RADICAL RADIO
FREEFORM RADIO ARCHIVE
The World of Radio by Davyne Dial
WPVM
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A World of Radio is simultaneously a look at the history of "the theater of the mind" and the radio devices people used over time to play it.
This 18 minute video was produced by WPVM radio under the direction of Board President and General Manager Davyne Dial, who also assembled the collection of antique radios shown here that are displayed in a section of the station's studio in Asheville, North Carolina.
WPVM is an independent,
listener-supported radio station broadcasting at 103.7 on the FM dial. To learn more, Dayvne and her team can be reached at wpvmfm.org
Future of Radio
There has been lots of talk about AM radio being removed from automobiles or that the young don’t even have a receiver in the home.
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Devices:
Something not mentioned during the handwringing is technology has expanded the reach of radio, and analog is just an early part of how radio is heard. See all those devices in the above graphic? That is how radio is now heard.
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Listener Map
Streaming opened up niche stations to the world, and WPVM has seized upon that asset, and we have regular listeners from around the world. Our combined digital and analog listeners are around 10,000 that tune in at least once a month. The map shows all countries that have visited our website in the past month.
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BUT commercial radio does face some serious competition; this reflects several problems with radio…too many commercials that dominate most of the hour, with stations playing the same music over and over. The threat of AI replacing live radio personalities is looming. This only makes community radio even more attractive to listeners who appreciate the personalities and content a station like WPVM freely shares. They appreciate hearing about a new writer, a local musician, or band, or a community leader on the air. And people do love being invited to be on the radio.
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But back to the looming removal of AM from automobiles….Many automakers are moving to subscriptions,……including entertainment, along with plans to charge subscriptions for your heated seats, steering wheels and other premium perks.
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Radio transmission is a magical medium and an art form that has been exploited & abused since its beginning to be a cash cow. WPVM views presenting the best of what radio can be as our main mission. As the major patron of WPVM, management is committed to funding the station as long as we have quality programmers,……interviews, live in the studio, and more are excellent for spreading the good word about our unique station.
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WPVM is dedicated to reflecting radio as an art form that entertains, inspires, informs, and sometimes provokes critical thinking.