Entercom

Just one look at this company's chart, which shows the former KISN owner trading at $30 in 2007 and at 65 cents today will give you a reality check on the economics of radio today. Hopefully they've already discounted for the loss of all that election advertising that will cease after Nov 4. But, since car dealers, who are now tanking and closing, were radio's biggest advertisers, I don't know who's going to fill the time. A new business model better be figured out PRONTO.

Other companies which are more diversified (i.e. CBS) are faring somewhat better in the stock price downturn, even though their radio groups are in trouble, but radio-only groups like Radio One and Westwood One are being threatened with delisting from their exchanges. What an icky time to be a radio exec.

So, what happened? Did satellite kill terrestrial? Did the advent of niche radio screw everything up? Did the internet cause people to go elsewhere for info? Did bland national deejays vs lively local guys make people not care anymore? Somehow, radio has rapidly become a commodity many people think they can do without. Without listeners, no advertisers. Without advertising revenue, poof!

That being said it is very sad for radio even know I still listen in the car.

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Originally posted by DebLindsay:
So, what happened? Did satellite kill terrestrial? Did the advent of niche radio screw everything up? Did the internet cause people to go elsewhere for info? Did bland national deejays vs lively local guys make people not care anymore? Somehow, radio has rapidly become a commodity many people think they can do without. Without listeners, no advertisers. Without advertising revenue, poof!

I think that is a pretty thorough assessment of the nails in radio's coffin, especially the replacement of the local djs who had integrity, personality, style, and a loyal following...

Not being any kind of an expert on radio, other than being an avid listener for 40+ years, it seems to me that with so much out there, with anything and everything available to download (except the Beatles catalog, darn it), and those "bland" national deejays taking over the airwaves for less $, radio is sadly becoming obsolete. It is too bad, I still really enjoy radio, but even I have given in to technology and listen mostly online (and I own an ipod).

quote:

Originally posted by DebLindsay:
So, what happened? Did satellite kill terrestrial? Did the advent of niche radio screw everything up? Did the internet cause people to go elsewhere for info? Did bland national deejays vs lively local guys make people not care anymore? Somehow, radio has rapidly become a commodity many people think they can do without. Without listeners, no advertisers. Without advertising revenue, poof!

All of the above, I think. When Clear Channel came in and starting buying local stations by the bucketload.... There are STILL good stations out there {for the moment, anyway}, you just have to dig for them. We still have a couple of good local ones {oldies and classic rock} with all the local deejays and they both have their own "flavor". Also a couple of good stations within hearing in my car {with a special antennae}.

But you know me......I don't like change. Not unless it's a decided change for the better. And radio is precious to me---where would we be now without those fantastic stations we listened to so religiously in the 60's, with the one-of-a-kind, personable deejays??? The warmest, most endearing memories.....

Personally, I find most D.J.'s, especially during morning and afternoon ratings times, very immature and childish. Way too much talk and usless banter, hardly any music. Then there are the commericals, too many. I just end up playing my favorite C.D.'s. My hubby listens to talk radio, sometimes it is informative, but after a little while it really gets on my nerves. Some of the phone calls that come in - sheesh! I just like commercial free music. (unless a certain Saturday night D.J. named Mark was on, that is a whole different ballgame)!

I drive alot in my job & have spent many hours listening to local radio. In recent years I have gotten so tired of the same songs in constant rotation that I have subscribed to Sirius. There are more choices available so that it is worth the $6.95 a month to me.I would love to love to hear Mark's show on satellite!

I mainly listen in the car now and it's set on KLove a Christian radio station. They are listener supported - which is fine except for the pledge drives can get old. Sometimes I listen to Country radio, but not very often.

The only broadcast radio I listen to anymore is the morning drive time show on my local station which has local deejays who discuss local issues. They have a sense of humor, care about the community because they live in it, and actually play a song now and then so they can take phone calls NOT from celebrities but from the local listeners. So, for me, I have discovered the deejay makes all the difference.

Most of the time I listen to 'radio' now is through the computer when I am online. The only other broadcast radio I listened to was Mark's show but, of course, I listened to his show online so that doesn't really count as broadcast radio, now does it? I guess Radio as we knew it is truly dying.

I guess it wouldn't be dying if they just played some good music. Not just the same old, same old. I want to hear some good tunes and a good play list - when that doesn't happen I listen to c.d.'s.

Remember transistor radios were the thing you carried with you taking a walk or at the beach,etc..?
There's more technology now and more audiences choosing their own personalized music formats.The fact that all of the radio stations have websites now has not helped.
I only listen to news radio.

Then you have MTV.Artists now are required to make a video for their latest singles.
Many of them known as 'video pioneers' more than good musicians!
Even deejays will ask 'Have you seen the video to that song?..'

I think The Buggles got it right:
Video did kill the radio star.
Radio has killed their listeners by constantly referring to 'go to' their websites.
People want more visuals and more info.Thusly they have many options to CHOOSE what info they intake.
Even tv news does this..Why?..They didn't have time to put it in the broadcast?
Well, why bother to watch the telecast when they are telling the audience to go to their website for MORE details!

Mark was the greatest deejay I'd ever heard in decades!
The last time I was that entertained by deejays was in the 1960s on WFIL.

ONe of the greatest things about Mark's show (besides him) was the fact he never played the same songs twice on the same show. He was always finding us some rarities we had never or hadn't heard in a long time. It would be alright if Mark had his on radio station. MARK radio

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Then you have MTV. Artists now are required to make a video for their latest singles.

Did I just go to sleep and wake up in 1985?

Yep, my Members Only jacket is still in the closet.

Seriously, though -- no music radio for me anymore. In the car, the news station goes on.

Very occasionally I'll turn on WFMU, (our local "free-form" station, also at www.wfmu.org) but that's only because I know the people.

We usually go for talk radio, but lately the media bias has been so stupidly obvious....so it's generally country on the car radio. There's a lot that in the 60s would have been on the "rock & roll station." Give Lady Antebellum a listen. Tambourines are back!

Another cool iPhone app -- "I Heart Radio" lets you listen to selected stations around the country.

LONG gone are the days of carrying my turquoise {in a brown case} Arvin transistor radio everywhere I went. Got it on July 31, 1960, my 8th birthday. I was so thankful to not have to "share" Dad's radio anymore! That radio was basically on, except for school, church, and meals, all day and most of the night {not QUITE a Kinks song } And it didn't get "retired" until I went to college, 10 years later.

Even on Brownie overnight campouts, my friend Kristine and I would sneak our transistors out, long past bedtime, and listen all night with our flashlights on under the blankets...

Radio was KING back then. Could make or break a "star" or group. Air play was everything.