Chapter 7 - Sound

1. Come up with a list of 5 radio stations in the Utah area (choose from FM and some AM stations - music and talk). Write a description of each station including format, advertising, and target audience. What makes each station successful?

2. Radio is described as "the most personal of the media," why is that? Why do you think music is an important part in radio programming? Why is talk radio so popular?

Radio is the most personal of the media because of the interaction we can have with the radio stations, the DJ's, and the advertising. While growing up, I used to listen to Radio Disney all the time. What made it so fun was that little kids (like me) could call the station and win prizes, make a comment about something, or vote on a song to play over, or to get rid of. Radio's rely heavily on the listeners and their reactions. This is why radio is so personal.

Music is a big part in radio programming because radios only use one sense - our ears. We can only listen to what is being played. This makes it crucial for the stations to appeal to their listeners because they only get one way to do it.

Talk radio is popular because it goes back to the "personal" factor. Two people on a radio station are able to talk however, and on whatever they want to, while getting the listeners feedback by having people call in and participate in the conversation. In times like these when there are so many controversial issues in America, we turn to talk radio.