Requiem for Radio Free America

Requiem for Radio Free America.

I lament and grieve the extinction of independent, creative, community-based, diverse radio programming and ownership.

I lament the fact that the United States used to but no longer has a media landscape that was smaller, more local, fun to listen to, played music that was actually enjoyable to listen to, and had interesting content before it was all bought by fewer than ten large conservative media corporations that prefer to transmit crass commercial ads and output, garbage noise, and boring manufactured music, and that do not allow or promote anything independent, fresh, new, fun, or community-based.

Yes, there are a few independently owned and operated radio stations that have managed to stay on the air mostly because of listener support. But they are the exceptions in the vast expanse of radio that is hate-filled, stokes insecurities and fear in listeners, and is crassly commercial.

I feel very sorry for all of the areas in the country where there is nothing to listen to on the radio except for hate speech and ranting, christian music stations that are just as bad because their message is so exclusionary and judgmental and hypocritical.

There is hope, however. Instead of listening to any of this noise people can choose to turn off their radios and listen to tapes and CDs, podcasts that match their preferences, audio books, and in the few places where they are available, support those small, independent radio stations that are independent, listener supported, community based and that have creative programming and good music.