AM Radio can still be successful with news, talk or special programming but it continues to play second fiddle to FM - no need to include the newer media competition in this conversation - that's for another time, another review of where AM really ranks. The FCC just put another nail in AM's coffin by denying a petition that would have given AM a ten-fold daytime power boost. The petition was brought by broadcast engineer Richard Arsenault who asked for the increase over a five-year period. The FCC says the proposal is not in the public interest because it would increase the potential for interference between AM stations and would undermine the agency's efforts to improve the AM service. Those improvements apparently don't include a power increase...
I don't necessarily disagree with the FCC's decision but I do think it's time for the agency to lift some of those silly limitations protecting the frequency of AM stations thousands of miles apart. Does a station with the power of WLS or WABC really need frequency protection in markets they can't squeeze on their coverage map? I can see protecting smaller markets. I can't see protecting clear-channel AM monster signals...
Since 1941, clear-channel stations, required to maintain at least 10,000 watts of power to retain their status, enjoy the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave signals. Where only one station is assigned to a clear-channel, it must operate with a nominal power of 50,000. There are currently 87 clear-channel stations in the United Stations and the bordering countries of Canada and Mexico. It's time for the FCC to review the protections granted clear-channel stations. They no longer make sense, if they ever did to begin with...
With yesterday's decision by the FCC, the only hope a smaller market AM station has is to stream its signal. That's the only way they'll increase the size of their audience...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1851] Who has more fun than Maine?: Ans: Everyone. Maine becomes the first state to enact a law prohibiting alcohol…
2.1886] White House wedding bells: President Grover Cleveland becomes the first president to marry at the White House. His bride is Frances Folsom…
3.1896] Patent no longer pending: Guglielmo Marconi's radio is patented…
4.1897] Keeps on ticking: Responding to rumors of his death, 61-year old Mark Twain is quoted in the New York Journal as saying, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.”…
5.1928] What is that stuff?: Kraft creates the spam of the cheese world: Velveeta…
6.1935] Bye-bye Bambino: 40-year old Babe Ruth, batting just .181 is released by the Boston Braves. Ruth retires with a .342 lifetime batting average and 714 home runs. His pitching record is a phenomenal 94-46. He also had a run of 29.2 scoreless innings in world series play, a record that stood for 43 years…
7.1941] A disease of his own: Lou Gehrig dies in New York of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which will be renamed “Lou Gehrig Disease“. His death falls on the 16th anniversary of his replacement of Wally Pipp as Yankees first baseman…
8.1997] Guilty as charged: Timothy McVeigh is convicted of murder and conspiracy in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that took 168 lives…
9.2003] Deregulation: Federal regulators vote to allow companies to buy more television/radio stations and newspaper combinations in the same city...
10.2008] Rock & Roll death: Legendary R&R performer who became a song title, known for his own signature beat, Bo Diddley, dies at 79 from heart failure...
Music Memories:
•1958] Cooling the King: Alan Freed joins WABC Radio and I remember sending the memo from the mail room that announced his hiring. It was made clear that Freed would not be referred to as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll". ABC was running scared over the impending payola hearings. Freed also had a weekly TV show at channel 7 and I used to watch rehearsal's from Mike Wallace's inner balcony overlooking the studio. Here's a clip of Scott Muni & Norm N. Nite inducting Freed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame...
•1964] Rock & Roll debut: The Rolling Stones make their U.S. debut at the Manning Bowl in Lynn (MA)...
•1972] Reunited and it feels so good: Dion & the Belmonts reunite for the 1st time in 13 years, at Madison Square Garden. This is one of the songs they sang...
•1975]#1 on this date: "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" - John Denver... 1985] "Everybody Wants to rule the World" - Tears for Fears...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Freddy Adu (21), Dana Carvey (55), Dennis Haysbert (56), Jerry ("The Beave") Mathers (62), Marvin Hamlisch (66), Stacy Keach (69), Charlie Watts (69) and Sally Kellerman (73)...
Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the Belmont Stakes, 18 days until Father's Day and 19 days until summer...
