It all depends on what you mean by "en masse". And people aren't going to listen to talk radio with topics censored.
How will the listeners know the host has been muzzled unless the host directly says so on the air? There are already topics that are "off limits" for talk radio - especially for squeamish WJR!
Howard Stern wanted to talk about things, use words, etc. on AM/FM radio that he (a) either decided against doing or (b) was prohibited from doing by management. Didn't seem to harm his ratings at all.
Look, they already replaced the Talk format on WWCK 1570, with a Classic Rock format that you have all trashed on this board. There are probably others and there will be more.
WWCK had terrible ratings and 760 WJR (Cumulus owned) delivers a city grade signal to the Flint area. By the way, I was rather complimentary of the new format choice. The new format is classic hits, not classic rock.
...and ridiculously banning a word for a decade and to this day. Is this how it will roll in the shire?
You do realize by banning the word, said sportscaster has drawn increased ire, right?
Will some well known talk radio hosts leave terrestrial radio? Probably! They'll claim they're leaving because they want more freedom - and that's certainly true - but another reason they'll leave is because they realize AM/FM radio is a sinking ship financially.
There is certainly a chance WJR will tone down its conservative talk programming leanings to an extent - not disputing that at all - but they will almost assuredly remain a news/talk station or general interest talk station well into the future. I can assure you Limbaugh will remain part of the station's lineup until he hangs up the headphones for the last time.
Morgan Wallen is a piece of garbage.