[BC] Who's on the throne of Radio?

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

What is to replace the high fidelity radio station? Certainly
there is a market. It hasn't been replaced by iPods or IBUZ
stations. Certainly there are people, even young people whose
ears have not yet been clipped and limited to a one decibel
dynamic range, who would understand and appreciate that most
of the emotion in music is carried in the quietness between
the notes.

I can imagine that in a few years as the kids grow up, none
will be able to reflect upon the music they heard when their
hearts first connected with their first love. There will be
no "oldies," only strange new sounds as music becomes simply
a mechanical connection to a machine one carries in a backpack
or on ones belt.

Without music, I fear we are breeding a new class of persons
with no emotional connection to others. I already detect this
as I watch like a fly on the wall. Even so-called concert music
stations have destroyed their dynamic range in some ignorant
attempt to compete with the zero-decibel radio stations.

The zero-decibel people don't want to hear music that has
melody and dynamic range. I cried as a young acoustic guitar
player was booed off the stage after an excellent playing
of Malaguena, only to be replaced by a loud three-piece
acid band that won a local talent-scout show. These changes
are all around. Young people are afraid to show any emotions
or to hear any music that might instill any. It's this Mechanic
Generation that is the power behind the current iPod music.

Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Book: http://www.AbominableFirebug.com/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Wood" <richwood at pobox.com>

------ At 10:30 PM 3/15/2009, WBRadiolists at aol.com wrote: -------

>OK, there it is, in a sentence! Why radio is dying its horrible death...
>because the listener has been removed from the "throne" and replaced by the
>stockholder.

I have to disagree. Radio isn't dying a horrible death. It's still a 
primary source of entertainment. Yes, listening is down. I think it 
was Jon Coleman's research that showed a small yearly loss. It also 
showed that Internet listening is down. People aren't leaving radio 
in droves, though, with current programming, I don't know why.