To the owners, operators, and decision-makers of broadcast radio stations across this country:
I am writing to you today not just as an industry observer, not just as someone who has devoted a lifetime to the people and the stories that make radio the incredible medium it is, but as someone who loves this industry deeply and refuses to stay silent while it is being stripped of its lifeblood. Broadcast radio is more than a business. It is more than signals traveling over the airwaves or content appearing on streaming platforms. It is a promise—a promise to communities, to families, to listeners who depend on you every morning, every afternoon, every night. Your license is not simply a piece of paper; it is a sacred responsibility to serve your local community with integrity, with care, and with people who are on the ground, invested, and present.
And yet, across this nation, we are watching that promise erode. One layoff at a time. One consolidation at a time. One voice silenced, one newsroom gutted, one local presence replaced by distant operations hundreds of miles away. We are watching the industry hollow itself out in the name of efficiency, in the name of cost-cutting, in the name of numbers on a spreadsheet that do not reflect the heartbeat of your markets. Let me be clear: you cannot serve a local community from 100 miles away. You cannot fulfill your obligations to listeners, advertisers, or neighbors without the people who make it all possible. A tower does not speak. A microphone does not care. A station is nothing without the talented, passionate humans who bring it to life every day.
The people being let go are not just employees. They are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, neighbors, and friends. They are volunteers in their communities, mentors to children, and supporters of local causes. Behind each layoff is a family worried about bills, a child wondering how they will stay in school, a spouse trying to reconcile a dream that feels shattered. These are not abstract consequences—they are real lives, real people, real stories. And I have to ask: is there no other way? Must the only solution be to dismantle the very teams that make radio human?
There must be a better path. There has to be. Consider partnerships that strengthen, rather than replace, your existing teams. Invest in the talent you already have, train them, cross-skill them, empower them to innovate and drive new revenue streams. Lean into creativity rather than cuts. Experiment with community sponsorships, new digital offerings, hyper-local events—ways to expand revenue without hollowing out your workforce. Remember that the true value of your stations is not just in profits; it is in the trust, the presence, and the service you provide to real people in real towns every single day.
To those who have lost their jobs, I say this with every ounce of sincerity: this was not your fault. Not your talent. Not your work ethic. Not your dedication. The industry needs you. Your voices are still necessary. Your skills are still valuable. Your passion still matters. There is a way forward. Build your personal brand, freelance, create new programming, connect with local communities, network relentlessly, and keep the fire alive that brought you to the microphone in the first place. The door to broadcast radio is not closed—it is only temporarily blocked. Persevere. Continue to serve, and the opportunities will come.
To the owners reading this, I cannot overstate the urgency and importance of your choices. You are the stewards of something sacred. The decisions you make today will echo across communities for years to come. A cut that seems minor in a conference room is a life-altering event in a neighborhood. A consolidation that saves a few dollars may cost your market its heartbeat, its identity, its connection to the people who listen, call, and engage every day. Protect the people who make your stations human. Protect the communities that trust you to be there. Value your teams. Invest in your people. Do not allow short-term gains to destroy long-term trust, service, and relevance.
Broadcast radio is not dead, but it is fragile. It thrives because of the people behind it, the ones who show up every day, who know their listeners, who care about the stories, the news, and the voices of their towns. They are the lifeblood, and without them, there is nothing left to broadcast.
On The Dial remains committed to this industry and to the incredible, dedicated people who make it operate. If there is anything we can do to help—connections, guidance, amplifying voices, opportunities—please reach out. We are here. We are listening. We remain a home for radio, for local communities, and for the people whose passion and talent make this industry what it has always been: alive, vital, and essential.
The time to act is now. The people matter. The communities matter. The soul of broadcast radio matters. Please do not forget that.
-Just Plain Steve