The Number and Genres of Radio Stations, and How These Have Changed Over the Last Decade, Especially in Terms of Ownership

• In Event: Structural Policies of the Media and Communication Industries of Puerto Rico

Abstract

Virtually nothing has been written about radio in Puerto Rico since the chapter, “Mass Media in Puerto Rico” by Subervi-Velez et al. in 1990. This presentation will examine what has happened in the radio industry in the past decade and how it fits into the radio landscape as a whole. Radio is important as both a business and a transmitter of culture. This session will examine the business of radio broadcasting in Puerto Rico by looking at characteristics of the stations. When the 1990 piece was published, there were 111 radio stations on the island; today there are 126: 73 AM stations and 53 FM stations. I will look at their annual sales, ownership and format. The overall United States radio industry is highly concentrated, but large companies will not necessarily provide programming that appeals to the Puerto Rican market, where the majority of stations broadcast in the Spanish language. Looking ahead, Puerto Rican radio may have a bright future, since according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers, the industry is expected to grow in Latin America, with which some residents of Puerto Rico identify. The session will touch on the regulatory environment of radio in Puerto Rico. It is governed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which has the power to grant licenses to radio stations. The role of radio as a transmitter of culture also will be explored. Other nations have expressed concern about U.S. media products damaging national identity. Although Puerto Rico is not another nation, it is an island with a distinctive culture and language, and it lies in close proximity to powerful American media outlets. However, past research indicates that cultural imperialism may not pose a threat in Puerto Rico. In a study published in 1995 by Nancy Morris, residents did not find music from the United States a threat to their identity. They indicated that U.S. music was just one part of a broader scene that included local music. Of course, today the Internet is a major source of music for young people, so the role of radio stations may have changed in the past decade.

Author

• Karen M. Markin, U of Rhode Island