we just might get THREE sports signals.....with one abandoning the big signal of 850AM for piped in generic ESPN sports.Randy J. Stine wrote this article for Radio World about the continued question of relevancy for AM radio.
Is AM Radio Still Relevant?
"The story of AM radio over the last 50 years has been a transition from being a dominant form of radio entertainment for all ages to being almost non-existent to the youngest demographic groups," the commission stated.
"I do not expect AM to bounce back," said Glen Clark, president of Glen Clark & Associates, who remains active in radio consulting. "It had a great run over more than 80 years, but I think AM is basically done. It's already getting to the point where people are just turning off their stations."
