Think they went more pop (or closer to what we’d call Hot AC) around the time of Chris Evans jumping from Radio 2. Was much closer to Absolute Radio from memory before that
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Yes I think that’s right. They’ve got a couple of good DAB/online streams as well - Virgin Anthems playing lots of guitar rock and Virgin Chill. Even though the main station has gone a bit hot AC it’s still a bit rock skewed. I like it.
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Chris Evans is starting to really annoy me - I dont understand why he was popular, the talking over the music is really grinding my gears
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Some of the extra UK stations I’ve dropped into my listening have been Kerrang and the even more interesting Klassic Kerrang Radio - which despite being branded as ‘Klassic’ is far more modern than Triple M Modern digital ever was.
Absolute on the other hand are promoting an upcoming one day only Absolute Radio 40s - to celebrate VE Day - interestingly splitting the AM service away from a simulcast of the main station to air it on radio.
The amount of ads for DAB while listening to Absolute make me think there must still be a decent audience for it on AM, as I assume those can’t all be directed to those listening on FM in London.
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The more I listen to Mix Megapol Sweden the more I wish 97.3FM was like it. The guys at my workplace have put it on a few times (I’m currently based in Uppsala) and it’s been a genuinely fun listen each time.
Also a fan of Sveriges Radio P3/P4
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Checked out the playlist and yes 97.3 would be better off with that playlist for sure.
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Hows radio in the US these days?
I had an unfulfilled desire to go the US in the 80s to listen to radio, I think around the time Starship had the song we built this city, and I was a fan of Knight Rider.
Has the popularity declined there? Less “live” djs. Is talk radio still big there? Satellite radio still popular? I know from other posts that HD Radio was a bit of a flop. Is community radio a thing? Do they still have the ABC like in Australia?
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I read a few US and Canadian radio sites and most of the comments seem to echo the concerns about Australian radio. Mainly around increased networking and lack of local content in smaller markets.
But even larger markets as well. I read an article recently that one of Edmonton’s (Canada) top rating soft AC station was mainly networked out of Toronto.
Another observation from the rafio ratings in the US is that Top 40 is struggling big time. In the larger cities classic hits, AC and even classic rock dominate. Stations like KEarth, KOST and Wave are winning in LA. In Chicago Lite FM (AC) and The Drive (Classic Rock) dominate. Urban formats do pretty well too and there’s usually one or two AM talk stations doing well. Interestingly many of those AM stations are getting infill FM frequencies which they promote heavily.
But the biggest trend I’ve seen is the resurgence of AC, Soft AC and classic hits/rock formats, at the expense of CHR and even Hot AC.
Satellite radio is of course a big competitor there too.
Comments are sometimes eerily similar to those here from posters lamenting narrow playlists and reduction of live and local announcers.
Regarding community stations they have far fewer than here (but more commercial). Most seem affiliated with Colleges and seem to be mostly alternative, although some are more mainstream. Some rate quite well in their local market.
They don’t have ABC stations at such, but NPR (Public Radio) fills that market somewhat although it appears more niche than the ABC stations here.
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I’ve read comments that its much the same experience as our digital radio with a multitude of low bit rate (via satellite delivery), poor sounding channels with constant channel and line up changes.
For those interested there’s a PDF format channel guide here.
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yeah interesting thanks for the guide. Feels like “the foxtel” radio. I wonder how sustainable all these radio stations are in the US. As mentioned on the other thread(s) a lot of people don’t own radios these days.
I wonder where in the world radio is most popular? In Malaysia where I went a few times, I think the car is saving radio a bit as most people listen to it in the car. There was some talk in Malaysia but more around 'talking lifestyle" topics. Radio covers multiple languages there . Not much sports (did not hear any when I was there).
I am not sure if radio works very well in the US for live sporting commentary for American Football and Baseball. For some sports like golf, tennis, basketball are not really a radio sport (or it might in the US? ). Do any of the all sports radio stations top the ratings in the US or the UK? Football (or Soccer) in the UK and Europe is that big on radio? In Asia, its mostly a TV sport. Sports from my experience, is almost non-existent in Asia on radio. Cricket is a big traditional in the UK & Down Under but seems to be limited in India these days. Mostly TV only it seems.
Is radio popular or “dieing” in Africa/South America? Not sure on this. Even to the north of us in Papua New Guinea is the radio still an important medium? I don’t know much or how widespread or solid the internet is there. I believe the NRL calls are super popular there.
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I know talkSPORT in the UK is popular.
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https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/07/07/chicago-radio-ratings-newsradio-wins-morning-noon-night/
Thought the latest radio ratings for Chicago would give a flavour for what’s going on in the larger markets in the US. Although they do tend to vary a bit depending on the region. For example in Dallas a country station tops the ratings.
You notice the Chicago ratings have a couple of sports talk stations both with very low ratings. If course sport is struggling a bit due to the virus I don’t think I’ve ever seen them too much higher.
There’s an unexpected success story at No 12. WMRE is actually a station run by a local community TV station. They kind of did it as a bit of a filler on a frequency not available in all cars 87.7. It’s been an unexpected hit and has even been Top 10 in Chicago. They play super oldies and a very random playlist with next to no announcers.
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Thanks an interesting read! Maybe sports stations they don’t always chase for the ratings. They get money from gambling companies. Have to try out WMRE online ! 
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It’s branded MeTV.
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The 87.7s are dubbed ‘Franken FMs’ by US radio commentators because they are essentially low powered TV stations on Channel 6. They have to broadcast a video signal per FCC regulations. Most just have a slideshow or similar.
They are talking about getting rid of the 87.7s entirely as it is essentially analogue TV. The closest Australia has come to this was WIN3 Wollongong; they shifted their audio carrier to 91.70 (from 91.76) in the year or two before switch off, probably to allow commuters to catch the nightly news on the radio.
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I found the link but its 96.7 FM very good audio quality.
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That’s a different station based in New York rather than the Chicago station but probably very similar. Not sure if it has the same ownership.
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I prefer WLNG Long Island, one of the few live and local commercial radio stations left in the US (and just about anywhere). It also has a classic hits/oldies format. They have cut down on the PAMS jingles which is a shame; ownership changed a couple of years ago.
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Latest ratings for Chicago in the US has R&B station V103 topping the ratings, beating the main News/Talk station.
The playlist features new and classic R&B music but plays a lot of Janet/Michael Jackson tracks and even Justin Timberlake.
Also the station at No. 3 (WXRT) is a great alternative rock station - great playlist.
- WVAZ 102.7-FM R&B, 8.6 (6.0)
- WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 6.4 (7.3)
- (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 4.7 (4.9); WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.7 (5.7)
- WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 4.5 (4.7)
- WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 4.4 (4.4)
- WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 4.2 (5.5)
- WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.8 (3.7)
- (tie) WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 3.2 (2.5); WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 3.2 (3.4)
- (tie) WGN 720-AM news talk, 3.1 (3.6); WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 3.1 (3.5)
- (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 2.8 (2.6); WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.8 (2.8); WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 2.8 (2.7)
- WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.7 (2.7)
- WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 2.6 (2.7)
- WGCI 107.5-FM hip-hop, 2.5 (2.4)
- WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.3 (2.3)
- (tie) WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 2.2 (2.5); WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.2 (1.9)
- WLS 890-AM news talk, 2.1 (1.9)
- WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.8 (2.1)
- WPWX 92.3-FM hip-hop, 1.5 (1.5)
- WCPT 820-AM progressive talk 1.3 (0.3)
- WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.2 (1.2)
- (tie) WFMT 98.7-FM classical 0.9 (0.9); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 0.9 (1.0)
- (tie) WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian music, 0.7 (0.8); WSRB 106.3-FM R&B, 0.7 (0.7)
Interesting to see Top 40 stations continuing to struggle and Classic Hits/Rock/AC stations dominating.
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I agree. This is a station I stream.
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