We used to have such a warm and friendly format to our main local radio station, with all local personalities and snappy informative banter interspersed with middle-of-the-road talk and even some nice adult standard music. Then about ten years ago, the station was sold. Not much changed then, the same local personalities were kept with their own brand of entertainment, but a few syndicated programs were added, mainly to the mid-afternoon and late-night slots. However, about 3 years ago, another broadcast company acquired the station, fired everyone but the morning show host and has a continuous in-your-face syndicated talk format. Even the morning host has changed his persona form a fatherly icon to an abrasive and abusive loudmouth. What's going on the the radio business?

It's a combination of things. Radio operators begged the FCC to allow them to own more than the old 7-7-7 standard of no more than 7 stations and/or newspapers. The FCC finally gave in and passed the telecommunications act about ten years ago, allowing almost unlimited ownership of radio stations. Be careful what you wish for.

Anyway, they all "went public" and now have to answer to Wall Street. So they have to constantly show revenue growth to keep the stock price high and the Wall Streeters happy.

Enter Steve Jobs with iTunes. Enter Sirius & XM with commercial-free music for $13/month, Enter internet radio. Whoops, radio's in trouble.