FM Radio faces Brit Government switch-off as Digital listening passes 50%

[beat_truck]

The programing might be better, but digital OTA TV is still crap.

The signal and conditions have to be nearly perfect for it to work right. Unfortunately, terrain, weather, foliage, etc aren't perfect which makes it unreliable for a lot of people.

 

[olderroust]

I spent years with awful TV reception in the Bay Area after the digital cutover, tried several supposedly good antennae. in one instance, it was being on a ground floor with two story buildings around. in the second, it was the double layer of stucco walls, near as I could see.

one day, I found the downlink from the rooftop antenna, and somewhere along the line I'd learned to terminate coax. so I cleaned up the downlink, put a connector on it, fed a set with it, and it works well, finally. For my FM receiver, too, so I fed it to a splitter in our utility space. when we had the house worked on, they pulled coax all over the house from that space. I picked up a coax patch panel, terminated all of it (the contractors weren't interested) and now we can wire sets or receivers where we like, along with having 2 or 3 cat 6 plugs dropped in every room, feeding ethernet patch panels.

in the car I usually listen to TuneIn on my phone with an aftermarket Bluetooth feeder to the stereo. NPR is fine, but Vermont Public Radio has a 24/7 BBC channel that is almost always interesting. So now I'm a VPR member

 

[+48V]

"Bro country" is younger demographic feel-good party time fare, tho the party may be happening in someones' head.

Went thru the same thing with rock with target demographic youngsters that wanted to skip school hanging out with pretty girls partying hard in their parents basement. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll anyone?

In all fairness, country music has always had the “whip yer doggies, my girl left me, trucks, tractors, and drankin’ theme. Frankly I have no issues with the subject matter or story line at the end of the day. Pitiful circumstance, partyin', cheatin', and outlaw antics works just fine lyrically for me.

And I have to somewhat disagree in that this trend is simply the same old 'tried and true' generational disconnect. There's more at play here. It's beyond lowest common denominator cash-in marketing...it's the marginally talented propped up with an inordinate amount of preened beards and lipstick.

The difference today with Bro/Gurl country is that 80% (best jaded guess) of what’s churned out is extremely cookie-cutter produced and identical in terms of beat count, rhythm, melody and vocal cadence. With extremely few exceptions, there’s virtually no individuality/creativity whatsoever. Oh, and a prerequisite to being a “featured” country artist is you gots to be very handsome/pretty. heh, JC and Merle wouldn’t stand a chance today. How’s that for an oxymoron!

Yes, a somewhat similar shtick has been played out over many decades. Remember the dawn of “corporate (hair band) rock” circa early 80s? I’m not saying all country music is ****. There is still some very talented and great country music artists out there.

But the wheels have come off "the wagons" like never before with respect to country music in general. It’s durability is as mind-blowing as it is nauseating.

/fistatcloud

 

[Harvestor]

Could this happen in America? "Analogue radios could be consigned to the dustbin of history after figures showed that the majority of all UK radio listening was via digital devices for the first time."

Might be some good tuner buys coming from across the pond. What do you UK tuner users think about this?

Dave

It better NOT !
I use All of my Tuner's for both FM broadcast and AM Broadcast Listening EVERY DAY!
In my opinion it sounds better ( warmer ) and Alive ...
There's no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater....
Digital Broadcast could very easily become available only to those who pay a fee subject to Taxation....F- that Shyt !...1776 or Death!

 

[DaveVoorhis]

The difference today with Bro/Gurl country is that 80% (best jaded guess) of what’s churned out is extremely cookie-cutter produced and identical in terms of beat count, rhythm, melody and vocal cadence. With extremely few exceptions, there’s virtually no individuality/creativity whatsoever. Oh, and a prerequisite to being a “featured” country artist is you gots to be very handsome/pretty.

Largely true of mainstream pop, too. Interesting music is not to be found there. Interesting music has moved to SoundCloud and YouTube and such, leaving behind what is mostly underwear modelling to a repetitive beat.

 

[+48V]

Largely true of mainstream pop, too. Interesting music is not to be found there. Interesting music has moved to SoundCloud and YouTube and such, leaving behind what is mostly underwear modelling to a repetitive beat.

Certainly and fair enough. Janet Jackson's patented army of choreographed stompers which begat Brittany the Spears and a well schooled Beyonce to unfathomable fame is very akin and well past it's expiry date IMO. Copycats rule...to a point. However, I'll argue that there is vastly more "variety/interesting" music/acts percolating up within mainstream pop than with the Bro/Gurl county mimic gimmick.

I'm above average footloose and fancy free when it comes to genres and change. Yet I must admit it's quite possible my blinders may well be fitted too tight on this particular shift and progression. Given it's longevity, singularity of style, and pervasiveness is well, to me...unprecedented and fascinating. Meh, so it goes. Pass the Twinkies!

 

[KrisM]

I'm kind of nervous about FM going away.
I've got an old Grundig Majestic from @jaymanaa and an Advent 300 from @patfont and a Voice of Music tuner. In each case, I switched on the FM to see how it worked. Each time it was that damn Phil Collins guy, so I shut it off as quick as I could. So that's about a total 8 or 10 minutes of FM listening in the last 5 years. But, still, I might want to check them all again in a few years.

I've got a few great FM options here, and I'm pretty selective when I switch to the FM dial, so no Phil for me.
Going to Safeway, though? F me, it seems like EVERY DARN TIME I I'm there I have hear him.
"Another Day In Paradise'? No Phil, it's not.