Imagine a business being part of a community for well over 130 years.

Now imagine a new business starting up to compete with that business. This is nothing new in the business world; it happens all the time.

But what if that new business is allowed free promotion throughout the town’s downtown core for everyone to hear?

That is what is happening with the playing of radio station myFM on loudspeakers in downtown Exeter. The radio station, situated on the outskirts of town, is able to promote itself on loudspeakers downtown, speakers that can be heard by everyone walking up and down Main Street sidewalks, including the Times-Advocate’s customers. Why is this so?

Why the apparent preferential treatment?

We wonder if other businesses would be happy if their competition were allowed to promote itself in such a manner?

Playing Christmas music during the holiday season or playing a non-commercial radio station would be one thing — but playing a competing news organization on a speaker pointed directly at our front door is a bit much.

Does the playing of music downtown enhance the shopping experience for customers? Do people want to hear music out on the streets while they are shopping? What if they don’t like the type of music played? Do the downtown residents living upstairs want to hear music coming in through their windows?

Do other towns employ the same practice? It’s one thing for businesses to freely choose which radio station or type of music to play inside their store, but outside is another matter entirely — and not entirely fair.