The commercialization of FM radio has dragged us into a dull, predictable landscape with very little real listening appeal. Last night I scanned stations across the country, hoping for a spark of something interesting. Instead? A string of disappointments. One station in the middle of the country seemed to have given up entirely on programming and simply ran advertisement after advertisement, as if ads were the main event.
And then there are the stations you learn to avoid. My local one is a prime example. For three evenings in a row — from six to nine — the very same presenter dominates the airwaves. She comments after every song, giggles at her own remarks, and tries to “educate” listeners about blues and other genres with knowledge that could fit on the back of a coaster. It’s irritating. Surely the programme manager could rotate presenters or bring in some new talent. Let her have the Monday slot and give the other evenings to fresh voices or different genres. But no — it’s wall-to-wall her, and after a while, you just switch off. Literally.
That’s the broader problem with FM radio: sameness, safety, and stale programming. There are stations that provide an oldies escape — LM Radio comes to mind — but even that grows monotonous after a while. And so the big plus today is Radio Garden, where you can roam the world and find gems. But even then, it’s a remote substitute for the enjoyment of a good, vibrant local station.
Once upon a time we had them. Smaller community-based stations in South Africa catered to real interests and offered thoughtful programming. Radio Today in Johannesburg, for instance. Mix FM used to be a great station too — until greed set in, as it so often does, and the great station it was just two years ago vanished under new ownership. Topsy-turvy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
What’s bewildering is how old this complaint actually is. John D. MacDonald was already grumbling about the decline of FM radio in 1968/69. In Pale Gray for Guilt, his character Travis McGee goes hunting for decent FM programming and despairs at how the original niche, thoughtful broadcasts had been replaced by commercial sludge aimed at teenagers. Even then, he saw that FM was becoming a victim of its own success.
South Africa had its chance when more licences became available — a moment to build a diverse, lively FM culture. But so much of that opportunity has been wasted.
That’s not to say everything on FM is terrible. There are pockets of brilliance — you just have to hunt for them. On a Monday evening, Etienne Ludik’s rock show on RSG is superb. Algoa FM can surprise you with great tracks while driving through the Karoo. And on Friday nights, you can tune in to Knysna FM for what may well be the greatest rock show on Earth: The Chris Prior Show.
But finding all this requires effort. And that’s the pity. FM radio could be vibrant, surprising, and worth tuning into every evening. Instead, for the most part, it’s become background noise — or worse, something you actively avoid.
