I can't get past my gut feeling that the advertising industry is well on its way to razing FM in the same way they absolutely trashed AM. MW is now unlistenable and FM is well on its way to following the same path.
Thanks IHEART.
I don't completely understand your point. Advertising still uses FM. Advertising still uses AM, although the big advertising agencies mainly use the higher rated stations, whether AM or FM. Advertising also didn't "trash" AM. People left AM for FM just around the same time that RFI started messing AM up.
Now if you're referring to the number of commercials on FM and AM stations, that's because they need to push more commercials to make money. Advertising rates have dropped on all platforms -- with the internet diluting the amount of money any platform -- be it internet based or radio based -- can charge, because with the internet there are an infinite number of advertising slots.
Radio is running on half the revenue they made in 2005.
People left FM because they have smartphones and they stream music instead of getting it off a radio. They also play video games, cruise social media, and have other content (movies, video channels, etc.) they're getting off the internet that competes with FM radio listening.
IHeart is just a response to that trend. It's not going to get better. They'll keep centralizing operations with AI just as every other major industry is doing. The industries call it "cost cutting" and "streamlining operations". The rest of us call it "getting laid off".
As for FM itself, they'll keep crowding more translators until the band is full. It's not full yet everywhere. Like I said earlier, there are plenty of open FM frequencies in my metro. We have a ways to go yet. But FMs days are numbered. Remember, EMF bought WPLJ in NYC along with several other stations for just $100 million. Unthinkable in 1985.
The times they are a changin'.
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