Mark Twain once quipped, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," after his premature obituary had been published in the New York Journal. His exact quote has been a matter of academic contention over the years but I quote (or paraphrase) him today to prove a point about radio.
Reading the radio trades these days can be a bit discouraging; they're constantly reporting its demise, especially in Internet forums. They bemoan the corporate take overs, the absence of local talent with hometown appeal, and lack of public interest as causes. While these are valid arguments, radio isn't dead -- yet.
Reading the radio trades these days can be a bit discouraging; they're constantly reporting its demise, especially in Internet forums. They bemoan the corporate take overs, the absence of local talent with hometown appeal, and lack of public interest as causes. While these are valid arguments, radio isn't dead -- yet.
My podcast hobby has been a mostly effective panacea for my radio jones; much like reading about the Superbowl and actually being there, my hobby pales next to the real thing. I'm strictly an armchair quarterback. In fact, hordes of radio people with more marketable resumés are unemployed or in unrelated fields now.
Surely careers have died, but the industry as a whole will continue to exist--only in a different form. Music and information will be delivered in a way unknown currently to AM, FM and even TV professionals. The recent switch to digital TV from analog last year is only the beginning of change. Traditional radio is on life support; but, I'm afraid as soon as cheap (or free) high speed wireless Internet is available to the masses (on a scale equal to the ubiquitous transistor radio of old) the plug will be pulled.
In other words: the end will be when these new media technologies are truly mobile and free everywhere, just as radio has been for generations.
I believe my anonymous grandchildren will witness this event in their lifetimes. However, this grim prognosis was forecast when television debuted in the late 1940's. MTV threatened in the '80's. Radio kept on kicking. Bottom line: who knows? Like the Digital Mandate illustrates, our government authorities will continue to press us all into the 21st century like it or not. Radio is not immune.
Stay tuned
©2010 The Peanut Whistle. All rights reserved.
Surely careers have died, but the industry as a whole will continue to exist--only in a different form. Music and information will be delivered in a way unknown currently to AM, FM and even TV professionals. The recent switch to digital TV from analog last year is only the beginning of change. Traditional radio is on life support; but, I'm afraid as soon as cheap (or free) high speed wireless Internet is available to the masses (on a scale equal to the ubiquitous transistor radio of old) the plug will be pulled.
In other words: the end will be when these new media technologies are truly mobile and free everywhere, just as radio has been for generations.
I believe my anonymous grandchildren will witness this event in their lifetimes. However, this grim prognosis was forecast when television debuted in the late 1940's. MTV threatened in the '80's. Radio kept on kicking. Bottom line: who knows? Like the Digital Mandate illustrates, our government authorities will continue to press us all into the 21st century like it or not. Radio is not immune.
Stay tuned
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