Well, there are not a huge number of participants — hopefully “yet” — on my AM versus FM comparison (socalradiowaves.com/wp/knx). If you haven’t heard of it before, it is a set of recordings made while KNX Newsradio was simulcasting on 1070 AM as well as 97.1 FM, as recorded from a Carver TX11B tuner, which happens to sound superb on AM as well as FM.
What I was hoping to demonstrate is that AM can sound good, as long as you have a well-designed tuner. I recorded an A-B comparison to start, then made two more: one off of the AM signal and another for FM. Your job, if you choose to participate, is to see which sounds better to you, as well as trying to determine which is actually which — AM or FM.
So far, the results are tied. Forty-two percent said that sample 1 sounds better, 42% say sample 2 is better, and 16% have no preference. As to which is which, 47% said sample 1 is recorded off the FM signal, 47% said sample 2, and 6% said they cannot determine.
But the comments are where the fun really starts. What prevents you from listening to AM? Fully 16% said “the programming.” Sound quality and reception issues were mentioned by 26% and 21% of respondents, respectively, both being something that is easily addressed with modern radio designs.
What would get you to listen to AM radio? Twenty-six percent said music formats, including modern rock, progressive rock, oldies, and adult standards. Varied talk formats were mentioned by 29%, which means the current crop of talk programming is missing the mark. Not one person said that they “would never listen to AM.”
So here we are. The experts say AM is dead, yet as I have been saying for years, most of AM’s problems are self-inflicted. It is the programming more than anything else, as it is with FM, or any entertainment source, since humanity began. Will it ever dominate? Probably not, at least not until I win the lottery and buy my own station. But as with early FM stations, what real risk is there of finding a niche format that the FMs are afraid to touch?
Again, if you have not had a chance to take the poll, please consider doing so.
Election Night Trimulcast
Unfortunately, I found out about this too late, both to present it to you and for me to hear for myself. But it is certainly intriguing.
On the night of the California Primary, from 7-9 p.m., three stations in separate areas of the state had live election coverage: KABC (790 AM) here in Los Angeles, KSFO/San Francisco, and KMJ/Fresno. The event was hosted by KABC’s John Phillips, Randy Wang, and Frank Mottek in Los Angeles, along with Philip Teresi in Fresno. They were joined by Susan Shelley of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Richie Greenberg of the “Really, San Francisco” podcast, Daniel Guss of “The Guss Report,” and Barbara Stone, professor emeritus of political science from California State University, Fullerton.
Phillips told me it was a blast, and hopefully an ongoing idea. “I’m not sure if there’s ever been statewide radio coverage like this on election night before in California,” he said. “But in the era of traditional media being forced to do more with less, it was an interesting concept of getting the most out of the resources you have, to meet the needs and expectations of your listeners.
“We are really proud of it, and plan to do it again in November,” he concluded.
Still in the saddle
At press time, the future home of Big Country (KKGO 105.1 HD3) is still “stunting” with a continuous loop of Gene Autry’s “Back in the Saddle.” I expected that the new country classics format would have launched by now.
But out of it all comes some good news for oldies fans: oldies will return to the HD airwaves — HD Radio is a digital system of radio broadcasts included in many new automobiles and aftermarket stereos, as well as a few home and portable tuners — on KKGO’s HD4 stream.
I have no official launch date for that either, but I assume it will be “soon.” After owner Saul Levine gets off his horse.
See what I did there? Back in the Saddle? Horse? Oh, never mind.
Richard Wagoner is a San Pedro freelance columnist covering radio in Southern California. Email rwagoner@socalradiowaves.com.