Radio Waves Podcast #346

07/07/22 • -1 min

Radio Waves: July 8. 2022

Will electric cars kill terrestrial radio?

That’s the question posed in a article posted at consumer guide.com (read it at https://bit.ly/3nuTrGK), which talks about a very real problem affecting radio in general, AM in particular.

The problem is that the motors and electronics in electric cars create interference that is very close in frequency to that of stations in the AM band. And in some cases, most notably more expensive models from high-end manufacturers, the “fix” is to leave AM out of the radio altogether.

And as electric cars get more popular — or mandated as in California — it could lead to the demise of America’s oldest broadcasting band, at least while traveling. In most of the country, in-car listening is a huge portion of overall listening to radio.

As explained in the story, “Electromagnetic frequencies generated by EV motors happen to be comparable in wavelength to AM radio signals. The competing signals clash, effectively cancelling each other, as if they were opposing forces. As EV motors grow more powerful, AM static tends to increase.”

It’s not a new problem. Indeed, many cars and trucks have fought radio interference for decades, even in cars with gasoline engines.. Ignition systems, electric motors driving cooling fans, windows and even the heating system can cause interference. But in the past, manufacturers were able to add shielding, ground systems, or even noise suppressors.

In reality, this can be done today, and perhaps might be a legal requirement: FCC rules require that no consumer component cause interference to radio reception, and must accept interference from broadcast radio transmission. But to my knowledge, the rule has not been enforced with any regularity in years. Indeed, LED lights, cable boxes, fluorescent lights, and computers and more all cause interference, and I haven’t heard of any product being pulled off the market for doing so.

Manufacturers have tried to find solutions, but those solutions add cost and weight to the cars .... Something the manufacturers are loathe to do. In the end, it’s easier just to leave it out.

FM is not totally immune either, as it too has challenges being received in a moving car. For now it’s primarily AM, though, and the manufacturers removing it from the dashboards of at least some of their all-electric cars include BMW, Tesla, Porsche, Volvo, and Audi. Interestingly, models from more common brands such as those from Toyota, Ford, and General Motors have kept AM in their electric models. This may change when Cadillac releases new models in the future.

One solution is to put everything on the web, but that creates its own issues: not every station streams their signals on the internet, it costs stations to do so, and it costs consumers when they have to subscribe to either an in-car internet service or use their cell phones to provide a signal. Once internet access is universal, however, some say this may be the future and put AM and FM stations on par for sound quality and distance reception. (I’ll have a story on this in the future).

But in the meantime, I can’t help but think that much of this has to do with programming. If AM listening was more popular, consumers would demand that AM not only be included, but would sound good. Like the early days of automobiles and broadcasting, solutions would be found. That they are not, and people are still buying Teslas proves there is a problem.

In other words, and to repeat what I have been saying for years, if AM stations gave a reason to listen, people would, and demand that their station could be heard while driving.

Related: if AM can be removed from the dash, is FM at risk as well? Absolutely. As the mobile dashboard becomes more of an all-encompassing entertainment system with access to various online music and podcast services, some observers do indeed see a day when cars don’t have a radio at all.

I don’t see it that way, and in fact, I think solutions will be found to allow both AM and FM to continue to be found in the dash, especially as more manufacturers market electric cars. I may be wrong, but I think there are some simple solutions — or at least solutions that, once found, can be spread as a common design feature.

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Radio Waves: July 8. 2022

Will electric cars kill terrestrial radio?

That’s the question posed in a article posted at consumer guide.com (read it at https://bit.ly/3nuTrGK), which talks about a very real problem affecting radio in general, AM in particular.

Manufacturers have tried to find solutions, but those solutions add cost and weight to the cars .... Something the manufacturers are loathe to do. In the end, it’s easier just to leave it out.

In other words, and to repeat what I have been saying for years, if AM stations gave a reason to listen, people would, and demand that their station could be heard while driving.

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Previous Episode

Radio Waves Podcast #345

Radio Waves: July 1, 2022

Can consumers help improve radio’s success?

Brian Winnekins knows radio. AM radio in particular, with special knowledge of analog AM stereo. He should ... as owner of “Reel Country” WRDN/Durand, Wisconsin, he bought a former has-been AM station that was often off the air or operating at reduced power, upgraded the transmitter site, added an AM stereo (C-QUAM) system and provided programming of interest to the local community.

Now he’s the owner of a successful (though admittedly small-town) AM radio station, and has become one of a small but growing number of small station owners acting as a united voice promoting AM, AM stereo, and highlighting the struggles felt by such owners such as the tremendous burden placed on music stations by the various music licensing companies.

Winnekins programs WRDN like the old days, with programming of help to local farmers in the area. Besides the requisite country music, listeners can tune in to information on agriculture trends, farm reports, local sports, and of course news. It is the only station providing programming specifically targeted to Durand.

I suppose in some ways, the purchase was an extension of his own interests – prior to buying WRDN, Winnekins was a farm reporter for another station in a neighboring town. Now as an owner, he doesn’t mind sticking his neck out in an attempt to attract attention to ideas that can help AM stations better compete.

Recently Winnekins attended a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association conference session on “The Connected Car – What Does it Mean for Radio?” and included a representative from Xperi, the company behind numerous audio and video technologies including HD Radio, Connected Car technologies, DTS and more.

“During his presentation, he talked about how Apple and Google are trying to use their operating systems not only for the ‘infotainment center’ but even the dashboard,” Winnekins told me. “He also mentioned how it gets harder and harder to keep radio as part of car entertainment systems as manufacturers focus on newer technologies. He said convinced one company to keep AM by showing them the number of AM affiliates for sports teams.

“I was able to talk with him after the session and I brought up the idea that we need to end the ‘analog vs digital AM’ war – such that radios should be able to receive both analog stereo and digital HD – and have receivers just tune up the dial from 540 AM to 108 FM with no ‘band button.’”

Winnekins says that the representative from Xperi said he is open to both ideas. But ... automotive companies will only put options in their products that they believe their customers want. That means for AM to truly have good receivers, customers need to demand it.

“The car companies will NEVER do anything unless people who are upset that their radios sound awful actually complain,” he explains. And it needs to go straight to the manufacturers, not the dealers. And certainly not social media. “If people are just going to continue to complain on Facebook ... or the ‘radio experts’ (some of whom are owners!) continue to say that radio is dying, IT WILL DIE,” he says.

“Frankly, this ‘woe is me’ crap or this ‘well the consumers don’t care about radio and want internet garbage’ is a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Winnekins says, adding that his own experience proves people will listen given the right programming and that consumers do indeed like the sound that better radios can provide.

“I’ve had farmers stop at the station with their old work trucks, and they are impressed with the way the station sounds on those radios ... but then ask why their new $70,000 truck doesn’t sound as good,” he explained. “So here we have people who like the sound of our signal on a good radio ... shouldn’t we find a way to help them complain to the car companies about their new lousy radios rather than constantly lamenting that ‘radio is dead?’”

Want to hear it for yourself? Like WION/Ionia, Michigan (i1430.com), WRDN streams their signal as received over the Am airwaves by an actual AM stereo tuner, in this case a Carver TX11a. “Tune in” from the station web page at reelcountry1430.com.

New KROQ

The effect of Kevin Weatherly’s return to the programming position at KROQ (106.7 FM) is already having a positive effect. The station suddenly has a sound more in keeping with its history ... a vibe, of sorts, that I have not heard in years. It’s as if everyone is suddenly proud to be there, rather than just “being there.” More oldies than I prefer, but at least some new music. So far I am liking it.

Next Episode

Radio Waves Podcast #347

Link to full "Radio Waves" interview with Dr. Demento: https://bit.ly/3NTWfba

Radio July 15

If you grew up in Southern California in the 1970s, you likely listened to the legendary KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM). And if you listened to KMET, you likely listened to one of the most famous programs to ever originate from album-rock radio, Dr. Demento.

Born Barret Eugene “Barry” Hansen, Dr. Demento wasn’t heard only on KMET. In fact, his show launched on KPPC (now KROQ, 106.7 FM) after a time in 1970 playing some of his personal record recollection as a guest on Steven Segal, known on the air as The Obscene Steven Clean, on KMET and later KPPC (now KROQ, 106.7 FM). Those personal records included unusual recordings, novelty songs and just strange and unusual songs dating back to the earliest 78 RPM records.

It was Segal who gave Hansen the name "Dr. Demento.”

“I had no warning of this,” Hansen says, explaining that it came about roughly the third time he was a guest in hour-long expanded segments that began in October. “He just decided he’d start calling me Dr. Demento.” And the rest, as they say, is history.

He got his own two-hour shift on KPPC at the end on 1970; He moved to KMET in 1971, where for four hours he’d play his version of hits ... from artists such as Spike Jones, Jimmy Durante, Ray Stevens, Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer, Nervous Norvus, and of course “Weird Al” Yankovic.

He remained at KMET until the station changed formats in early 1987. After that he could be heard on KLSX (now KNX-FM, 97.1 FM) and later KSCA (101.9 FM), where it remained until 1997. The show was also syndicated nationally in a two-hour format from 1974 to about 2010, when it became available only on the internet.

But it was at KMET where he truly shined. The first three hours of the program included various records, not always funny but always interesting, the last hour devoted to the “top-10” where you’d hear such classic recordings as “Star Drek,” “Pencil-Neck Geek,” “Dead Puppies,” “Shaving Cream,” “Fish Heads,” and many more.

Hansen was instrumental in bringing teen-ager Yankovic to a national audience when he played “Belvedere Crusin” on his show in 1976.

As mentioned, Hansen still makes his show available on the internet with new programs weekly at https://www.drdemento.com. He participates in the official Facebook fan page for the show at https://www.facebook.com/groups/drdemento. It is on Facebook where I asked his legions of fans for their memories of the show and the good Doctor himself.

“Found the good Dr. late at night by accident when I was about 12/13 years old. Right around the time Weird All came out with My Bologna. Was hooked on both of them immediately (my local radio station played Ray Stevens, so I was big into the comedy stuff with nothing on other than that)” — Ginger Boyles

“When I was 7 or 8 years old, I had an uncle that sent my family a few cassette tapes of the Dr. Demento Show that he had taped for us (it wasn't on any of the stations in our area at the time). No one else in my family was interested, so they quickly became mine. The first tape I listened to was the show that first aired Weird Al's 'Another Rides the Bus'. I was instantly hooked. Those tapes quickly became what I listened to whenever I could.

“Looking back, I've realized that I had been listening to a radio show that showed me that I wasn't the only weird person around. It was okay to not fit into the normal mold of society. Shortly after, a local station started airing the show. Not only did his show entertain with it's rich history of parody and novelty music, but I know it influenced my sense of humor in my formative years. A large amount of credit (or blame) is due to Dr. Demento and his efforts in shaping me into who I am today, someone who is comfortable with being a little off kilter.” — Joshua Hesselgrave

“Sunday nights at midnight....difficult for a jr high girl sometimes...but the desire to possibly hear ‘Fish Heads’ or ‘Dead Puppies!’” — Holly Hammond

“I helped run a coffee house in Allendale, NJ called The Grotto in the mid to late 1970s. We had live music, but when the Doctor came on the radio, that stopped and it was time to get demented!” — Seth Bogdanove

“Before Dr. Dememto would get to the Top Ten Countdown, he would play records and songs that had a theme running thru them. I remember once he played several versions of ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ ... he pointed out words and lines were changed in the different versions. And even played a song that could have been the genesis of the song.” — Robert Stone II

“I did a fake stupid hillbilly voice to request a song because I thought it would improve my chances - it did and I got a t-shirt” — Beaux Peterson

“I ...