The full title of the Radiodays North America panel is Electrification, Autonomous, and Screenification: Radio’s Future in the Car. Moderated by Jacobs Media president Fred Jacobs, radio programming’s most prominent participant in the connected car discussion, the focus is radio’s in-car user experience. “Given how drivers move from platform to platform in cars, it’s essential FM radio looks as good—if not better—than satellite radio, streaming services, and podcasts,” Jacobs says. He’ll be joined by Quu’s Laura Gonzo, CBC’s Julie McCambley, and Brian Comiskey of the Consumer Technology Association, producer of CES.
For American making the journey to Toronto on June 8-9, any discussion of radio’s future in the car begins with the currently raging discussion of AM radio’s future. Even after Ford’s decision to include AM radio in 2024 cars, there are still holdouts, and all those decisions are seen as a stalking horse for all of broadcast radio’s future in cars. That prompts a discussion of whether radio has the vision and unity to reorganize the dial itself, certain to be a topic at another RDNA panel, Radio, Can You Handle the Truth?
AM broadcasters are fighting a transition that has already taken place to varying degrees elsewhere. In Australia and the UK, a competitive digital tier has made the fate of actual AM frequencies less of an issue. But even in Canada, many AM stations have already transitioned to the FM dial outside the most crowded major markets. Some have been granted frequencies on a less crowded FM dial, but recently, N/T CHQR Calgary, Alberta, followed the lead of similar American outlets, taking over the frequency of a Classic Rock sister FM.
In-car usage is one of the Audio Megatrends that Edison Research President Larry Rosin and Director of Research Laura Ivey will address at RDNA. Ivey’s advice for all broadcasters is to “leverage new dashboard technology to aid in the discoverability of AM/FM radio, not just individual stations, but the whole medium. They need to understand why it’s different and why it is valuable,” particularly when radio loses its advantage in ease of use.
Ivey believes that AM broadcasters can protect themselves by continuing to “excel at the things that make AM unique—local information, crisis relief, providing a voice for smaller communities—and then publicizing it. How are communities supposed to find out about AM radio? Tell them.”
I posed similar questions to Facebook friends. Some still see the future of AM (or radio overall) as tied to programming issues—spotload, a focus on one sort of news/talk, the relative lack of actual local content outside times of weather emergency. One programmer suggests handing AM over to high-school and college broadcasters. A reader says the AM stations in his market often “seem to be operating as afterthoughts to their FM sisters. I constantly hear dead air, two audio channels playing at the same time, way too many spots, and an overall sloppiness in presentation.”
But a surprising number of Ross on Radio readers were in agreement with NERW publisher Scott Fybush. “To AM broadcasters: after a century, you’re in the end game. It’s time to make sure your programming is on other platforms that will be accessible to listeners, whether that’s translators, HD2s or a unified streaming platform.” One reader called for the FCC to “repack the FM band” to accommodate more AM to FM transitions.
Among other similar comments:
- “Ford has probably done their homework. If there were actual demand for AM radio, it wouldn’t be deleted.
- “I assume the eight-track, cassette, and CD manufacturers had no such lobbying power . . . people decide what technology they like and use, not politicians.”
- “AM radio is 111 years old. Some things need to be let go. My proposal would be to sunset AM stations with FM translators as an option, and then make the translators protected signals”
- “My AM station got its license 90 years ago today. Embrace your streaming ability, process your stream just as you would the over-the-air signal, broadcast compelling content, and be a resource your community relies upon.”
- “If you own or operate an AM station, make sure you have an app so those cars deleting AM will still [allow] the option of tuning in your station on Apple CarPlay or the Android platform.”
- “If you do have that app, make sure it actually works, and doesn’t do things like repeat content in an endless loop, not come back on time from commercials or [incorrectly] tell you that you’re out of the listening area.” (This was not the only comment about apps not working.)
- “Radio needs a killer universal app that is used by all radio. Unfortunately, different apps are spread across too many companies.”
- “This will sound crazy, but AM needs to shut off its analog audio and go full digital. Then create compelling local and ideally live content. Finally, use guerilla marketing tactics. After all this, I would still stream, because not everybody to get the HD signal, and eventually you’ll want to sell the land the tower is on.”
I reached out to veteran broadcaster Bobby Rich recently retired as co-owner/PD of KDRI (The Drive) Tucson, Ariz., an AM/FM translator combo that found local success and a national following with an emphasis on locality (and an older/broader mix of classic hits). Rich doesn’t know what percentage of his listening is on AM, but says, “Since day one, KDRI has received comments about finding the station on AM while driving around rural areas. Or listeners are out of our range and haven’t realized they could hook up an app in their vehicle.
“A surprisingly high number of folks have said they like having music to listen to on AM, without explaining what that means. Others have actually said ‘this is the way it’s supposed to sound because this is the way it sounded when we first heard the songs.’”
My thoughts about the future of AM are in a separate article this week. I’m concerned about the consolidation of radio stations and lack of choice that a further decline of AM entails, as well as the likely disproportionate impact on independent and minority broadcasters. But I see the protection of AM as part of the larger battle, and as an impetus to unify behind that killer app and organize all of broadcasters’ offerings. What are your thoughts?
See the full RDNA schedule here.
Do you still like to listen in mono?
The 45 rpm knocked out the 78 and lps knocked out the 45s.
We all adapted and we will again.
The 50 kw AMs need to be buying up fm signals in their areas with FCC permission. They have the political clout to get it done.
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Yes, there are people who still listen to mono, and as a matter of fact, there are record companies issuing CD compilations of mono singles and a lot of vintage mono LPs are being reissued on CD as well.
Also, when many of these mono reissues done in recent times go out of print, the CDs that use mono often end up being sought after collectibles and as a matter of fact, a lot of 50s-60s music was produced with mono in mind and that was the main focus. Stereo back then was mostly done so that record companies could charge $1 more for the albums. Many mono albums from the time that record companies phased out and audiophiles and collectors end up revealing as superior sounding are also rare collectibles, and as vinyl is coming back, people are discovering that there were some albums that were issued on vinyl into the time that record companies were focusing on the CD as the main format and now these original issue LPs of 1990s albums are rare collectibles.
AM, and not too long from now, FM, will be history.. There simply is no place for 100 year old technologies in an age of AI and quantum computers, technologies that will change everything, I quit listening to, and advertising on, radio decades ago because of the absurd amount of ad clutter. 15 years ago, Triton Research reported that a millennial could not name the call letters of a single radio station. It’s no surprise that of the top ten stations in LA the majority cater to listeners over 50 years of age. Having worked at 50KW clear channel KAAY, and 50KW WNOE in their heyday, I can tell you that it was a magical experience. But that was 50 years ago and both stations are now failed. Both went dark for extended periods.,
The future is here! Now I have THOUSANDS of entertainment choices, free of endless commercial aggravation, available to me either on demand, or streaming. Why? WHY? Would I ever abuse myself by listening to terrestrial radio? I won’t. I don’t. Everything has a beginning and an end. Radio as we have known it will soon be a memory.
As readers know, I’m a little more optimistic about radio, but not myopic. The transition that has taunted us for 15 years will be easier if broadcasters think of themselves as creating a new FM band (before Amp or Spotify or Apple). KFRC was as good as any radio station in 1982 and hung in there 3-5 years longer than many peers. But it didn’t protect them from KITS and KMEL indefinitely.
So many issues, so little time. Broadcast radio is sooooo simple. Plug in your transmitter and millions of receivers can hear your signal. Free. Its competitors are much more complicated, come with cost and show up in a number of combinations. Back in the day an AM/FM combined “dial” (no switching needed) may have worked. Today we’re fumbling with phones, accessing apps or hearing a harmony of hand-picked hits. AM/FM can survive if radio companies admit they’re in competition with all of those other services, and can provide something as good-or better. Is it possible? Yup. Probable? You decide..
Part of “as good or better” is organizing the infinite dial to be a super-sized version of the AM/FM dial. Nobody quite has that yet. Only Sirius XM comes close.
I agree with the comments in the article about AM stations transitioning to all digital. This would address the two biggest issues with AM Radio – electromagnetic interference and sound quality.
The reason why AM radio should be saved is due to coverage area and the lack of available space on the current FM band to migrate, as the FM band is highly congested in all the major cities.
Another possible fix would be to expand the FM band, but as we all know, these frequencies are scarce and quite expensive due to the extreme demand for any open frequency. This would also not address one of the major advantages of the AM band which is coverage area. This is important for countries like ours and Canada that have large areas of land that are sparsely populated and lack local radio service. These are the same areas that lack adequate cell phone coverage to provide the option of using Internet radio as an alternative.
I’m interested to hear other peoples thoughts on this…
Some sort of “repack” has been mentioned by at least one reader.. I’d love to see some sort of overarching solution that would also address HD sub-channels. But even if the FCC was interested in making that happen, it’s hard to imagine the industry unity that would allow an equitable solution to take place as opposed to leaving AM-owners, the relative have nots, fighting for a handful of upgrades.
Looks like Ford marketing knows its paying customer….leave AM alone and as is. Eliminating AM is a political move by politicians and the left to get rid of conservative talk radio. Period. Again…Good move by Ford.
There is no conspiracy to get rid of conservative talk. The move was done completely for technical reasons. It had nothing to do with programming. Less than 10% of all radio listening in most PPM markets comes from AM. And those new radios that wouldn’t have had AM on it would have had access to the thousands of streaming conservative talk stations and podcasts available. Such a grand conspiracy to make the content more accessible…
What about the case of WABC-AM in New York? That’s a huge success story! AM is still a powerful band, but I think they need to embrace HD as a way to compete with today’s sound/presentation quality standards.
A few weeks ago, as this controversy raged, I drove from New York to Boston, occasionally scanning to see if I could find any AM music stations I didn’t know about. I went mostly to those AM stations that were showing up on the scrolling display on my iPad-like touchscreen. When I went through Westchester County, that did not include 1230-WFAS, the one all-digital AM in the region. Only when I manually dialed to 1230 did they populate. On a subsequent scan, WFAS was included. A few minutes later, I checked and they were gone again.
I am just as nostalgic for AM as many others. But in so many cases, the land where transmitters are is worth more than the license. If a station subscribes, the ratings are almost nonexistent for the vast majority of stations. Even the old heritage calls in many markets do not generate ratings (example: WSM AM). In other markets, does AM serve a purpose? Yes (example: WNAX). But those are the exceptions. Will digital AM be a savior? Unclear. The best bet is to have a program like what happened to analog TV, where there is a window to turn in licenses in exchange for compensation for the owners. If not done so already, the license could be transferred to an FM translator. The exception would be for emergency alert system stations, which would remain. That area of the spectrum would be freed up for emergency services and other facilities.
My utopian and clearly ridiculous vision is that AM broadcasters try to repopulate the dial with a variety of types of stations, already happening to some extent because of AM-to-FM-translator combos. Or I can also see your scenario of one emergency station being a joint effort of all of a market or region’s broadcasters who jointly fund a newsroom and staff it 24/7.. But it’s hard to say whose news you would use., especially now.