In the argument that appeared in the memorandum of KNOW radio station the general manager
suggests to shift its programming from rock-and-roll music to a continuous news format. Th
is suggestion comes after a study of certain factors that support the change like increase
in the number of old people and decrease in the sales of recorded music etc. However, the
se factors also indicate towards another direction that is not considered by the general m
anager. In that case, his suggestions stand null and void.The first example that the gener
al manager takes is that the number of older people in the listening area of KNOW radio st
ation has increased and the total number of its listeners has gone down recently. The mana
ger is quick to put these two facts together to conclude that the old do not listen to roc
k-and-roll. However, we cannot confirm this fact from the given argument. It is likely tha
t a large number of listeners of the radio station comprise of old people and this does no
t indicate an increasing trend towards news related programs.The music stores in the same
area have reported a decreased sale of recorded music. While recorded music has its own cu
stomers, they cannot be classified in the listeners of any radio music programs. A radio p
rogram has its own charm which is not the same as recorded music. That is why, those who l
isten to recorded music may not be the same as those who listen to the music programs on a
radio. If the music stores in the area report a decrease in the sales of its recorded mus
ic, it does not mean that this indicates a decrease in the number of listeners of the radi
o music as well. There could be other factors that could have resulted in the decline in t
he sale of recorded music, which is independent of the radio programs. For example, it is
possible that the quality of music has gone down, or the price of recorded music has incre
ased. In that case, a change in the sale of recorded music does not point towards a change
in the tastes of people who listen to radio music programs.If continuous news stations ha
ve been very successful in the neighboring cities, it does not have any connection with th
e area of KNOW radio station. Every area has its independent listeners. We cannot determin
e the tastes and preferences of a particular area by knowing the tastes of its neighboring
areas. Therefore, if people in this area would prefer continuous news station over music
or not cannot be confirmed from the success of news station in the neighboring cities. Fur
ther, it can be said that if local citizens are interested in getting better informed abou
t politics, it does not mean that they have lost their interest in music. Entertainment an
d recreation has its own place and importance. It cannot be replaced by the interest of pe
ople in becoming aware about politics of a place.The success of a news station does not de
pend only on whether its listeners want to listen to music or news. It greatly depends upo
n the quality of news reports that it telecasts. Even if KNOW radio station changes from a
rock-and-roll music station to a news station, it does not confirm the success of the rad
io station. To be successful, it will have to satisfy the needs of the listeners. Consider
ing this, it is likely that the listeners of the music station have declined due to its lo
w levels of performance and quality. It is possible that the listeners in the area are sti
ll interested in rock-and-roll music but they do not like the programs and services of KNO
W radio station. In that case, the radio station should improve its functioning instead of
changing its programs. Moreover, a decrease in listener-ship also depends upon other fact
ors. For example, it is likely that people are preferring television over radio. It is als
o likely that people do not have the time to listen to radio and that is the cause of decl
ine of its listeners.It is clear from the discussion given above that there are many other
possibilities of the given factors which do not indicate towards a change from rock-and-r
oll music to continuous news channel. Therefore, the argument given above can be called ir
relevant and lacking in logic enough to support its conclusion.