There are virtually no radio jobs left to land after a layoff – even those in smaller markets that include many responsibilities for lower pay are scarce and with a recession being talked about and uncertain financial times, the question is where is the best place to look for those who want to remain in the business.
- Podcasting, Substack, YouTube, and freelance digital work are the "fallbacks," but they have their own brutal realities.
- Podcasting: 99% of new podcasts never make real money unless they already have a built-in following or major sponsorship.
- YouTube: Former radio people often think their skills will translate, but YouTube rewards visual storytelling and algorithm mastery — not just "talking good."
- Substack/newsletters: Some fired radio hosts have launched subscription newsletters, but it's very rare for these to generate enough paid subscribers to replace even a modest radio salary unless the person is very niche or already had name recognition.
What careers are working and ones to avoid
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