THEINEVITABLEDEATHOF FM

MELISSA STEVEN STAFF WRITER Ms727@CABRINI.EDU

Where did all the music go?

FM radio was created as an alternative to AM radio's pop format. It was a popular outlet for alternative music to deliver music to the masses on a clear-sounding frequency. Once that happened, AM radio flipped formats to news, talk and sports. No more music on AM.

Now with the growing popularity of satellite radioand' iPods, FM radio has begun to feel the effects of peoplebOt choosing radio to listen to theu;., vorite music.

"Talk radio is going to in~ the FM dial, and in doing so, it's going to save FM,'''Miehael Harrison, publisherof Talkers magazine, said, accoroing to an article in Philadelphia Style magazine.

In 2006, 94.1WYSP..FM lost Howard Stem to satellite radio. Since then WYSP-FMhas nimed into a personality-driven format, know named "F,ree-FM," 'Vhich means more talk and less rock.

Now WMMR-FM is the only ~tation that plays mainstream rock music in the Philadelphia region.

Paul Blake, director of sales for Greater Medi,l Philadelphia, said, "The notion that FM radio is god,g to talk is not accurate. The industry is emb_r.i.cingthe coticept of audio entertainment. That includes. el\tertaining local content delivered in varied ways ~ludjpg online streaming of radio stations, podcasts inclhigh-definition radio sub channels."

Greater 1Media Philadelphia owns four tadio stations inc~uding¥)3.3WMMR-FM and lOZ:'9WMGK-FM.

;~e have begun turning to Jntemet radio stations, 1\11;13purchasing programs like iTunes, satellite radio and even online communities such as MySpace for variety and the discovery of new music," Krista Mazzeo, former 89.1 WYBF-FMstation manager, said.

Although the rock genre's sales remain constant at 20 percent ;in the market, according to Nielson SoundScan, on the radio, rock's numbers are declining both in audience share and in number of stations.

Blake disagrees and said that the rock genre is as strong as it has ever been with mainstream rock and classic rock. Every year, younger kids are discovering classic rock music that helps keep that format alive.

"Commercial FM radio has always been limited in the