The Gathering Storm is my look at the future of internet audio and the opportunity and threat it presents to broadcast radio. It started off by splitting the comparison between the two media into three parts – output, delivery method, and content. In the first column, I covered how internet audio, while not quite there yet, is approaching the quality of broadcast radio. In the second, I explained that the delivery method of internet audio is improving every day – to the point where it may be equal or superior to broadcast radio in a few years. Then last week, I looked at content from the stations perspective – this week it’s from the perspective of the air talent.

For reference, this column has nothing whatsoever to do with “Final Justice”, it just makes me chuckle when movies release sequels well after the series should be dead, and give them ridiculous subtitles like “Die Even More Hardest!” Since this was originally a three-parter, I thought the fourth and final installment in the increasingly inaccurately named trilogy should keep that tradition alive.

For the last 15 or so years as consolidation, automation and syndication have been tough on air talent, as the available pool of jobs decreases every year. When I first got into radio 10 years ago as an intern and then producer for a morning/afternoon show, I was told that you don’t really have to worry too much about being fired as long as you don’t own too much stuff. Just pack it all up and move to another town, because there’s always another job in another market – and sometimes you even get fired up the ladder!

As many of those who have been on a job search in the past few years know, that just isn’t the case anymore. Jockless formats have been on the rise, as has the use of out-of-town voicetrackers. At a station my friend works at, most of the air talent is on that station live and another 6 stations voicetracked. That’s six jobs that used to be open, but now are filled much more cheaply by one person. Late night shifts that used to be the learning grounds for future stars are now barren. The New York Times reports that perhaps less than 20 of the roughly 275 stations in the larger New York City area have live jocks at night. And that’s the most populated metro area in the country.