(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Manufacturers of electric vehicles made plans to remove AM radios from their new vehicle models, prompting outrage from station owners, listeners and several other concerned parties, the Daily Caller reported.
BMW, Volkswagen, Mazda and Tesla removed radios from the design, allegedly due to sound interference from electric engines.
Some manufacturers, such as Ford, are removing radios from all of their new vehicle models—both EV and gas operated.
Critics say this decision by automakers could be fatal to the radio industry, and will likely take out hundreds of the U.S.’s 4,185 stations.
Radio provides a substantial amount of news, political updates, weather coverage and foreign language programming to Americans across the nation.
Moreover, the shift away from radio also disproportionately affects conservative talk show hosts—eight out of 10 of America’s most listened to talk show hosts are conservative.
“The automobile is essential to liberty. It’s freedom,” conservative radio host Mark Levin said on his show.
“So, the control of the automobile is about the control of your freedom,” he continued. “They finally figured out how to attack conservative talk radio.”
A study done by the National Association of Broadcasters revealed that 82 million Americans listen to AM radio stations every month.
Several experts, including Michael Harrison of Talkers, argued that the disposal of AM radio is premature, despite the aging listener population.
“From a purely economic position of self-interest, it is understandable why car manufacturers might consider AM radios expendable and are willing to toss them out like cassette players, eight-tracks and CD players,” he said.
“However, what they are failing to understand are the cultural aspects of the longtime symbiotic relationship between AM (and FM) radio and automobiles—a culture still adhered to by a large, still-living segment of the population to whom this relationship remains important,” he added.
Harrison argued that several radio listeners are still purchasing automobiles, and asked why the automobile manufacturers are in such a hurry to dispose of the radio.
“Radio has long been supportive of car culture in America and deserves special consideration,” he said. “It’s been a two-way street! Not only is this decision premature, it is a betrayal.”
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sent a letter to several automotive makers requesting that they reconsider their adjustment.
