DES MOINES, Iowa — The future of AM radio remains in jeopardy as car manufacturers discontinue stations from newer models, but some local broadcasters have faith it will carry on.
Earlier this year, Ford announced plans to remove AM radio from new cars, both gas and electric. However, consumers raised complaints with the company, leading Ford to retract their manufacturing decision. Other companies, like Tesla and Volkswagen, have made similar plans to discontinue AM radio in future electric vehicles.
That doesn't mean AM is lost to history. Jeff Angelo, the host of WHO's "Need to Know with Jeff Angelo", a political and Iowan life radio show, still believes in the format.
"It's essential," Angelo said. "I mean, AM radio is where all the conversation takes place and people connect with each other."
Angelo has spent decades building a following and connecting with Iowans. Before starting his own talk show on the radio, he served as a state senator in eastern Iowa for 12 years.
"You have to give people some unique insight that [is] different than how they're perceiving stuff," he said, referencing how he tied his political experience into his broadcast journalism job.
Over the years, Angelo has seen plenty of changes, including his career switch and the way Iowans listen to his show. For example, Angelo says many of his listeners tune in on podcast apps or YouTube to stay up-to-date, a change from a decade ago.
Even with AM radio in limbo, he says whatever happens won't affect the popularity of his show. Not to mention, he's already heard a lot of support from listeners.
"I think [AM radio is] going to stick around because I think that once we started talking about it on the air, legislators heard about it from consumers," he said. "Consumers really stepped up and said, 'Are you kidding me that I might buy a car that won't have AM radio in it?'"
Legislators are currently working to push a bill through Congress, requiring all vehicles made or imported into the U.S. to have AM radio.