I remember radio in its truly golden years - when AM and FM DJs were half the reason to listen to the radio. I have especially fond memories of clear channel stations WLS - Chicago, KAAY - Little Rock, and WWL in New Orleans. Due to the 'skip', at night time, these and other giants entertained a generation of pre-teens and teens in small Midwestern communities.
We would tape the Top-40 songs on cassettes, from the radio, and the record companies did not send around lawyers suing us for stealing songs. The business model was that in return for music, we listened to commercials. It seemed to work - earlier there were scandals with payola, but in my teens, everyone seemed happy.
Today, the world's population is much greater, and obviously a much larger market than that time. We have different technology, such as MP3s and internet streaming, in addition to receiving radio stations on a cell phones. Can someone explain that latter business model to me? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just use a radio? But I digress.
Economics dooming free streaming sites? tells that internet radio stations that distribute music supported by advertising are disappearing. The remaining stations have a mixed business model - after 50 plays a month, you must purchase a subscription service. It puzzles me that advertising-supported internet radio cannot survive. Why?
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