The online world and websites continue to gain importance for traditional terrestrial outlets while AM and FM radio stations still defy its harshest critics and refuse to die anytime soon.
Content, which once only had hope of existing on traditional radio, now streams online and on-phone. From space SIRIUS XM Radio is now 20 million subscribers strong but, at the end of 2010 the public still doesn't get - or care much about HD Radio.
Still, a lot happened of significance in Radio during 2010 and here's my pick of stories in chronological order:
Air America Media Ceases Operations And File For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy - 1/21/10
A memorandum was distributed to the staff at Air America Media this afternoon. It read in part: "It is with the greatest regret, on behalf of our Board, that we must announce that Air America Media is ceasing its live programming operations as of this afternoon, and that the Company will file soon under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out an orderly winding-down of the business."
The memo was signed by Charlie Kireker, the Chair of Air America Media.
Significance: Liberal/Progressive talk radio does not seem to be able to compete on the same level as conservative talk radio. Problem: Air America was built "top down". Rush Limbaugh and contemporaries succeeded by growing "ground up".
D.C. Radio Icon Donnie Simpson Exits WPGC-FM - 1/27/10
Longtime Washington, D.C. radio personality, Donnie Simpson, did his last show on WPGC-FM this Friday, January 29.
Significance: Simpson was the first urban-formatted radio personality to earn over 1 Million dollars-a-year without being syndicated.
Upper Midwest Radio Icon Dick Purtan Announces Retirement - 2/11/10 Purtan had been doing radio in the Detroit area for 45 years. He announced he would do his last program on March 26, 2010
Significance: Purtan, part of the old guard in Radio before deregulation and consolidation, was at one time the morning man every morning host wanted to be.
77 WABC Deejay Ron Lundy Dead - 3/16/10
Lundy was retired an living in Mississippi and suffered a heart attack at age 75.
Significance: Ron Lundy was one of the deejays who made 77 WABC/New York a Top 40 icon during the 1960s and 1970s.
