Source: www.insideradio.com, October 2022
More than a dozen AMs have vanished from radio dials during the past two years, while FMs are also not immune from the economic pressures facing broadcasters today. Between June and September, the total number of FM licenses fell by a dozen. The figures may be small considering they are spread out across America, but the latest quarterly census provided by the Federal Communications Commission also demonstrates the trend of fewer commercial radio stations that began during the pandemic has not yet reversed.
The FCC reports there were 6,677 licensed commercial FMs as of Sept. 30. That is 12 fewer than at the end of second quarter. The shrinkage is more pronounced on the AM dial where the FCC also says there were 4,490 licensed AM stations. That is down eight from the end of June and down 29 from Sept. 2021.
Noncommercial FMs have not seen the same kind of decreases that commercial station counts have. The FCC says as of Sept. 30 there were 4,207 noncommercial FMs. That is a gain of 23 from June, although it is roughly on par with the 4,211 noncommercial FMs the FCC reported a year ago.
Overall, the FCC says there were 15,374 licensed full-power radio stations as of Sept. 30. That was 15 fewer than when the year began.
Thanks to the rule change that allows AMs to simulcast on translators, the FCC count of FM translators and boosters has risen steadily over the past few years. But the latest tally hints those increases may be coming to an end. It reports there were 8,949 licensed translators and boosters as of Sept. 30. That represents a rare decline, with two more reported by the FCC at mid-year.
More than any other radio service, the pandemic has been the hardest on low-power FMs and there remains no signs of a turnaround. The FCC says the number of LPFMs declined once again with 2,025 LFPMs licensed. That is the loss of another nine, bringing the decrease in LPFMs so far this year to 44 nationwide.
Low power radio advocates have been hoping the FCC will open a new filing window that will lead to an influx of new LPFM operators, but that remains on hold for now. The FCC must first wrap up awarding licenses following its recent filing window for noncommercial full-power FMs meaning an LPFM window may not open until next year.
Overall, there were a total of 33,570 radio and television licenses issued by the FCC at the end of third quarter.
