New Regulations - Is It Justified to Break Up Large Radio Groups?

I believe that new regulations can interfere and break up large radio groups in order to instill different methods or ways in functioning of their radio stations, talk shows, music and conversational topics and discussions.  The FCC is an independent United States government agency which was established by the Communications Act of 1934.  Their objective is to regulate and overview interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

            Large radio groups tend to lose focus and interests in people who follow closely because they don’t feel as if they are appreciated or valued to them.  This is because large radio groups tend to focus on a bigger broader picture as oppose to small radio groups who are locally founded.  For example a large radio group will not focus on the local shooting that just took place this weekend involving a young student athlete at Pace University, as where small radio groups who are local will.  They will know the news, they will know needed information about that incident, they will know the overall feeling of the community and be able to provide not only details of the incident but give feedback and help speak to listeners or callers who are affected by this.  This difference is important because large radio groups are interested in themselves as oppose to its listeners.

            For small radio groups who are intended for local listeners, they encourage them to build relationships with their listeners, understand what the local people want, are feeling and what they are going through.  Small radio groups feel as if large radio groups do not appreciate their listeners and feel as if they are not at value to them.

            A large controversial issue arose when Howard Stern’s contract was up with regular radio.  The FCC then intervened in not letting him renew his contract with radio or renewing his broadcasting license.  Howard Stern and the FCC had different opinions and views on how he should be able to run his own show; therefore he moved to satellite radio by signing a massive $250 million dollar contract over the next 5 years which is due to expire at the end of this year.  This was due to his vulgar use of words, sexual interests and tops and its open air topics and discussions about anything and everything.  This was not allowed by the FCC because of over use of profanity, sexual explicitly and the awareness that even children is listening to the radio and they did not want them to be associated with such explicit manners.  This goes to show that the FFC doesn’t really accept what the people want or would like to listen to and only look out for the better interest of broader radio.  When Howard Stern moved his show to satellite radio, he gained more recognition and popularity than ever before not to mentions his deepening wealthy pockets as of now.

            But then again regulations need to be enforced because what you see and what you hear may not be accessible to everyone especially when it regards to age and the younger population.

History of Radio - Commerical Form - Political Form & Artistic Form

            The history of radio has been with us for as long as we can remember.  Before television was first introduced and people had the capability to own one, many household across America had a radio and were listening to the radio religiously.  Families, friends and individuals would gather and hover around the radio as if it was God speaking to them.  They were so intrigued by this form of technology that it was astonishing to many.

            In today’s world, all audio medias are transforming as normally should occur and it seems as if they all are becoming much more commercialized.  In the past there were different radio stations for different purposes.  They would have a radio station for all components which consisted of the news, weather, sports, entertainment etc; whereas in today’s society, all of these components are intertwined with one another on the same radio station.

            With the introduction of satellite radio where music and such things of that nature are broadcasted commercial free without any interruption.  With this said this has become a threat to individual’s listeners whose still tune into AM, FM radio stations.  People whom work for the specific radio stations need to do tons and tons of re-search in order to know and understand what their listeners, viewers and followers want to hear.  They must do this in order to satisfy their listeners and give them what they want which would be great as the end result for both parties.

            Many different types of forms have been introduced and used as a communication tool and or device to get their thoughts opinions and messages out.  For example, in this up and down economy, politicians are turning to the radio and hoping that their followers and listeners will tune in and listen to what they have to say.  Politicians are individuals whom would like to get their thoughts across in order for them to persuade individual in believing in them, therefore what better place to do this than on the radio.  Any spare time or free time an individual may have, there is a good possibility they are listening to the radio if they are not at home sitting on the couch, crunching on some potato chips while flipping through the channels.

            Artistic forms can be drawn both ways as in some cases; individual A may think a component or idea may be artistic in such and such way and where as individual B would disagree.  This is exactly what we want and need, diversity, difference in opinions, beliefs, and views, and as a result one may think it is artistic and the other may not.  This then creates not only diversity but debate and criticism which are always good in understanding certain groups and or individuals needs and understandings.

The Web Is Dead - Long Live The Internet

            The author states that the wed is dead when in all reality this statement has some truth to it which can be argues both ways.  For the present generations and generations to come, the wed or the internet has become a thing of the past; or at least the web or internet when being accessed by a laptop and or desktop.  This is because of the evolution of technology and the technological advancements that we have endured and still experience on an everyday basis.  Dating back to the days where there was a dial tone in order to get onto America Online, or AIM, or even the break of Napster, where individuals where able to download and share music amongst each other.  This was seen as an endless amount of freedom and capability for an individual to have access to all these supplements.  We  as a civilization thought we had reaches an unlimited amount of freedom with but the passing of time and technological advancements this has come to show us that sky’s the limit.

            Having all these technological gadgets that have intrigued and mesmerized society today especially with the younger generations has truly shown us that the web or internet where we once accessed it from a desk at school or at home has become a thing of the past.  People are now using their smart phones such as the popular Blackberry’s and iPhones.  Blackberry’s are capable of searching the internet, accessing Facebook, Twitter and all these other social media networks as well as having their own BBM, which is an instant messaging consisting of other Blackberry users.  As for Apple, they defiantly rule the market.  With their ipods, iphones and now the ipad, they have defiantly taken these gadgets to another level.  The iphone can do everything the BlackBerry can and even more.  Offering the latest apps for the phone, the iphone is an imac in your hands.  With their new face time, they can video chat with anyone whom has an iphone.  What I am trying to say is that I do not need to wait to get home or have access to the school computers to roam the internet or message someone using the networking sites, but I can reach into my pocket, pull out my phone and update my twitter status just like that.

            Google, Apple, and Facebook are the three top dog company’s that the author talks about.  Apple has been around for a long time stemming back to the Macintosh computers and Macs, but they have taken their intentions to better off or better serve society with their unbelievable gadgets and services such as iTunes.  Google has had dominance for a long time now where they control trafficking on the internet as well as services and sales.  As for Facebook, this started off as a relatively small networking service only available to a specific college where students and communicate amongst each other.  Facebook then exploded by reaching more than 100 million users in about a year.  With their small steps they have truly changed how society interacts with one another and how they interact amongst Social Medias.  These three companies are great at what they do and offer their best intentions to their users which make them very popular and powerful.