This past week the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), along with owners and operators of AM radio stations, were all taking bows when the Ford Motor Company reversed its decision to remove AM radio from ALL of its vehicles in 2024.
I don’t mean to rain on AM radio’s parade but something just doesn’t feel right about this quick change of heart. Let’s review the last five weeks.
April 1, 2023
News broke in the Detroit Free Press that Ford Motor Company planned to stop putting AM radio in both new gas-powered vehicles as well as electric vehicles beginning in 2024.
This sounded like it was an April Fool’s joke. However, Ford executives explained that “a majority of U.S. AM stations, as well as a number of countries and automakers globally, are modernizing radio by offering internet streaming through mobile apps, FM, digital and satellite radio options.” Ford said they planned to offer all of these alternatives for their vehicle owners so they could continue to hear their favorite AM radio station stations.
The Push-back
Alex Siciliano, senior vice president for communication at the NAB quickly responded to the news by saying, “we are certain that Ford does not want to alienate the nearly 48 million Americans who listen to AM radio, and we’ll continue to work closely with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and individual manufacturers to keep this important service in cars.”
The NAB was joined by Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Nathan Simington in urging automakers to keep AM radio in all vehicles, whether they be gas-powered or electric.
Then seven former administrators of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wrote a letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, about how the removal of AM radio from cars will represent a grave threat to future local, state, and federal disaster response and relief efforts.
Ford Is Not The First OEM Who Thinks AM is Past Its Use-By Date
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) around the world are always looking towards the future, building cars and trucks equipped with what demands will be three to five years from now.
BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Telsa, Volkswagen and Volvo have all removed AM radio from their electric vehicles.
FM vs AM Listening
AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio was invented the early 1900s. FM (Frequency Modulation) radio was invented in the 1930s. The shift in listening from AM to FM started in the early 1960s and by the late 70s, FM radio listenership eclipsed AM.
In June 2015, I wrote on this blog about AM Radio & Streaming Radio. I completed a 3,000 mile road trip consisting of listening to AM radio for the first 1,500 miles, and streaming radio the second 1,500 miles. I wrote:
Small signal AM radio stations primarily identify themselves with their FM translator dial position (How’s that saving AM radio?). The “pups” are mostly syndicated, automated, religious, sports or Spanish. They aren’t very engaging, which is probably a good thing if you’re driving usually because you don’t care when you lose the signal. Oh, and just try to hear their translator FM signal; forgetaboutit.
The 50,000 watt signals on AM, like WOWO in Ft Wayne, Indiana, WJR in Detroit, Michigan, WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio and KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are in another universe when it comes to radio programming.
While listening to WOWO, I heard a powerful morning show that was fun, engaging and tuned into the Ft Wayne area. WJR told me about Frankenmuth, Michigan while their midday show was broadcasting live from this unique resort town on the great lakes. WLW was talking about how the Cincinnati police were getting body cameras and how they were loaning them to the news folks in Cincinnati to wear and learn how they work. It was fascinating radio. And KDKA was a potpourri of information about all things Pittsburgh; thoroughly engaging and very enjoyable.
I rode each of these big signal radio stations for hundreds of miles and enjoyed listening to them every minute. Each was different, unique, fun, engaging LIVE and LOCAL.
The observation I made was that maybe the AM band should be reserved for these high power AM signals that have the bench strength to do great radio.
On my drive home I decided to see how easy it is to listen to streaming radio. Here’s what I wrote about that experience six years ago:
The day of my 15-hour drive home allowed me to listen to a streaming radio station through my iPhone4S, fed into my car’s audio system with no dropout, no buffering, and no disruption of any kind. The audio fidelity beats anything coming out of AM or FM terrestrial radio, and even SiriusXM.
On day two of my drive, I again streamed the Radio Tunes’ Smooth Jazz channel knowing that Jimi King and Stephanie Sales would be hosting a LIVE 3-hour Smooth Jazz show (they do this every Sunday). This turns Radio Tunes into a real live radio station, and I will admit that I love the channel mainly because of all the things it doesn’t do the other 165 hours a week. However, for three of the 7-hours of my second day’s drive, the companionship was really nice.
Again, I experienced no disruption to my listening as I proceeded from Maryland and through the state of West Virginia and into Kentucky. I carried Radio Tunes all the way into Lexington, Kentucky where I stopped to have some lunch.
While eating lunch it occurred to me how well my reception to streaming radio through my smartphone was. It offers excellent fidelity, no dropout, buffering or other disruptions.
Ford Decides to Keep AM Radio on All Its Vehicles
On May 23, just about five weeks after announcing that Ford would remove AM radio on all its vehicles in 2024, it reversed course and said it would not only continue to offer AM on both its gas-powered lineup but also its electric powered fleet as well.
That was an incredibly fast change of heart, but what really left people scratching their heads was that Ford also said it would restore AM radio to other Ford vehicles, via a software update, that never had AM radio in them to begin with.
About that clock…
I titled this blog article “What’s Wrong With The Clock?” and here’s why, Herb Cohen was called the world’s best negotiator and he wrote a New York Times bestseller called “You Can Negotiate Anything.” At a conference, I remember hearing Herb speak about his book and telling the story about a couple buying a grandfather clock.
As I remember it, Herb said this couple always wanted to own a grandfather clock but they were too expensive, until one day they found a grandfather clock in a store priced at $1,000. The couple had not seen a grandfather clock priced that low before and were planning to buy it at that price, when the husband thought he’d try and see if he could negotiate the price down a little. So, he said to the merchant behind the counter, “I will give you $500 for that grandfather clock.” The merchant quickly responded with “SOLD!”
The couple then wondered, what was wrong with the clock.
Negotiation is a process, that involves some back and forth, however when the process, as in the clock story, gets short-circuited, it’s human nature to wonder about your victory. That’s how I feel about the Ford reversal decision.
Moral Victory
What AM broadcasters have won in their battle with the Ford Motor Company is a moral victory. AM radio listening is in decline and there’s nothing in the cards that will change that.
If you say that someone has won a moral victory,
you mean that although they have officially lost
a contest or dispute,
they have succeeded in showing they are right about something.
-Collins Dictionary
Color me skeptical, but I sense that Ford has decided that with every AM radio station in America working to obtain an FM translator and then identifying ALL of their programming with their FM dial position, AM radio will put themselves out of business.
It’s not a beachhead Ford wishes to defend.
I also wonder how listenable AM radio will be in vehicles that don’t have the antenna systems and electrical shielding to insure good reception.
“It is much better to lose a battle and win the war
than to win a battle and lose the war.
Resolve to keep your eyes on the big ball.
-David J. Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking Big
DickTaylorBlog 
Yet another excellent post here. It will be interesting to see how many new Ford vehicles will even have the FM band, much less the AM band, in any radios that do exist. Otherwise, thanks for sharing and posting as always.
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Thank You for reading today’s blog and pondering what lies ahead.
As the broadcast bands sunset around the world, as AI (Artificial Intelligence) speeds into our lives, it appears the changes ahead will make the adoption of the technology of our lifetime until now, seem quaint.
Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened.
-DT
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The main arguments for keeping AM radio seems to be one of two items.
The first is rural farmers have AM radio on tractors. However many new tractors have FM and even streaming. Therefore, that argument doesn’t really hold water.
The second, is that AM transmission is the backbone of the government’s Emergency Alert System. This recent discussion shows it’s time for the Federal Government to come up with a more liable system and up to date system like DAB+ used in Europe.
For example, WorldDMB is working with receiver manufacturers to ensure the wake up capability of digital radios is activated to allow them to switch on and deliver emergency warning sirens.
Here’s an example:
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When I was teaching at WKU, a tornado warning was issued for Bowling Green, KY. Every electronic device in my classroom went off with the alert. If you’ve been in a room when 40 alerts go off at the same time, it gets your attention BIG TIME.
We immediately proceeded to a safe space in the building until the all clear notice was given.
I also remember driving around Kentucky and having my smartphone go off and alert me to an active tornado situation occurring in my immediate area.
Warnings delivered in this manner are life saving.
Because I’m a radio guy, I turned on my local AM/FM radio stations and learned nothing about each situation. However, the local TV stations pre-empted their regular programming and went wall-to-wall with coverage including radar storm tracking.
We must change old thinking and adapt to today’s reality.
Thank You Paul for sharing that demo.
-DT
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You’ve got a TON of experts commenting here, Dick. All are making good points which should probably have been thought of back in the days before AM/FM was affected by the digital revolution. (It was thought of by many, but those concerns were pushed aside. Noise, AM quality, HD hash, horrendous commercials, horrendous commercials one after another, FM translators covering just a few miles, and EAS system that no one can agree on, the list continues. Now the push is on to -push broadcasters off of the dashboard. That might be the biggest concern of 2023. The solution? I still contend that it’s content that people want. While “radio” is still the easiest to consume wherever it is (you turn it on, we do the rest), it’s lost its shine. It’ll never have the dominance it once had -but broadcasters must invest on compelling content that will get people talking about-and listening again to the once mass medium giant that was radio. I used to preach to my people that when they were on the air their number one job was to keep people listening. Bottom line? Daryl Parks was right.
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Yes Dave, we need to “think differently.”
Props to Steve Jobs for that one.
-DT
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Dave, your closing thoughts about the future of AM radio in cars are right on target. Substantially reducing RF interference in cars is not that difficult — mobile Ham operators know how to do it at affordable cost — but this could change as vehicle technology advances. The end of fender-mounted whip antennas is a bigger problem for AM (FM too); windshield antennas are less effective, in large part because they sit lower than whips. “Height is might”, as station owners who seek high ground and tall towers for their transmitter sites already know.
As for the increasing use of FM translators, it’s a double-edged sword. Less powerful AM stations sometimes need the translators to provide decent coverage, but at the same time they reduce the importance of their own AM signals.
What to do? I don’t know.
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Looking at where AI (Artificial Intelligence) is going to take us and you begin to realize how out-of-touch we are when comes to tomorrow’s technology (many of it already here today).
This link to a TED Talk on “The Disappearing Computer” (and our smartphones are computers) is illuminating as to where things are headed.
What’s radio’s role going to be in this technology world? Is anybody thinking about these questions?
-DT
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Also, unless one knows how to rig modern technology in an AM only radio, a big portion of the classic car resale value comes from a working radio from the period the car was made, especially when it comes to stuff like the 50s-60s muscle cars that were popular during the time that AM radio was king and FM was the novelty. This also applies to cars that came with 8-track players back in the day still fully working, cassette players in the 80s-90s when those were popular in cars, etc.
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Those cars will still have their AM radios.
It is possible to get low powered transmitters calling “talking House” transmitters that could be set up at car shows where classic cars are displayed. One is the “InfOspot AM Radio Transmitter ” available on Amazon for less than $200. These low power units are for unlicensed operation under Part 15 rules. Some churches and other outdoor meetings used them during COVID closures.
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It would be cool for the organizer to get one of these transmitters and play music appropriate to those cars during the show and all of the car radios tuned to that station. Great Idea Paul.
-DT
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Yes Bradley, maintaining those classic cars to the way they were is important.
Which brings up the subject of how as technology changes, trying to preserve what was produced on old recording/playback technology becomes a real challenge.
I just found a TEAC reel-to-reel that will now allow me to go through my boxes of tapes recorded on this technology. My hope being to digitize the best recordings in order to preserve them for future generations to hear.
-DT
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Paul, many people actually replace the car radios even if they still work. There are lots of period appropriate radios that don’t work at all though.
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I’m sure. -DT
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In fact, a lot of master tapes end up being destroyed, thrown in the trash, disintegrating with sticky shed syndrome and have to be baked before temporary playback due to the formulation, etc., and with vinyl records, turntables have come back into fashion, but the #1 rule is to NOT most stuff sold in big box stores, especially if they have the ceramic red tip cartridges or even older turntables with ceramic cartridges for digital transfer, and go for stuff such as the Audio-Technica LP120 or similar such as Crosley C***, T*** or K*** series, Pioneer PLX-1000, Technics SL1200 series, etc. turntable. If the turntable has a built-in preamp and/or a USB, one can either use the line-in built in to a computer if still available or a USB slot hooked up to a computer and do the recording there, but if not, you can buy a separate phono preamp or a receiver with a phono input. You can simply look for a 70s-80s receiver if you come across one on a lucky day as the top of the line 70s receivers of companies like Marantz, Pioneer, etc. do command premium prices in the used market if they still work fully, a Dolby Pro-Logic/Dolby Surround era AV receiver made at the time LaserDiscs were the premium home video market, some $200 2-channel stereo receivers have the phono input, and many of the most expensive AV receivers made today that are in the thousands of dollars price range have the phono input. A lot of 78rpm metal parts were trashed for scrap and a lot of remastering of music from that era have to be sourced from the commercial 78s in the best shape possible, the same with LPs that have their master tapes trashed if there are no tapes overseas, etc.
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A lot of old video games that no longer have their master source codes archived have to be reverse engineered by hackers in order to get the master source code revealed from ROMs that are illegally posted before the legitimate copyright holders that have the legal paperwork required for reissue can reissue the game, if the legal paperwork, etc. is still available.
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Antique tabletop radios from the 1920s-1930s, higher grade consoles from the 1940s-1950s, etc. are also AM only as well and for the antique radio shows, the transmitters should be sold to the people who sponsor the shows as there is money in restoring these radios, showing them and also buying/selling them to other collectors just like there is with classic cars.
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What an outstanding and insightful piece. When 90% of the audience is glued to their phones, I would think radio would want to be there not in an electrified car with interference. You know the real problem is less about AM and more about the garbage that passes for programming. Young people have no idea what AM is and while they know about FM only a few students admit to listening (usually when riding with their parents at the wheel). The dumbing down of radio by private equity which wrecks everything it buys creates the false impression that AM is desirable. The NAB sold radio down the river to get consolidation added to the 1996 Telecom Act — the problem isn’t the changing audience or new technology, it’s the enemy within. Keep up the good work, professor. I admire your guts to tell it like it is.
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Thank You Professor Del Colliano for your kind words.
To me, the big story is not about AM radio, but about saving radio, period. FM will be in the same situation as AM is today at the rate things are going.
Did you see that Apple & Broadcom are going to invest $430 Billion in building 5G radios?
Better programming, that is focused on what listeners want and need, delivered on a platform listeners use is the playing field today’s audio game is being played on.
Thank You for your support and efforts to wake up a sleeping radio industry.
-DT
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