Enough, most of the AM music stations aren’t Top40 CHR formats & the advertisers on the AM stations aren’t marketing to 10 - 40 year olds.
I also guarantee there’s some DAB stations aimed at younger listeners that have very few listening because they don’t know it exists, there’s also literally hundreds of thousands of online streaming stations around the world aimed at Millennials & Gen-Z who only ever get 5 - 10 listeners concurrently, your argument is so flawed.
It doesn’t matter what the technology, if it’s shit programming no one will listen & if it’s good programming people will listen.
I’ll also say that the regional SCA AM stations mostly now Triple M, but I think there’s a couple of Hit stations, won’t pick up thousands more listeners converting to FM, they may pick up a few, but it won’t be significant increases, just because they’re on FM & not AM.
I agree with that too, strong tropo may cause some issues for 2GLF but probably not as bad as 2SSR. 2GLF does not have the elevation and same excellent LOS to the north which cause the severe CCI from Rhema Newcastle.
In very strong Tropo i am sure 2HD on 89.3 would wipe out 2GLF outside of its licence area, and probably cut in over the top within the licence area where the signal is weaker.
Which site would be better to restrict signal to the south to reduce CCI, Mt sugarloaf or the Rhema site?
Re 2NM conversion 98.9 is a no brainer.
It’s a pity they cannot find frequencies for Classic and Triple J for the Upper Hunter as there is a massive black spot between Muswellbrook and Tamworth.
Probably Mt Sugarloaf, but then all the existing commercial FM’s are only 2kW to the South & 20kW in all other directions so even with strong tropo they’re not pumping huge levels South.
Guess the site for 2HD will depend if NBN (Nine) allow them to use their site & risk losing more money on rent as they don’t pay up for NEW FM now, not sure BAI would let them go there either, so it would have to be at a sub par site & they’d probably need translators for coverage like in Armidale?
Absolutely. FM does provide better sound quality than AM especially for music stations. FM also has better reception inside buildings and in cars, compared to AM especially in urban or built up areas.
As long as it’s done sensibly and is an efficient use of spectrum i.e. one high powered frequency as opposed to 2 or 3 low powered frequencies in the same city, then it’s of benefit.
I agree that some of the AM to FM conversions are not done efficiently and are wasting spectrum.
I agree on this point. A regional DAB rollout would be better for consumers and the radio industry, however, the problem is the cost and it might not be cost-effective to roll it out in the smaller regional markets (under 100,000 people), unless there is some sort of government subsidy.
We say 2UE rates well on AM 954 now beating SCA what I don’t understand in cities we don’t get a similar format on FM. 4KQ was also another example and 2CH all no longer around that did pretty well at different times on AM. I wish we could have heard that style of station on FM.
Smooth / 2WS (in the early days) /I98 (also in the early days) sort of started with an AM station like “classic hits” but they tend to moderise over time.
If you go FM (esp in the capital cities) you need change and can’t sound like an AM on FM for some reason. For some reason you need to change to survive? Whilst Triple M / WS still play old music but the old type AM radio style of music station seems to rarely resurface on FM. Maybe some regional are different but from post from @TV-Expert in other threads XL FM and GN FM are heading to that FM style of station direction. I find the normal mix on FM is very safe, where 2UE play tracks you may not have heard for years. I found the same when listening online to 4KQ, whilst they played safe music the odd song would pop up that wasn’t played that often anymore.
The baby boomers who listen to 60s music and classic hits are still around. Those type of stations on FM would be great with an hourly news service and bit of information what is happening say in Sydney, in between probably would do well. You can even play a new track or two if it fits.
I can honestly say that 2UE is more adventurous than 2CA these days. I’d venture 2CA will become even more safe if they make the move to FM.
2UE has that ‘rural’ laid back AM sound down pat with its musical selections. It’s a delicious irony that this type of radio is only heard in Sydney, but Sydney probably needs it as an escape valve from the rat cage.
2CA never really make a huge dent in the FM music stations (in recent times). I’d say “a little bit” more adventurous the better. To be honest it isn’t really that adventurous (you don’t have to go full on Billy Bob format although I would not complain if they did) , there are a lot Jimmy Barnes/John Farnham songs for example that you don’t hear often. Example "Simple Life by John Farnham, or say "I got you "by Jimmy Barnes or Something is wrong with my baby the two of them singing. Just off the top of my head. I don’t think advertisers would run away if you go a little deeper into a popular artist catalogue.
Anyway off topic but my conclusion AM stations don’t necessarily need to change format going to FM. The old AM stations smoking oldies lost classic formats still have a place on the radio today even on FM. (* Breeze/ Rebel FM could be an example where a deeper playlist can work on FM).
Again, the softer or deeper you go, the faster your station’s demos go up.
1955-79 music baby boomer demos are now too old for advertisers.
The Generation X cohort is starting to share that same fate with 1980s music.
Just as pointedly, what you liked when you were in Year 10 is also different from the music from that you want to hear when you are now in your 40s.
In addition, MDs and PDs often rely on what tests well.
A 2024 take on rock and roll era music must emphasise how good the music is and not pop-history dates and trivia like 1990s era “Good Times, Great Oldies” did. That strangles the appeal of the music now.
Yeah it goes back to advertisers and essentially they dictate the music. Perhaps music lovers are more niche and will listen to streaming service, record to enjoy the music. Commerical radio in the main is providing a familiar sound as one can hop in the car for a quick drive to the shops.
“Adult music maybe 40 year and up” seems incredibly safe in Sydney. This formula seems to make money. Where the 2CH/2UE may have more freedom to widen the playlist.
In my view there are probably still a lot of safe songs that should be played more.
Only in name, I think what was 2AY on 104.9 became B104.9 and the 2AY callsign returned back to 1494 AM. 1494 has always been there in some way shape or form.
Just off the top of my head. I don’t think advertisers would run away if you go a little deeper into a popular artist catalogue.