This Can't Be Good. . . .

[Fran]

2009-model cars are shipping without AM/FM radios.
At least eight car models, says consumer electronics site Twice.com. They're mostly vehicles toward the lower end of the price range, like the Nissan Versa 1.6 Base and the Nissan Altima 2.5 and the Honda Civic DX. Twice.com figures that the stripped version of the Nissan Versa doesn’t a factory-installed radio. The site says the Toyota Yaris two-door liftback, Chevrolet Aveo LS, Ford F-150 XL regular cab truck (!) and the Pontiac Solstice can be had without a radio or CD player. It’s an opportunity for after-market sales, for sure – but also an invitation for an iPod-using driver to avoid radio altogether.

So radio friends. . . . what's next?? 

[JeffJasper]

Maybe there is a little danger that people will simply use their I-pod.  But before that, there was a danger that people would use their portable CD player, and before that their cassette Walkman, and before that their portable 8-track.

"Radio-delete" options have been around forever.  My dad's '55 Chevy had no radio because they couldn't afford one, altho they did get the optional heater.  In 1981, my Honda Accord came with no radio, and I was glad of it.  I installed a Pioneer AM/FM/Cassette component system with dash unit and amps of my choice, Alpine 3-ways in the doors, and dual Pioneer 8-inch woofers in the rear.  Of an '81 4-door Accord.  It rocked.

So don't worry.  People still like music, such as it is, and people will have their radio, especially the FREE kind.

JJ

[bobrall]

Why not give away coupons for radios...at half price if you by the car on Tuesday before 11AM.  Of course, other offers may not be combined with the car radio offer.  A nice extension of the "coupon-radio-format" discussed on "What's Up With This?"

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Maybe this CAN be good!

When you read the doom and gloom postings you come to realize: "Radio is TOO full of itself!"

We're too good to fail.  We still have great ratings.

If the auto industry sends a message loud and clear that radio is an unpopular thing of questionable value,  maybe management in Broadcasting will stop patting themselves on the back,  lower their hand, scratch their butts instead and actually ask themselves?  "Do we have a problem?  How do we fix it?"

[J-Rod]

Maybe if enough radio stations start to fail, we can get a bailout.

I bet the govt, would love to have the media in their collective pockets.

[Fran]

....management in Broadcasting will stop patting themselves on the back,  lower their hand, scratch their butts.... "

Please stay focused . . . don’t leapfrog to questions with easy answers, like, “can today’s radio heads find their butts with both hands?” 

Seriously, I do not ever remember a time when “the car radio” was an option.  Wait until the first dealer tells a rep that “we don’t even put radios in cars anymore.”   That too falls under the heading, “this can’t be good.”   

[Douglas B.]

Please stay focused . . . don’t leapfrog to questions with easy answers, like, “can today’s radio heads find their butts with both hands?”  Seriously, I do not ever remember a time when “the car radio” was an option.  Wait until the first dealer tells a rep that “we don’t even put radios in cars anymore.”   That too falls under the heading, “this can’t be good.”   

I am focused; thank you and you can put your umbrage away.
What you are seeing, and your post alluded to it, is that some manufacturers are not including a radio as standard equipment in their bottom of the line models. All that means is if you want a radio, you have to pay for it. Up until now, a radio, of some sort, was always included with the hope that the customer will upgrade to a better radio system and therefore make more profit for the dealer/manufacturer.
You must be younger than I, because I do recall a time when a radio was optional equipment. But then again, I remember when discs were vinyl, carts were pulled by a horse, and a joint was a bad place to be seen in.
I think you are reading too much into this issue. That, of course, is your prerogative.

[doctor]

I do remember in the 80's when I owned a few Honda Accords that they didnt  come with radios(mainly because they would let you decide which type you wanted..am/fm only, am/fm/cassette, or all three in another WITH an EQ and more power) As mentioned above, depending on which you chose, your charge was accordingly. Also, back in the 80's, correct me if I'm wrongsomeone, but most Honda models didnt come with AIR. It was an additional 1000 bucks. Personally I wouldnt fret. I truly believe radios will always be as much a part of an automobile as the wiper blades.

[bobrall]

Remember the 80s...hell, I remember the 50s!!!

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

....management in Broadcasting will stop patting themselves on the back,  lower their hand, scratch their butts.... "

Please stay focused . . . don’t leapfrog to questions with easy answers, like, “can today’s radio heads find their butts with both hands?” 

Seriously, I do not ever remember a time when “the car radio” was an option.  Wait until the first dealer tells a rep that “we don’t even put radios in cars anymore.”   That too falls under the heading, “this can’t be good.”   

Sorry,  you visualized a different picture that I was trying to paint with words.

"Can't find your butt even using both hands" is a bit of speech indicating stupidity, lack of capability.  That is not the word picture I used.

"scratching your butt" is terminology indicated your mind may be wandering and you do not realize you are doing in public something that is considered tacky.  What I was indicating was that too many people in radio have been sitting around reading what they want to into audience study numbers thinking what they are programming must be great.  The people love us.  But the people who have quit listening and the people who listen less are thinking that the mind of radio management must be wandering because some of the programming borders on being tacky.  That assessment on my part may be a bit harsh, but it is an honest effort to stir up conversation that might allow us to learn something.

Yes, you must be younger.  There was a time when purchasing a car got you a frame, a body, 4 wheels, an engine, headlights and tail lights and a horn.  Want a heater?  extra.  Would you like a defroster style heater to melt the frost on your windshield?  Double Extra.  Radio?  Extra.  Air Conditioning?  Not available prior to early 1950s.  BIG TIME EXTRA!  Power Steering.  Extra.  Power Brakes.  Extra   Tinted windsheld?  Extra.

When the automobile company marketing crowd recognized that a very large percentage of the customer wanted the extra, make it standard on the deluxe models.  When the automobile company recognized that almost ALL buyers wanted the option,  make it a standard part of the base price.

When the automobile marketers DROP an accessory from standard equipment, that means they have decided the customer don't give a rat's behind to get that option any more.  IF the auto manufacturers actually start offering cars with absolutely NO RADIO as standard equipment, that is ONE BOLD PRNOUNCEMENT that radio doesn't matter to the public any more.

Do we have an example?  Do we have any accessory that was once standard that has been "delisted" so to speak?  How about the cigarette lighter?