Radio

The Ongoing Troubles of AM Radio

AM radio is in trouble. Yes, there are still plenty of individual AM stations doing well in places like Toronto, San Francisco, Washington and LA, but overall, the band is dying.

AM has served us very well for about a hundred years. Even when FM was introduced in the 1930s, it refused to lay down and die. But with the advent of other radio media–satellite, streaming, etc.–it has become more and more marginalized as listeners expect a more full-frequency and static-free experience.

If you want proof, BMW recently released an electric car that came with an infotainment stack completely devoid of any way to received AM radio signals.  Some automotive analyst think it’s just a matter of time before AM radios go the way of in-dash cassette players.

The LA Time has this look at the state of the band.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38040 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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