AIRWAVE CLUTTER

Radio ad rates are high right now, tempting stations to pack ever more commercials on the air. “Since the Federal Communications Commission deregulated the radio industry in 1996, stations have increased their commercial load by 25 to 33 percent. That means most FM stations play anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes of diet pill pitches and fast food ads each hour. News-talk stations play even more, mixing up to 20 minutes of commercials with baseball scores and headlines.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch 05/04/00