The future of AM radio was the talk of the 2023 NAB show. WHLI-AM staff discussed the importance of the AM band, and how it serves the Long Island market. The following is an excerpt from Radio Ink, which covered the panel.

The first panel delved into winning content strategies for AM radio, featuring insights from Perry Publishing and Broadcasting GM Kevin Perry as well as WHLI-AM Program Director/Brand Manager Jon Daniels, and Production/Creative Services Director Sean Lynch. The panelists discussed the unique challenges and opportunities that AM radio presents, especially in a landscape where FM often takes the spotlight.

Daniels posed the question of whether strategies effective for FM radio could also work for AM, noting that AM stations are often overshadowed by their FM counterparts. Lynch recounted how WHLI-AM was crucial during emergencies like Hurricane Sandy, providing real-time updates on flooded roads and blackouts. Daniels echoed this sentiment, stating that radio stations serve as a lifeline during crises, offering both real-time information and a sense of calm.

Perry discussed the importance of AM radio to under-served communities, such as immigrants who prefer AM for its content and music available in their native languages.

Lynch stressed the importance of modernizing the sound and imaging of AM stations to make them seem as cutting-edge as their FM counterparts. Daniels added that reducing the frequency of ads could significantly improve listener experience, using the example of a station that went from eight stopsets an hour to just two.

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Read the entire article at Radio Ink.