They used to put clips of interviews in RealAudio format, but they just finished scrubbing that and now deal exclusively in MP3.

MP3 will play on anything, anywhere.

Isn't the purpose of the public broadcaster to reach as many people as possible? Just askin'.

For some reason, few stations in Ottawa (not even the CBC) use this broadcast format. Once the station was identified, the player would blank out sadly and leave me in the dark as great unnamed songs played anonymously.

It's not necessarily that I prefer to listen to pre-recorded music, I just like knowing what I'm listening to, and periodic chat breaks from announcers that may or may not provide song names don't cut it in the digital era.

Now I have an iPhone with no local radio, just online streaming apps. I miss hearing the news and banter about regional news/events, but not enough to tune back in. wkh is completely right - satellite, with its infinite musical variety, is too compelling. The human element (remember Paul Harvey and... "the Rest of the Story"?) is local radio's best hope.

And someone in corporate really needs to rethink the standard morning-show concept. I get that some people want gags and laffs at 6 in the morning, but others prefer a more sedate tone. I listen to the CBC morning show precisely because it lacks sex jokes and laugh tracks, although God knows how long that will last.

In all seriousness, you hit it on the head: "I find most of their names and voices interchangeable. They seem to lack personality that sets them apart from the rest, because they're not allowed to develop one on the air."

I would add that people's perspective of radio may have changed as well (the habits and the care of it). In a world of so much media exposure, it is possible that radio is becoming less important to the masses.

That all being said, I love local radio and I'll miss it when it's gone. Tragically, the stations keep taking more of the "local" out of it anyways (by making the voices and content so generic) and all that's doing is getting the masses used to not having anything special/local.

In essence, they're doing it to themselves. Sad.

I don't think the competition is iPods and such as much as Satellite radio. But that may be a misperception on my part. I have nothing other than gut to back that up.

I dislike listening to people yak on the radio. I'm one of those people who will almost always change during commercials or during long "blah blah blah aren't I funny and interesting and woo hoo aren't we having a great morning?" chat times. I am surly when in a good mood. Mornings are vile and listening to cheery folks makes me stabby. I want soothing music. If I want chat I will tune into NPR. (I don't know if they even have NPR in Canada, that's how much I loathe talking). Part of it is an auditory thing. When people talk to me when I'm driving I'm one of those "huh wha?" types. Listening to a bunch of yammering is effing annoying. I want to listen to MUSIC.

I specifically choose not to listen to cds or ipods etc in the car. I have not gotten a satellite radio because I drive a 94 carolla and I'm just not gonna invest in it for that car. I very likely will the next one. I listen to radio because I want to give myself a chance to hear new music. Yes, hits are nice, but good music is even better. I have to admit, I don't like hearing Treble Charger or whatever new-ish band I heard the other day where the DJ actually said "that's the first time we've played X on CHOM." Last I heard, CHOM was a classic rock station. I don't tune into CHOM to hear new stuff, unless Clapton puts out a new album of non-wussed out sober 50 year old music (wake me up if that happens). I tune into CHOM to listen to old classic familiar hits. Sing along music. I tune into Virgin 96 to listen to what's popular right now. Although their variety has gone noticeably down since the change. Not as much obscure-ish but new stuff. And they feel extremely not local. Worse, they feel like someone not local who just moved here and is trying to act like they are Totally In The Scene. It's weird.

But that's not all I listen to. I also switch over to 96.9 and they are much more interesting than Virgin. I generally only change it because they start doing these stupid annoying medleys sometimes. Or maybe that's 94.3 which I also listen to and enjoy. Besides, it expands my aural palate to listen to French music too, although they play surprisingly little. Also, one of them has the sole and ONLY talk radio I actually like around 430pm where they have a listener call someone they know and just fuck with them. Convincing their parents they became Raelians and such. It's usually extremely awesome and I usually end up laughing until I am in tears. I have no idea why I love that so much but find any and all morning shows to be awful. That said, I hated the Stern experiment more than any other Montrealer (I am convinced of this, and most people I know are kind of shocked I don't like Stern, and never have. Silly's, I'm a Dan Savage girl! I like some sophistication about my fart jokes, thanks).

I really doubt I am the only one who would just rather listen to some music with thoughtful interesting info and intros from DJs. Please no monotone college radio voice. But I just really don't care to listen to a one way conversation while stuck in traffic. It's effing annoying. I want music.