Radio Is Doing Just Fine, Despite Itself

Radio has been a success for over 100 years.  It's a proven medium, not a traditional medium.  Sixty five percent of Americans will listen to their radios today.  Ninety two percent this week.  More homes have radios than have TVs.  Radio is the No. 1 medium of music discovery.  Spotify and SiriusXM call themselves “radio” because that is what they would like to be.  It seems that nobody has a problem with the medium of radio except radio people.  The handwringing at conventions, conferences and in the trades is epic.  There is a profound gap between the reality of radio’s success as a medium and the actions of people in the radio business.  What is the inside-industry problem and how can it be solved?  What follows are a few no-nonsense, common-sense suggestions.