another example of an old technology

[mbossman2]

falling before the new

article (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/business/media/15radio.html?ei=5065&en=2d188c6de1f8d3ba&ex=1158984000&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print)

“I just sort of stopped listening to radio, because I had access to all this music online,” Mr. Costa said.


Larry R. Glassman, a surgeon who does lung transplants and commutes between Cold Spring Harbor and Manhasset, N.Y., each day, used to tune into radio for his 40-minute drive, particularly to hear his classic rock favorites.

But now he subscribes to XM Radio, and recently had an XM receiver installed in a new boat. “Some of the programming I just flip over,” he said, adding that he would listen to XM in surgery if he could. Instead, “I use the iPod in the operating room.”

this stumble happened once before, but it was an intra-radio shift: the move from AM to FM. AM survived by focusing in talk radio, sports radio and other, more targeted programming. I doubt that a similar knight in shining armor will arrive this time.

[Kareeser]

People said similar things about radio when the television arrived... I've heard of XM Radio, but I don't subscribe because there is a fee. It's as simple as that :)

Besides, I like IKEA commercials, and you don't get those on XM.

[mbossman2]

I am not too sure on the landscape of canadian broadcasting other than Canada has some content regulations so this may or may not apply to Canada...but my guess is that Canadian broadcasters are seeing the same slump.

[Hi Ho]

There is no music on FM radio that I want to listen too. Satellite radio offers music that I want. Poor sound quality is my main issue. All I listen to on the radio is AM talk shows. I use my ZenMicro Photo for music.

[bailey]

the only radio I listen to is amateur radio

[David M]

I listen to XM for four good reasons...I am a button puncher when I hear commercials...XM has no commercials on their music stations. The sound quality is way better than FM. There are pleanty of stations to choose from depending on my mood. It is worth the cost considering I commute two hours a day. Also, when I travel outside of the area I live, I still get the same excellent stations. The only real downside is that when indoors you have to have the antenna near a window. It is really hard to listen to regular FM now with all the DJ's who think you want to listen to them blab away, weather, the traffic reports, commercials, worthless news and all the other noise. It seems most FM stations are oblivious to why people tune into FM...to listen to the music. And when I want to listen to something specific...I have 2800 songs loaded on my MP3 player to choose from.

[Floppyman]

This is why I mostly listen to NPR on FM radio. Classical music and talk radio (about current events) is much more interesting while driving than pop music and commercials every 5 minutes.

[clroberts]

Yeah that might be cool for the fact that you get lots of things to listen to, but I just can't see paying 12 bucks a month for listening to something I can get for free. Heck, even now with cable you get commercials on the stations that are just on cable and I pay 45 bucks a month for just that. I'd probably prefer to pay the extra $$ that I would be spending on XM and have DVR's and HD service.

[Alaron]

I purchased XM a few months ago, and I'm glad I did. Not only are the music stations extremely varied and commercial free, but I enjoy all the Talk stations. All the major news networks, talk radio personalities, extensive sports coverage, and even comedy make it a well-rounded package. I agree that the $12.95 monthly fee seems high, but whenever I turn back to FM, I'm constantly tuning the dial to find a station that is not in commericial and playing a song I want to hear. On XM, I know that when I pull up a station, I'm going to hear exactly what I want. And to me, that is worth the fee everytime.