Push to “Save AM Radio” Intensifies
There’s been an increase in media attention recently about the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act making its way through Congress and the future of the AM band. That legislation would direct the “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule requiring automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their vehicles without a separate or additional payment, fee, or surcharge.” With each recent natural disaster, we’ve seen broadcasters and politicians point to them as times upon which AM radio is relied. Newsday recently published an in-depth story examining the state of AM radio in which a number of AM personalities are featured. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison is also quoted in the piece. Read the story here.
own. It remains competitive with podcasts and DSPs (Digital Streaming Providers, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and others) when consumers are in vehicles or public transit during the early morning and late afternoon commutes, and on weekends.” Respondents were asked to select a top preference from a list of audio entertainment choices and their top choices were (for morning commuters), broadcast FM/AM radio with 19% of the sample, followed closely by podcasts, with streaming coming in at third. The study indicates the competition is closer during the late afternoon commute, where podcasts and streaming barely eclipse radio as the top choice among commuters at 15% vs. 14% of the sample, respectively. And radio remains competitive as an audio entertainment favorite among listeners on the go during the weekend, sharing the top spot with DSP’s and eking ahead of podcasts.