Their outlook is unequivocal. And rather ballsy: "AM Radio. R.I.P. 1895-2005."
So reads an alltalkradio.net ad in the pages of this publication. Fact? Foolishness? Prophecy? Or is the question broader? Is all terrestrial radio—AM and FM, with their talk stations and music formats—in danger of extinction? Here's a snapshot of radio's on-air-vs.-online debate:
Tom Taylor, editor, Inside Radio:
"Internet radio hasn't had much effect on the day-to-day thinking of the people who program over-the-air stations. They're aware of it, they do know it's sometimes a factor inside the workplace [Internet radio listening is overwhelmingly daytime, 9-5]. ... Lots of Internet listening is done to formats that are too niche-y to survive on mainstream radio in most markets—blues, classical, jazz, etc. Local broadcasters feel they're offering mass-appeal formats that can sustain themselves based on local business revenue. Most folks probably aren't seeking an online equivalent to the local Top 40 or 'Mix' station—unless there's a problem listening to the radio at work. Some workplaces don't allow people to listen to over-the-air radio, but don't mind if they listen over the Internet. So over-the-air radio is putting more emphasis on streaming again. Radio stations that tried it five years ago pulled back because of costs and questions about ground rules for running music and ads. Now radio's beginning to see that there is money to be made online, and putting more resources there."
jacobs Media 2006 Technology Web poll:
"Streaming continues to profile as a primary Internet activity, providing terrestrial radio stations with an avenue to participate in the digital frontier. Stations that stream stand to gain a significant amount of listening. Streaming allows stations to provide their local audiences with simple, well-known alternatives to online options like AOL Radio or stations from around the U.S. and the world ... Overall, 29 percent listen to Internet radio of one sort or another [streaming broadcasters and Webcasters combined] up from 23 percent in the 2005 survey .... Among 'streamies' ... in 2005, only 12 percent listened to stations online. In this new study, 32 percent indicate they log onto the streams."
Andy Vierra, KNUU-AM program director:
"For us, streaming on computer is somewhat important. If our streaming goes down, we get calls and e-mails telling us we're down and they want us to put it back up. We have some coverage problems at night when we have to power down in places like Summerlin [as per FCC regulations to change signal direction to accommodate radio signals in other markets], so people jump on their computers to listen to us. ... And if broadcasters are concerned about listeners not tuning to AM, they can do talk on FM, which is beginning to happen."
Fred Jacobs, president, Jacobs Media:
"Local media outlets are going to have a very important place, but you have to fish where the fish are. We're getting closer to being able to access the Internet while driving, that's another impetus for terrestrial radio to start streaming. It's critically important for AM-FM stations to be received in vehicles accessing the Internet."
George Carson, cofounder, alltalkradio.net:
"We can do so much more than [streaming terrestrial stations] can ever possibly think of doing. They'd have to hire a whole team to come in to download archives. We archive, we're out on cell phones, PDAs, anything you can run on the Internet, you're pretty much going to get us on."
Gary Krakow in his msnbc.com column:
"Acoustics Energy, a British company ... has developed a clock radio that delivers hundreds of Internet radio stations and sounds great doing so. ... I predict that AE's new Wi-Fi Internet receiver is the first of a new breed of terrific Internet radios to hit the marketplace. ... At $299.95, (it's) a bit pricier than your average bedside clock radio but for someone who loves radio, it provides a lot of it"
Larry Pepe, Muscle/Bodybuilding Radio host on alltalkradio.net:
"I'm stunned at the non-U.S. audience. When you think of your typical AM or FM, you think of it hitting a couple of hundred miles. Then [on alltalkradio.net], you start getting e-mails from Finland, Sweden, Germany, Asia. And when you market, you always look for niches. With a niche show like bodybuilding, the audience here would be tiny compared to the audience online."
Sassy, host of alltalkradio.net's Sex with Sassy:
"I got into Internet radio because there is so much involved in getting your show syndicated [on terrestrial radio], going to California, then Washington, to New York and Chicago, and it's a big hassle to get corporates to broadcast your show. ... But Internet radio is automatically syndicated."