But, in all the buzz about what will no doubt be a big part of Radio’s future, I’ve also been hearing some folks absolutely bashing AM and FM Radio for a myriad of reasons:
1. Lousy and repetitive programming
2. DJs who talk too much
3. A predominance of right-wing conservative talk show hosts and
4. Too many commercials
Let me work backwards and talk about commercials first.
Too many commercials
Above all remember one thing: AM and FM are free, in the sense that you don’t actually pay money for it – like Satellite Radio. But, realistically nothing is “free” in life. There has always been an understanding between operators of AM and FM radio stations and their listeners: the operators spend the money to create the programming for you and in return, you listen to some commercials that provide them the money to do so.
This is not an unreasonable request or exchange. There was a time you bought into this much easier. New listening options are turning many against the bargain they used to abide by.
Having said this, it is common knowledge that over the past 20 years, some broadcast companies have really pissed off listeners by allowing their sales departments to sell more commercials-per-hour than a person could stomach. Programmers have perpetually fought this usually without success.
The Federal Communications Commission limits the amount of commercials-per-hour during children’s programming on TV but there are no such restrictions for radio stations. The public might have been well served if the F.C.C. had considered such a limit for Radio.
Right-wing conservative talk show hosts
By the late 1980s, AM radio was close to death. Most listeners had tossed it on the trash heap of technology in favor of FM’s clarity for music. It was Rush Limbaugh who reinvigorated AM radio and gave it a new purpose, paving the way for many talk show hosts who collectively resurrected a bandwidth most were all too happy to ignore.
So, for those who bash AM for its political leanings, you betray your lack of historical understanding of the medium’s problems. The same opportunities were open to a compelling liberal talk show host. Unfortunately, it took until 2004 for a liberal radio network to attempt to “take back” some of those AM radio stations in the form of Air America Radio.
