In this letter to the editor, the author responds to our “Future in Focus” feature with Michelle Bradley of REC Networks.” Radio World welcomes letters to the editor on this or any story. Email [email protected].
I read the interview with Michelle Bradley concerning the regulatory issues facing the current radio landscape. And I felt that I couldn’t hold my tongue anymore.
Over many years, I have discussed some of the industry trends with radio friends and colleagues, as well as outsiders.
The conversations would arrive at the same conclusion: “Yeah, that doesn’t sound right.”
But nothing changed. Except for money. And money talks.
I’ve seen the radio industry evolve from when “big groups” owned 70–90 stations across the U.S., to now when they can own as many as several hundred.
Back in the day, we lamented consultants, who would swoop in and dictate a station’s format and library. That led to top-rated stations with around 200 titles in their on-air library.
Moving into the ‘90s, consolidation was touted as a positive because of cost savings.
But now, with large groups owning so many information and entertainment outlets across the country, and with network feeds originating from fewer and fewer locations, do we even have “locality” anymore? I worked at a station in Minneapolis where our “local weather” was fed from a company in Makina, Ill. It’s a common setup across the nation.
What is an announcer in Dallas/Fort-Worth going to know about the icy streets in Minnesota, after all?
And now, eight commercial AM/FMs per market STILL isn’t enough?
What may be next? Government ownership? Instead of “1984,” the film “Animal Farm” is a more suitable comparison here.
On top of this, where have the jobs gone? There has been a great deal of talk about how there aren’t all that many people trying to get into the various fields within radio broadcasting.
But if a radio group has 40 announcers feeding their 100 or so stations, those are the jobs that may feed up the line to the national ranks.
The same goes for programmers, traffic directors and engineers.
Off my soap box. For now.
— Archie Stulc, former broadcast radio engineer
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