In this letter to the editor, the author comments on Frank M. Howell’s commentary “AM Radio’s Death Has Been Grossly Exaggerated.” Radio World welcomes letters to the editor on this or any story. Email [email protected].
The supposed death knell of AM radio has been ringing for a long time.
I remember similar discussions and read articles way back when I started in radio in the early 1980s. That was back when we used flint tools to fix the transmitters.
If I recall correctly, the number of AM stations actually went up from those old days. They’ve since settled. But I believe the status is still quo.
The only real issue is revenue, which hits everybody. Just as a rising tide lifts all boats, a low tide does the opposite.
In 2025, the biggest difference from those days gone-by seems to be the onslaught of the “Mega Radio Group” ownerships. If a lone operator’s revenue goes down 3%, that is several thousands of dollars, and not big news.
But when the revenue of one of those big corporations goes down the same 3%, it translates to millions. And THAT is news.
Stock prices drop. That feeds headlines in the news cycle about how bad off radio is today. And since it is known that AM radio has been in decline, that must be what is driving all of this. Right?
An unfounded, self-fulfilling prophecy?
And the new wrinkle is all about radio in electric vehicles. They supposedly cause interference on the AM band.
I thought that there were regulations against selling equipment that spewed noise on the broadcast bands, as well as other sections of the RF spectrum?
On one occasion, I recall reading a label that indicated “the device is certified to not produce radio interference.”
At the end of the day, all of this seems to me to be some sheep following “he who makes the biggest noise.”
