Video Killed the Radio Star (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Long a fixture in the automotive industry, AM/FM radio is on its way out. This development has to be bad news for stations that depend upon commuters for any significant chunk of their audience.
“AM and FM are being eliminated from the dash of two car companies within two years and will be eliminated from the dash of all cars within five years.”
The reason, of course, is kids today - they rarely listen to radio, and while it seems unrealistic to expect that the devices will be eliminated so quickly, it's a safe bet that cd players are going to be going the way of the 8-track and cassette soon. Anything mechanical like that will be booted in favor of satellite and wi-fi devices. Kids, after all, are into Pandora and other streamers, and it's likely that the old dvd player that keeps them entertained in the back of the minivan will also be dumped in favor of satellite receivers.
Many vehicles already come equipped with an auxillary input for plugging in iPods or other MP3 players as manufacturers began the transition half a dozen years ago. It's reasonable to guess that phase-out of mechanical players has been in the works even longer - and that the days of AM/FM are likewise numbered. Oh, it'll still be available; just as CB radios are. And it'll be about as popular with kids.
