It's kind of interesting when you think about it. Older folks aren’t typically big spenders, and are usually quite set in their routines. Therefore, they are not the most profitable demo to spend those advertising dollars on. This is why oldies stations have been swapping out their programming for younger skewed formats across the nation. In Boise, KLTB (Kool Oldies), KDJQ, KGEM and KCID have all recently given either oldies or “classic” formats the axe.

The sad part is that no radio listeners are any more loyal than the over 60 crowd. They don’t ordinarily spend much of their day “tweeting” or chatting on internet sites such as facebook. They will do things that they are more familiar and comfortable with. Listening to the radio is certainly one of these things.

As people of these generations grew up, they not only tuned in the radio for entertainment, but they lived by it. There was no internet, no cell phones, no iPods, or car CD players. There was radio, and a handful of black-and-white TV stations that signed off at night. News, weather, live performances, and the latest popular tunes were all found between 540kc and 1610kc.

Now, radio is turning it’s back on these listeners that have been so loyal for so long. Sure, there is an understandable reason for this. It is still kind of sad.

It seems as though corporate radio is marketing mostly to the 25-55 crowd, because that’s where the money is. However, it’s a tougher crowd. This age group is more likely to embrace the internet, satellite radio, and the iPod. They’re less likely to be as loyal.

The scary part is, many broadcasters are reluctant to cater to listeners under age 25 as well. This is because advertising for this demo can also be hard to sell, and radio stations lose out on “beer money.”

Why is that scary? Today’s undesirable listeners under age 25 are tomorrow’s favored demo. They hold the future of radio. Now, if you talk to many potential listeners under the age of 25, they will say that radio sucks, or it’s boring. Most listen to CD mixes they’ve burned and iPods. They discover and download new music online. Most of the time, they couldn’t phone in or text a request to a radio station if they tried. They have almost no loyalty to local radio at all.

So, what does the future of radio hold? Only time will tell. Perhaps the key to radio’s success in the future lies in it’s past. Could commercial radio once again begin offering entertaining local programming, featuring interacting live bodies that answer phone calls? Or, is it going to continue to sell out to satellite-fed religious broadcasters and the like? If it desires to survive, the industry will have to adapt to this new world of electronic entertainment, and find it’s competitive edge. One thing is certain… Radio will never out-automate the iPod.