How we listen to music, news and other content as we drive on our daily commute or travel around the country has changed dramatically over the years. We have installed everything on our dash boards from eight-track tape players to CBs to CD players to satellite radio to smart phone inputs. Each new technology improved on, and sometimes replaced the previous.
But one platform has been there from the very beginning, survived every change in listening habits, and continues to have relevance — AM, or amplitude modulation radio. As each new technological fad unfolded trusty old AM radio held onto its spot on our dash. Its obituary has been written many times. The advent of FM radio with its crystal clear signal capable of broadcasting music in stereo would surely render AM radio obsolete. Rush Limbaugh and the rise of news/talk radio saved the day.
Now once again AM radio is being threatened with extinction. The culprit this time is the rising popularity of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles generate electromagnetic interference that causes static in some AM radio signals. Rather than install a relatively inexpensive workaround, some manufacturers of electric vehicles are opting to not place AM radio in their product.
According to the media tracking firm Nielsen 92% of the U.S. population tunes into terrestrial radio — both AM and FM — more than any other medium. The National Association of Broadcasters points out that nearly 50 million Americans still tune into AM radio. In many rural parts of the nation AM radio is one of the few, if not the only option available to listeners.
As mentioned, AM radio continues to be a widely listened to platform for news and information. During times of emergency or national disaster when cell phone and internet services are interrupted the wide range of the AM signal often provides the only dependable source of information. That is why seven former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrators have voiced their concerns over the lack of AM radios in EVs. FEMA’s national Integrated Public Alert & Warning System delivers safety alerts through broadcast AM stations.
As with every issue these days there a political/ideological component to the AM radio controversy. AM radio is the home base for conservative talk radio. Limbaugh is no longer with us, but his legacy is the many nationally syndicated and locally popular talk shows that populate AM programming. The left has never been able to get a talk radio foothold, so eliminating the AM platform for them is the next best thing.
But AM radio is not yet ready to roll over and play dead. And its continued relevance in broadcasting emergency information may be AM radio’s salvation. Concerned that the demise of AM radio would impede the dissemination of emergency information a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas have proposed the AM for Every Vehicle Act.
The Act would give the U.S. Secretary of Transportation one year to establish a standard for all new motor vehicles in the U.S. to include AM reception and playback. The bill would require the AM dial to be clearly visible on each vehicle’s dashboard. Until the new standard takes effect vehicles lacking AM reception must be clearly labeled as such for consumers.
Cruz termed AM radio a “critical bulwark for democracy,” and Markey argued AM radio should continue to be placed in vehicles and also not placed behind a costly pay wall. The senators are walking their bill through the legislative process. Just last week the legislation passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee.
And while the legislative process chugs forward consumer pressure is having an impact. Ford changed direction and announced that it will include AM radio in its 2024 vehicles. The automaker is also providing a software update in its two EV models that were released without AM radio. Ford CEO Jim Farley cited the band’s critical role in the emergency alert system as the reason for the change in direction.
And so, as I sit here looking at the stack of CDs I can no longer listen to in my Explorer because Ford stopped putting CD players in their vehicles, I can at least take solace in that I can still listen to my favorite morning show hosts on my dependable AM radio.
It’s good that some things in life don’t change.
(Lowman S. Henry is chairman and CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly American Radio Journal and Lincoln Radio Journal. His email is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org.)
