The radio industry has been hit so very hard by COVID. Radio will continue to suffer, the way we communicate is changing so fast, the way the world gets its music and news is no longer by radio for many Americans. The delivery system of information and entertainment for many is on their phone. FGGAM is available on your phone as is our sermons and other programming. I get most of my news from my phone now, with sources I select. I have been in radio for over 40 years, I still am involved with our Radio Ministry program “House of Hope” I have always told owners if you have a station that is so very localized, targeted specifically to your community with live dj’s, local and regional news and local sports and getting involved with your community by supporting food banks, blood banks, charities, flood your station with public service and you will survive. It is just not radio, it is all media that is going through the biggest change in its history. The FGGAM website is a godsend, we reach thousands all around the world every week. The 5 radio stations we are on in Minnesota are such a super blessing, they are involved in their communities! LOCAL RADIO! Amen! The paradigm shift for media and all of us continues. The challenge for all media is to stay in front of the change and not get left in the dust, the same goes for Churches!
Disney Shuttering Radio Disney, Radio Disney Country In 2021
PS: I started in radio in 1978 and my first job was at KGCX in Sidney, Montana. Sadly the station was signed off the air years ago in a family dispute. When I started I had to be at the station at 3am to warm up the transmitter to sign on at 5am. The transmitters had tubes that needed to warm up slowly. The infrastructure of radio is antiquated. It is so very expensive to maintain with transmitters, towers and studios. Now, people like me can reach thousands from their home office studio.
Radio also has to figure out new revenue streams as commercial loads are hurting many stations by playing way too many commercials in stop sets. Back in the day we only played 12 to 13 minutes of commercials an hour, now I hear some stations here in Albuquerque play way more than that, sometimes 6 minutes in one stop set! it is a tune out, I no longer listen to local radio here, it is of no value to me.
