It wouldn't be surprising to learn that just as with every other communications medium, radio in the United States has changed dramatically in the last 85 years. Today FM stations have a clear dominance over AM radio, satellite radio is becoming a limited listening option and digital radio is on the horizon. But the real change isn't one of technology. It has come about by greed.
Two things have ushered in the latest radio wave in the U.S., which by the way, affects what everyone’s listening options are. One is deregulation and the other is a new programming format called, “Jack FM,” Jill FM,” or “Shuffle.” With these formats radio station owners are able to make more money by firing their disc jockeys. And in recent months such radio giants as Clear Channel and Infinity fired their on air staff by the hundreds. And the trend is only beginning.
WCBS-FM
For decades this New York City radio station has become a legend in the industry. It has set the “oldies” trend for decades, playing everything from the Beachboys to the Beatles. Many famous on-air personalities such as “Cousin Brucie” worked here. But now the format and the on-air staff are long gone – the latest to go in the wake of what some have termed, “radio with no personality.”
The new advertising campaigns say, “we play the music we want to.” Big deal. These major corporately-run stations have always programmed what they wanted to, and their “playlists” are strictly controlled. The computer in the studio tells the disc jockey what song is coming next, and that’s it. So, is this just a marketing slogan? In a word, yes! Station owners say that now they’ll be playing a wider mix of music with more variety. That’s fine but it’s not new. “Variety Radio” was very big in the 1950s, with one big difference. The program host (the DJ) was a central part of the format. The owners can talk all they want but the bottom line it’s an excuse to reduce costs by firing people.