You're a Listener and you don't get it...  

Since the FCC deregulated radio a number of large companies have sprung up to devour broadcast properties all over the country.  Some of these companies own a thousand or more radio stations across the United States.  They may own five or six stations in the same city.  The result of all of this is that radio stations are being bought and sold like any other commodity.  In an effort to "stay profitable" the owners of these huge broadcast companies try to find ways to "trim the fat".  This ranges from firing anyone they deem overpaid... which in their reality is everyone.... to moving five radio stations into one building so that no one has enough equipment to do a professional job, but the company saves hundreds of thousands of dollars.   

None of the suits at the top of these huge broadcast companies care much about anything but the bottom line.  "Profits not people" has become the mantra of these companies and their owners.  

You, the listener, also pay for this mindset.  Fewer choices in programming, lame talent (because it's cheap), no talent (even cheaper) - computers do it all and one guy sitting in Austin or Chicago voice tracks everything for hundreds of stations.  Radio Contest and competition have decreased... you don't need to compete when you own five stations in the market...    In general, Radio sucks these days and you can blame the Federal Government, Bean Counters, and Wall Street.  It's all about the money.

KRUD Listener Tip:   If one of these huge broadcast companies is in your market, start listening to CDs and complain to your congressman.  If you don't, radio will only get worse.  Believe us, you haven't heard bad yet... it can get really bad.