THE GUARDIAN on the demise of rural radio in USA

[Ct Yankee]

It's not doing that well around urban areas either.....

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/06/radio-silence-how-the-disappearance-of-rural-stations-takes-americas-soul-with-them

[Josh]

There are 3 main things going against independent radio stations.
First is the cost of energy as well as other operating costs.
Second is the lack of listeners due to low fidelity and boring programming.
Third is the lack of advertisers due to lack of listeners, the ones who pay for everything.

That being said, one local station that seems to be popular has a lot of local talent doing their own shows and conversely less syndicated stuff. They feature shows on what's going on locally and spotlight local businesses much more so than the others. I suspect this is what the future holds, very localised bcasting and the rest will be completely syndicated.

[ThaDood]

I agree with several things in that article. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, was that dude that commented from Syracuse UNI, whom started at a Hornell, NY station, from the now gone WHHO? Yeah, that Telecomm Act of 1996 pretty much ruined radio for those of whom give a damn about it. Yes, you have the limited LPFM, with no ad revenues allowed, period. And, Part #15 AM radio is expanding via radio hobbyists, doing radio their own way. But, commercial, local, radio in most small towns are in trouble, especially AM stations. Many of them don't have a live person at all running them, or even anymore than a closest, or shelf, space for the entire station. Sad article, but we're just going to hear more of this.   

[JimIO]

The downward slide started when stations stopped playing hippie music.   

   https://youtu.be/AHxiR2CmWrI

[BoomboxDX]

It's not lack of listeners. It's lack of listeners under age 50, at least for AM, and increasingly that way for FM as younger demos listen 100% online (a la Radio Disney, which abandoned OTA radio altogether).

In the rural areas it's probably tough. Less mom and pop stores, some towns more or less gutted with a couple box stores outside the core, that use national advertisers, or print, if they advertise at all. For example, I've never heard a Walmart advert on the radio. Ever. Or any other big box store, like Costco or one of the chains.

[Josh]

All the ads I hear around here are for plumbing, car repair, etc local stuff. I do hear Lowes ads on occasion.

[redhat]

Everything runs in cycles.  Those stations that are super-serving their LOCAL audiences are doing well.  The company I used to work for had one such station in a small midwest market.  They did ag reports, swap shop, local sports, and country music.  There was no other game in town, just rimshots from other markets.

Treat your audience with respect and they will be loyal to you.

P.S.  you can sell advertising in an lpfm, but there is specific language you cannot use.  Look at npr... this hour of programming is sponsored by....more information available at.....

+-RH

[Pigmeat]

I miss the old obit reporting, on-air flea market, loose cows and howling preacher stations of my youth. The preachers paid the bills and the rest of the air time you could use to see what formats would work. Renting out bay space on the stick for other users/services is a way to make a little steady cash, too.

[ChrisSmolinski]

I miss the old obit reporting, on-air flea market, loose cows and howling preacher stations of my youth. The preachers paid the bills and the rest of the air time you could use to see what formats would work. Renting out bay space on the stick for other users/services is a way to make a little steady cash, too.

Local WHVR 1280 in Hanover PA still does Yard Sale 11 AM - noon weekday mornings. Tune in on my KiwiSDR if you want to relive your youth, Pigmeat.

[ThaDood]

Country bunpkin WLSV 790AM,   https://radio-locator.com/info/WLSV-AM?loc=42.11076%2C-77.94191&locn=14895%20%28Wellsville%2C%20NY%29      Has HOTLINE weekday mornings at 9AM. A continuous listing of guns, cars, trucks, and tractors, parts. Oh, not to mention pets and farm animals, or "I will haul away your trash!".

[Josh]

If shtf I can see local am stations becoming much more valuable.

[R4002]

If shtf I can see local am stations becoming much more valuable.

AM in general, but yes.  A good example would be the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - local New Orleans AM stations (the ones that remained on the air anyway) were the only source of information for many people as everything else had been knocked out. 

[pinto vortando]

AM in general, but yes.  A good example would be the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - local New Orleans AM stations (the ones that remained on the air anyway) were the only source of information for many people as everything else had been knocked out.

IIRC, WWL AM 870 remained on the air.

[pinto vortando]

WMIC AM 660 Sandusky MI caters to a rural audience in the mostly agricultural Michigan Thumb region.
The local format includes Classic Country (Hank, Johnny, Patsy) played on vinyl spun on turntables.

[Pigmeat]

AM in general, but yes.  A good example would be the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - local New Orleans AM stations (the ones that remained on the air anyway) were the only source of information for many people as everything else had been knocked out.

IIRC, WWL AM 870 remained on the air.

Yes, they did. 24/7 for weeks until the other stations could start to get back on the air. That was up there with Murrow and Cronkite relaying the Blitz live from London via SW in 1940.