1) Commercial FM radio is overwhelmingly popular.
2) Listeners are not flocking to alternatives (LPFM, NPR, college) available in most markets.
3) The most-cited reason for decreased listening is lack of time, not dissatisfaction with programming.
4) The most-cited reason for increased listening is that respondents "like what's on."
5) The least-cited reason for station-hopping is "To avoid repetition in music."

It doesn't exactly paint a picture of festering dissatisfaction with the status quo. This point was raised in a conference call immediately following the study's release. An FMC rep said that survey respondents were easily prodded into saying they would prefer less consolidation, more programming variety, and better radio generally. "They can imagine something better," she commented. That's probably true, but complacency doesn't amount to a mandate for a new radio marketplace.

The concern is that the national Association of Broadcasters (NAB), representing Clear Channel, Viacom, and the other big radio consolidators, might easily use the survey results to argue that the study is presuming marketplace damage where there is, in fact, none. "Bigger is better, and people are happy" is a mantra that, given the power of spin, will easily survive this study.

If so, the shame is on listeners, because radio consolidation does indeed denature our musical culture with devastating and rapacious effect. With small Webcasting surviving this week by the skin of its teeth, one can't help wondering whether the vast legions of glassy-eyed listeners, benumbed by force-fed culture, even care. Thanks Brad - a troubling picture indeed for we musical elitists. Here's part of the issue: radio for many teens and young adults is a social rather than aesthetic matter. They listen to know what the hits are, to know the songs they are supposed to know, and since they know the songs they can also sing along. My daughter admits she sings along to songs she doesn't even like because she knows them.

Don't tell me repetition and social pressure don't work, especially among the most social age range.