Despite the advancement of the internet and streaming, radio still finds its space and has loyal listeners, especially when we talk about AM radio. Stations of this type of frequency focus on broadcasting news, music and, mainly, sports games. However, AM's days may be numbered.
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The reason? Electric cars. The growing number of this type of vehicle could lead to the extinction of AM radios for a simple reason: electromagnetic interference, according to car makers.
AM waves do not arrive “clean” to the radios of eletric cars. So the front desk is full of squeaks, jumbled noises, and high-frequency hums. FM waves, on the other hand, are more resistant to interference.
Some automakers are already removing AM from their vehicles. In a press release, BMW said it took the decision not to “frustrate consumers” with low-quality reception. Other companies, such as
Tesla Audi, Ford, Porshe and Volvo also followed the same path.What's wrong with doing away with AM radio?
Since there are a large number of AM stations spread all over the world, there will definitely be an economic impact. Not to mention the unemployment of workers at these radio stations.
Ron January, operations manager for WATV-AM, an Alabama radio station, likened the AM cutoff of vehicles to "murder." According to him, the biggest audience of his station comes from cars.
“Most of our listeners are driving in the morning and afternoon when people are on their way to and from work. So if we're not in your car, we don't exist," he lamented to the New York Times.
Also, AM reception is crucial in times of emergency. Because they are able to cover more distances, they can be a crucial source of news in more remote and difficult to reach places.
Is it possible to reverse the situation with electric cars?
Some experts say yes, as reception problems are not insurmountable. There is a way to control interference with shielded cables, filters and greater care when inserting electrical components into the vehicle.
However, all this paraphernalia demands time and money from car manufacturers. And perhaps this is an investment that companies are not willing to make. After all, according to The Drive, AM radio is starting to lose popularity anyway, at least in Europe.
Who still listens to AM radio?
According to a survey by Nielsen, a global company that measures media audiences around the world, AM listeners represent just 20% of all US listeners. Furthermore, these people tend to be older (a third over 65).
In Brazil, the latest Kantar IBOPE survey found that 8 out of 10 Brazilians listened to the radio in August 2022. In addition, they spend, on average, 3h58 their favorite seasons. The media is still listened to by 83% of the population, showing an increase of 3% compared to last year.
Perhaps, the threat to AM in Brazil will take a while to arrive. Even if, according to Kantar, 80% of listeners still prefer regular radio, the number of electric cars around here is still low.
The number is growing, but it is still not a reality for everyone. According to the Brazilian Association of Electric Vehicles (ABVE), there was a 43.4% increase in the number of electric vehicles in the country, compared to last year. However, the president of the body warns that, even with the good numbers, the Brazilian reality is still far from that of other countries, such as the USA.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.