Radio's Future

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Radio's Future

It's now been almost 5 years since I've purchased my first XM Radio. Yes, my first, because I have three now and have had three units for a most of that time. Both of my daughters have them in their vehicles and a number of friends and people I work with have them as well. I will say, it's been the greatest electronic toy I've purchased since my first C-Band satellite receiver 21 years ago!

I really enjoy the variety and the accessibility of formats I wouldn't be able to listen to otherwise. I spend nearly two hours a day in my vehicle commuting between home and WICD-TV, and have found the XM a perfect entertainment companion. It's all about CHOICE, COMMERCIAL FREE MUSIC CHANNELS and COAST TO COAST reception. I can drive anywhere....and still enjoy the same channels....and no static....and no weak signals.

The stations I spend time with include "Watercolors" with the new age contemporary jazz format, "Classic Radio" with the old radio shows from the 30's to the 50's, the 60's and 70's oldies, "Deep Tracks," "Top Tracks," and so many more depending on my mood. My wife likes the "Flight 26" channel with the contemporary format and we compromise on "The Blend" when we're together. I appreciate the great depth in the playlist for "The Blend", probably more than 1200 songs from the 80's-today all commercial free. Since my political leanings are to the left, I enjoy "Air America."

As I said, I now have three XM's. Two of them being Delphi systems(see below) which one can move into the house with me from my wife's car, and another which is bedside and can be moved to my computer room/studio. I have an indoor kit for my home entertainment center and I use the boom box around the house. In my car I have an older model of Audiovox receiver which I really like.

The best thing about it is the absence of poorly produced local commercials which smother local radio stations....no remote broadcasts....no bad jocks.....not the same 250 songs over and over.....and the variety within each format genre. Listening to the 60's and 70's, I hear material which I haven't heard since the original decade. Songs which would probably be classified as novelty songs, but are kinda nice to hear now. The jocks, jingles and other timely elements adds to the flavor of the channel and makes it interesting. If you don't like it...switch to another.

How much local radio do I listen to now? Probably not more than 30 minutes over the last year. Do I think XM will hurt local radio? Eventually. Can local radio fight the satellite competition? Frankly the biggest competition is from I-Pods and other programmable players, then with satellite radio. Radio just needs to quit fighting itself and go back to the basics of super serving their own communties. Trying to fight the alternatives like I-Pods or satellite radio with a music format is fine for now, but eventually reality will force local radio to do something different, when satellite subs reach 20-million nationally. Right now, it's around 8-million, but word of mouth will continue to build momentum.