RIP WPLJ WRQX

Two more longtime major market radio stations bit the dust on Friday. WPLJ in New York and WRQX (Mix107) in Washington, DC. In both cases, the bankrupt company that mismanaged all their assets and had to unload these valuable properties just to stay afloat another twenty minutes sold to companies who decided to chuck the formats and replace them with a satellite feed.

There was a time when you couldn’t do that.

Radio licenses are held in the public’s trust. The FCC is supposed to ensure that license holders live up to their responsibility to serve their local community. Station owners have lost their licenses in the past because they did not adequately serve their public.

But then was when we had a government that was looking out for the people, not trying to swindle them. That is when we had anti-trust laws. That is when there were laws limiting the number of commercials. And number of stations any one group could own.

Both WPLJ and Mix107 had local talent and decent ratings. They organized local charities, provided emergency information during blizzards and other calamities. Now a satellite signal from Sacramento or wherever will fill those airwaves. Tell me exactly how this is a better use of a frequency for serving the community?

Of course it’s not.

And who’s the big loser (besides all the people who lost their jobs in a shrinking industry)? YOU are.  YOU ALWAYS ARE. 

And here’s the worst part – no one (neither ownership nor the FCC) gives a shit.

Ownership groups like to tout statistics that people still listen to terrestrial radio over anything else. Those numbers are bullshit. Ask a Millennial the last time he turned on a radio.  Go into a Best Buys and see if you can purchase an AM receiver. 

Goodbye to WPLJ and WRQX.

And very very soon --  radio.

from By Ken Levine