725/14 Future of AM Radio

(0725 Dinosaurs)

970 WBLF.  I’m Wes Richards with some thoughts on radio dinosaurs.

That’s what I am.  That’s what you are.  Know how I know?  Simple.  I am broadcasting on an AM radio station and you are listening to it.

We are outmoded.  They’re going to make oil shale out of us in a few minutes.  We are tuned to or otherwise using a medium that is said to be outmoded, superannuated and walking dead.

The conventional wisdom says we are the steam trains of the space age.  Our sound is old fashioned.  Our sister stations, Qwik Rock, Y 106.9 and Tunes 92.5 have much better sound than we do here at 970 am.

That’s true. And that’s why they play music and we don’t.  Requires good sound.  AM radio never had the sound quality FM does.  And FM has never had the sound quality of an iPod.

But when you need us, we’ll be there.  And you can hear us far and wide.

So what?  So when there’s a tornado or a hurricane or global warming turns State College into an oceanfront community, you’ll still be able to hear us -- far and wide.

And we’ll be ready and able to tell you about the conditions that will affect your lives.

Not only that, but you’ll be able to hear us even if you’re miles and miles away. And even if there’s a mountain in the way.

So reports of the death of this medium are exaggerated.  So far.

But most of us in talk radio … remember, most, not all… are engaged in political bullfighting.  We wave red flags, stir up anger where we’d be better off stirring up reason. We incite.

At some point even the people who love the rush of adrenaline are going to be worn out from the effort.

(Hmmm. Rush of adrenaline.  Maybe that’s not the best way to put it.)  Burst of adrenaline…

We need to broaden our scope.  And maybe we need today’s young people to point the way instead of looking at an AM radio and asking grandpa “what’s THAT thing?”

I’m Wes Richards.  My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®