The demise of AM radio

[svtrit]

I’ve listened to AM radio for years. I still do during my commute home, but switch to podcasts when news breaks come on. My morning commute is also podcasts to avoid the “guaranteed 20 commercials in a row with few programming interruptions” that has become morning AM radio.

So many shows on AM can be listened to anywhere you are on AM so I always felt like my friends were with me wherever I lived, though their time slot may have changed. I had a job that required me to leave my Central IA house at 4:30 AM. I could catch a station out of Denver until sunrise, and I didn’t agree with the politics of that host at all, which kept me awake and helped me hear other perspectives. I could hear DesMoines AM1040 all the way in OK!

I’ve accidentally learned stuff by listening to things accidentally on AM when visiting another town.

I’m afraid relying on my own podcasts will make my bubble smaller, making me less aware of other thoughts and opinions. We need AM radio!!!

 

[Sayjac]

The Detroit area has three bohemoth AM powerhouses in WJR 760 and WWJ 950 AM stations. Plus CKLW AM in Canada is only about an hour away.

Zoomer radio AM740 (CFZM) out of Toronto is one my favorite DX stations. Very strong for night time listening, I enjoy the programming.

Related, early this morning DXed WBZ (Boston) 1030 AM to replace Newsradio 880. Hadn't listened in a while, DX time programing similar to WCBS 880. I'll be tuning it in more now. Still hard to believe Newsradio 880 is gone. Audacy not one of my favorite companies now.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I'm resurrecting this because a Clear Channel radio station I've listened to much of my life, now history. WCBS NewsRadio 880 is no more. Owner Audacy. has changed it to ESPN sports programing. For years now, I would DX WCBS late night and early morning. For me, it's kinda like losing an old friend. Excellent AM programming imo, now just a memory.

My parents listened to that as I was growing up. I started listening as I got older because my 25 minute commute covered at least a lot of the world events and local stuff. I would alternate between that and 1010 WINS for traffic and weather.

1010 WINS is about it now. About 6 months ago, maybe more, they also took over I think 92.3 FM, maybe in HD so you can still get it with no AM.

I'm not a sports fan so no use for the sports talk shows for me. Traffic, Weather, News Events yes.

I got teary eyed a couple times the last week listening to 880 as they were having interviews and other nostalgia memories from the DJ/Reporters that spent almost their whole career there. Maybe facing reality of own life being in one place too long and them reducing staff etc.

 

[Sayjac]

My parents listened to that as I was growing up. I started listening as I got older because my 25 minute commute covered at least a lot of the world events and local stuff. I would alternate between that and 1010 WINS for traffic and weather.

1010 WINS is about it now. About 6 months ago, maybe more, they also took over I think 92.3 FM, maybe in HD so you can still get it with no AM.

I'm not a sports fan so no use for the sports talk shows for me. Traffic, Weather, News Events yes.

I got teary eyed a couple times the last week listening to 880 as they were having interviews and other nostalgia memories from the DJ/Reporters that spent almost their whole career there. Maybe facing reality of own life being in one place too long and them reducing staff etc.

Like 1010 WINS too, unfortunately not a Clear Channel powerhouse station for night time DX. Fyi, Audacy owns them too. Over the years got to know many of names of the 880 reporters and anchors. No doubt nostalgia a factor, but imo losing Newsradio 880 AM programming a loss for local listeners and AM radio as a whole.

 

[Jetronic]

I only listen to am talk radio in the car. My car has all sorts of stuff, sat, BT, MP3, 2 amps, etc but I don't know if any of works.

I don't think we have any AM stations left, but I can pick up german FM stations with decent quality in my home (I'm pretty close to Brussels)

 

[Fitter30]

Stream am radio in the house at middle of the night or a podcast.

 

[Sedin26]

I grew up in rural Saskatchewan in the 80’s and we had a single AM station….no FM at all. I listened extensively to Blue Jays baseball and WHL hockey.

Nowadays in Victoria/Vancouver, there used to be a few AM sports talk stations but it’s down to 1 because it’s just not profitable anymore. I’m not sure the remaining one will last either.

During harvest time in Sask, I recall late at night being able to tune in stations from Nevada and California when I was in a truck out in the field. That’s around 1500 miles…

 

[Pablo]

Am radio alive and well here. I often listen to AM in the AM. KGMI.

 

[dogememe]

Never once in my life have I ever used AM.

 

[Trav]

and that is the problem! Everyone is dumping the live format.
AM for me was Art Bell, Rush Limbaugh, and yes Alex Jones....REEEEeee BAN HAMMER!!!!
All the clear channel AM stations have been sold-reformatted. Try to find a clear channel call in show at 1am in the night?
...and as mentioned, they are simulcasting on FM.
AM is dead because corporate types do not understand it. It is all about information-talk radio. Rush Limbaugh death, has shook up AM station formats to go further left in their ideologies. Any semblance of news is propaganda, and the talk shows do NOT take calls, rather joke with the on-air personalities about pooped stained panties..... 8th grade humor on stations that HAD been fairly conservative, IN a conservative market......yeah we will see how long this last!
I have tuned out AM almost entirely, and I know why they have left the call in format. (we do not want to hear 45th Mr. T on our station)
I say F´ them.

For me it was Rush Limbaugh, Howie Carr, Phil Hendrie, Michael Savage, Art Bell.

 

[hrv]

I've been listening to WLS from Chicago in Florida since the late 1960s. AM radio waves will travel a LONG waves if they're on a frequency that isn't over crowded. I also pick up a lot of South American stations in Florida.

Mister Norms Grand Spalding Dodge....

 

[hrv]

Grew up in Cleveland Ohio in the 50s through the mid 70s...AM was great back then.... WHK 1420...WIXY 1260 and 1100 WKYC....

 

[DirectRejection]

I have a new aftermarket $3000 car stereo, yet mostly listen to podcasts and audio books.

This is the best stuff out there by a country mile.

I simply never listen to AM or FM anymore.

Search and you will find very intelligent, unfiltered content on diverse subjects.

This is where true freedom of thought occurs.

It is invaluable while spending 10-14 hours per day in my vehicle.

 

[Hermann]

Never once in my life have I ever used AM.

I'm sorry. If nothing else, listen to a sports broadcast, just to say you have done it.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I'm sorry. If nothing else, listen to a sports broadcast, just to say you have done it.

Agree... even a local news station.
Today's music is awful, to listen to.
All the oldies songs from the 50s-60-70s I played in my head now, for 'over' a half century - something like 60+ years.
I was even OK with the 90s music when Alternative was most popular. But today's stuff equals j-u-n-k.

When vinyl records were cut, all the songs labeled Side-B in the 50s-60s-70s 80s and hardly ever played on the radio back then, were all 10X better than the music today.

 

[dogememe]

I'm sorry. If nothing else, listen to a sports broadcast, just to say you have done it.

I don't know anything about sports I probably couldn't tell half of them apart.

 

[SeaJay]

My vehicles picks can receive AM stations. Every now and then I peruse the AM band and have found very little being broadcast, certainly nothing that caught my ear long enough to listen for more than a minute.

 

[vavavroom]

AM radio was on the way out when I was on the way in. Other than CB radio I have never listened to AM radio voluntarily. And I bother with FM only if the reception is excellent. But don't worry, I'm a fellow Luddite - I play CDs. I don't care for talk radio and other blabber.

 

[ChrisMU]

My daily/work beater is a 2003 Corolla. I know there are various adapters for Bluetooth or connecting my phone, but those can get distracting versus just pressing a single preset button once. In my area (central Texas), most of the FM “country” radio stations play stuff I could only describe as “hip hop with guitars,” so I listen to classic country on the AM dial, with a little bit of tejano/conjunto music (note: it’s not the brass-heavy Banda music) thrown in for good measure.

 

[wpod]

Yet, many people don't want it, desire it, or care to pay a monthly fee for it.
Yet AM radio is readily accessible, free, and is the foundation for the EBS.
For those that don't like it, there is always the on/off switch.
They can feel free to use it.

Sat radio isn't worth the price for what I use.