Conventional radio listenership is in decline due to alternatives like satellite radio and music streaming services. Even if you’re an FM radio fan, you probably haven’t tuned in to any AM counterparts recently, so why is it important enough for some lawmakers to support a bipartisan bill called the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act? The reason is safety.
Amplitude modulation (AM) frequencies travel much further than FM, and have long been considered the de facto platform for distributing information during natural disasters and emergencies. According to AM radio executive Jerry Chapman, “When the power goes out and cell networks are down, the car radio is often the only way for people to get information, sometimes for days at a time.”
Automaker Ford initially removed AM service from its 2023 F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-e after data showed that fewer than 5% of its customers listened to it. Interestingly, the company also removed AM radio from its gasoline-powered 2024 Mustang, so more than just frequency interference led to the initial decision. Ford later recanted and is restoring AM service to all three vehicles, according to CEO Jim Farley.
After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system, we’ve decided to include it on all 2024 @Ford & @LincolnMotorCo vehicles. For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software…
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) May 23, 2023
Automakers that aren’t willing to reverse course are quick to point out that consumer preferences for getting news and information are shifting. According to the rating firm Nielsen, terrestrial radio reaches 92% of the population, but text messaging is rapidly catching up, with 80% of North America’s population using the technology.
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