There are many experts on the art form of radio, but like all artistic endeavors the true effectiveness is purely subjective. That is, no knows everything and no one in the business is totally wrong.

This is my view as a professional and a frequent listener to Talk Radio.

There are three basic reasons why Talk Radio works. We can separate the usual reasons why radio has survived nearly a century of innovations beyond the basic technology. Radio is portable and requires minimum attention to provide a utility. That is true no matter what is on the air.

In many respects Talk Radio is the oldest form of radio. News, Presidents and sporting events populated the narrow dial in the infancy of the technology. Music and pure entertainment programs came much later. Today the term has become something entirely different. Talk Radio means opinion radio. It means one person making his or her case everyday on radio or TV. As in all professions there are levels of performance. At the very top is a handful of national entertainers. You know the names; Rush, Glenn, Sean. The pyramid widens until you get to the crowded local level, and if you include satellite and the Internet the field is nearly infinite.

I have a friend who is a clever web designer, code writer and intellect. He can do his complex job while listen to political talk. I suspect many of you can accomplish almost anything in your busy day while listen to a good talk show.

Let's also separate the callers to Talk Radio. They are a different breed. You cannot call a Talk Show without sounding, at best, dumber than the host, at worst not very bright at all. I'm sorry, but call that 800 number and you become fodder for a rapid-fire cannon in the hands of a marksman.  Less than one percent of the listeners to a Talk Show would ever call in, ever.

We listen for these reasons. First, to hear someone who validates and articulates our points of view; secondly, to hear the perspective of someone to whom we have assigned a greater understanding of world or national affairs, agree or disagree; and thirdly, to vehemently disagree with the lunatic on the air (see the first reason). There are others such as companionship, feeling as though we are learning something or just to combat the silence.

Finally, watch out. Because of possible legislation that can only be described as a poison pill for the music industry, airing music on radio may become prohibitively expensive for more than 30% of the stations in America. These stations are not going away, so they will talk. Don't ask me about what.

Good Talk Radio is great, bad Talk Radio eventually collapses under its own weight.  We all listen in one form or another, at one time or another. All I ask is that you know exactly what you are listening to and maybe why.   

             
 

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