L.A. Radio.com "at crossroads"

Don Barrett has been informing and entertaining local radio buffs at LARadio.com for ten years, but it sounds as if the thrill is gone. He posted last week that while the site has become a full-time endeavor, the income hasn't kept up. Readers who avoid the subscription fee don't help. Excerpt:

Simply said, there is much soul searching on whether to continue with the site. A broadcast executive suggests that maybe LARadio has served its purpose and there are enough other radio-related sites to provide information to those who care about this market....

Even though the cost of a subscription amounted to 10 cents a day, there was much objection from those who feel (and continue to feel) that the Internet should be free. Another factor was the Napster mentality that those who were enjoying the site for free felt they were entitled to read the site by hook or crook. Many chose the latter.

[snip]

And so it goes. Do I stay or go? Fold ‘em or hold ‘em. Perhaps you have an idea. Maybe it is even you who shares your password codes with others or cut and paste the entire column and distribute to their address book. I’m flattered but it jeopardizes the future of the site.

He is accepting sponsors now, but won't take subscriptions beyond the end of the year in case he closes the site.