With the Jewish High Holy Days beginning Friday night with Rosh Hashana, pulpit rabbis are preparing their synagogue services and sermons. JM in the AM'' is unapologetically Orthodox, with rightward leanings. Other Jewish educators, as well as musicians, however, feel that the program has moved too aggressively to cater to the Orthodox right. He's the only game in town,'' a person active in a modern Orthodox group said. It's what the young people want to hear,'' he said.
Jewish radio is a niche market.
It has not blossomed to become a major community force the way that black radio, for example, has succeeded, with its own networks and talk and music shows. Mr. Brenner's are commercial programs, supported largely by Jewish advertisers. He's also a large part of the station's finances. Ten years ago, contributions from ''JM in the AM'' listeners accounted for one-third of the station's revenues. Today, that percentage is down to about 11 percent, Mr. Freedman said, because the station has been successful in tapping other sources of income, such as leasing its broadcast license and space in its studio.