Another Nail in the Coffin for Independent Music on Broadcast Radio?

Indie 103.1 in LA has pulled the plug on its terrestrial station.  But does it matter?  They're still online and don't most fans of independent music have Internet access?

Post thoughts below...

From the Indie 103.1 website:

Indie Activist:

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience -

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option --- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world.

Comments

[Matt Rodela]

I say the title of this post should really be "Another Nail in the Coffin of Radio". It's things like this that are turning more and more people on to the prospect of getting all their music from the web and other sources.

[David Hooper]

Agreed.

The big issue is that "indie music" is a niche market and the old school method of distribution, whether via a big ass broadcast station or brick and mortar stores costs too much to make a good profit.

It's a lot easier to make money with something like the Internet, which has no towers, no FCC licenses, no trucks, no warehouses, etc.

The only big issue is that it's not as easy to access, at least for most people, as turning on a radio or going to a record store.

That is going to change in the near future though...