By Dennis D. McDonald

A recent article in the English language version of Tokyo's The Mainichi newspaper described the gradual phase-out of AM radio broadcasting in Japan. Of the 47 AM broadcasters in Japan, 13 have already shut off their transmissions, and more may follow.

Compared with FM radio, AM is costlier to maintain, has difficulty penetrating solid structures, and it is vulnerable to static interference despite longer range than FM broadcasting.

In the US, AM radio broadcasting is more widespread, with approximately 4,444 stations reaching 82 million Americans each month. The World Radio Map says this about AM radio in the US:

AM: There are 4444 AM stations in the US (FCC report, Jan 2024). AM band is from 530 to 1710 kHz with 10 kHz step. Maximum power currently allowed is 50 kW for Clear-channel stations. AM is typically used by News, Talk, Sports, Christian and Ethnic stations. 89 stations broadcasting in AM stereo. Low-power Traffic advisory and Emergency advisory radio stations also on the AM band, usually on 530/1610 kHz.

As in Japan, AM broadcasts have a longer range, especially at night. This makes them popular for talk radio and vital for emergency broadcasting.

I can't remember the last time I listened to AM radio. We have a couple of AM/FM radios around the house, but my usual choice is FM, especially in the mornings or while driving. Otherwise I listen to music streaming services or my collection of CDs and LPs.

I don't expect AM broadcasting to disappear anytime soon in the US given its importance for rural areas, talk radio, and emergency broadcasting. Yet, listenership may not be growing and some automakers of electric vehicles are phasing out AM due to electrical interference and the growing popularity of alternatives such as streaming.

While I’m personally nostalgic about AM radio, today there are simply too many listening options that offer more selection, control, and higher quality. I have fond memories of my first battery-operated transistor radio, but back then media options were extremely limited. 

Aside from emergency broadcasting and rural reach, AM radio has one potential advantage over modern media delivery channels: its ubiquity. Modern digital program delivery options are increasingly bundled and subscription-based. Broadcasting or distributing multimedia "in the clear" is increasingly rare given the desire of media conglomerates for walled gardens, exclusive partnerships, and complex content licensing agreements. The idea of a common medium through which everyone can listen, watch, collaborate, and share is increasingly subject to fashion, whim, and external control.

A "low tech" medium like AM radio broadcasting may very well survive, but will it ever again be the focus of large-scale cultural impact? I doubt it, but I do admit I have very fond memories of my Zenith Royal 50!

Copyright (c) 2024 by Dennis D. McDonald. The image at the top of this article is from a wall poster titled “United States Frequency Allocations: The Radio Spectrum” which is described by the US Department of Transportation here.