KOLM was my very first station. Started there in ‘77 or ‘78 as a teenager. Did radio news until 2021 - when the University of Minnesota sold my station. (More and more universities are doing this, too.) This breaks my heart.
Having grown up in the middle of Illinois, I know how important these local radio stations are. I still have my WJBC cookbook from Bloomington IL and actually my first job was as a child doing a radio commercial for TotHolder Safety Seats. You are correct - we knew the personalities on air, trusted them. Cutting these local radio lifelines is a tragedy. We need more community based engagement, not less.
I worked in local stations in the Inland Empire of SoCal (AM and FMs) for 35 yrs. I agree that there are investment opportunities, however risky, in local stations. If you are willing to invest your time serving the community you'll never find a more loyal audience. I saw the same as my own local free newspaper in 2000. As most big regional papers went down local tabloids that reported local news and HS games often did well. Resource scarcity, financial and otherwise, being the hardest obstacle.
KOLM was my very first station. Started there in ‘77 or ‘78 as a teenager. Did radio news until 2021 - when the University of Minnesota sold my station. (More and more universities are doing this, too.) This breaks my heart.
Having grown up in the middle of Illinois, I know how important these local radio stations are. I still have my WJBC cookbook from Bloomington IL and actually my first job was as a child doing a radio commercial for TotHolder Safety Seats. You are correct - we knew the personalities on air, trusted them. Cutting these local radio lifelines is a tragedy. We need more community based engagement, not less.
I worked in local stations in the Inland Empire of SoCal (AM and FMs) for 35 yrs. I agree that there are investment opportunities, however risky, in local stations. If you are willing to invest your time serving the community you'll never find a more loyal audience. I saw the same as my own local free newspaper in 2000. As most big regional papers went down local tabloids that reported local news and HS games often did well. Resource scarcity, financial and otherwise, being the hardest obstacle.
What are your thoughts on the impact of streaming internet radio stations?