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AM Revitalization: Talk Radio’s FM Future?
Thanks to the introduction of FM translators, AM radio stations can now reach a whole new set of potential listeners. The biggest boost from AM revitalization efforts has arguably been seen with News/Talk radio stations. Can other formats mostly found on the AM band learn from these spoken-word players?
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What Washington Has in Store for Radio
Sure, the daily antics at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW have captured the world’s attention. But at the Portals, just a stone’s throw away from Dupont Plaza, the FCC has been focused on a review of its rules. Will this really lead to newfound riches for broadcast media?
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Radio’s Millennial Moment
Becoming a magnet for millennials is radio’s quiet conundrum. They may tune in, but are they answering job postings and seeking careers at AMs and FMs with a big digital presence? Yes, and we found two young women who could help attract more youth to an industry full of aging leaders.
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INFOCUS
RADIO: A FORLORN LEADER WITH BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD By RBR+TVBR Editor-in- Chief Adam Jacobson
Some 22 years ago, the radio broadcasting industry was forever
changed by the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Clinton-era legislation, as we all know, led to rapid owner consolidation. Then came Napster, which begat iTunes, which begat Pandora and Spotify and thousands and thousands of other audio entertainment sources. Today, radio is far from dead. But perhaps it’s forgotten among the wrong set of influencers: millennial marketers that don’t consider radio vital to a brand campaign, or perhaps Wall Street analysts who just don’t think tracking radio industry stocks is worth the time, given the “small” market capitalization of many publicly traded entities. Where is the radio industry heading? We believe it’s moving in the right direction, and it is in a far better place than it was in 2007. What do some of the top radio business C-suiters think? We’ve gathered four executives for a virtual roundtable discussion that touches on their key concerns, both for their companies and for AM and FM at large.
A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH Drew Horowitz is a veteran of arguably one of the greatest radio markets, historically, in the world: Chicago. If you’re a listener of Country WUSN-FM “US99,” you have Horowitz to thank: He signed US99 on the air in 1983.
Radio + Television Business Report STREAMLINE PUBLISHING Chairman: Eric Rhoads Publisher: Deborah Parenti Editor-in-Chief: Adam R Jacobson Director of Administration: April McLynn 331 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, FL, 33432 Phone: 561-655-8778 FA L L 2 0 1 7 · R B R . C O M · 1