All forms of broadcast.
In what might be the first realization of synthesized DJs in actual broadcast shifts, “AI Ashley” — a voice-cloned version of Live95.5 midday host Ashley — works her (its? their?) first realtime shift. Click for the video, which includes an AI-synthesized voice conversing with a listener who won a contest. Continue Reading
It was the summer of 2014 when The Walt Disney Company announced that it was exiting the broadcast radio business to focus on digital audio. Nine years later, it has sold the final station, once the flagship. Continue Reading
In his latest piece, guest columnist James Cridland reports on a big change to the way Australian radio stations were measured – and how it’s reported. . Australian radio will be measured by all three available methods: Diaries, research surveys, and electronic measurement. Early results are revealing for radio’s multiplatform future, James reports. Many other interesting ratings realities are emerging from the new reporting. Continue Reading
In his latest piece, guest columnist James Cridland reports on the recent about-face by Ford Motor Company in the U.S., which spares AM radio from being removed in its cars. Not so lucky for British AM, though, where “the BBC says that 5 Live will be off AM by Dec 2027; they’ve been slowly turning off BBC Local Radio’s AM transmitters too.” And, as always, global observations and commentary. Continue Reading
As Audacy drops off the Wall Street radar (delisting info HERE), the company plans to push back. A written request will be filed within 10 days, according to a widely distributed press notice. Audacy President and Chairman David Field has voiced a two-point plan. Click for details. Continue Reading
In his latest piece, guest columnist James Cridland starts in India, where the government has decreed that mobile phones must be equipped with FM reception. Then it’s onto BBC Local Radio, where station cuts are being called “scandalous.” An unusually long and deep column this week; click through to read the whole thing. Continue Reading
The recently released Cumulus Media 2023 Audioscape study offers a deep dive into podcasting, smart speakers, and the status of AM/FM radio in those relatively new home speakers. Click through for charts, and a link to the study. Continue Reading
As radios continue a long-term trend of disappearing from homes, radio listeners lean into smart speakers tuned into radio station streams, and dedicated station mobile apps. The info comes from Jacobs Media, which will reveal its full TechSurvey results this week during the All Access Audio Summit. Click for the data graph. Continue Reading
“Good job I don’t write radio commercials any more,” observes guest columnist James Cridland, who has explored AI in that regard. The result? Synthetic commercial copy, read by a synthetic voice. Click through to hear it. Also: The world’s biggest broadcaster, statistics about Canadian radio, and more. Continue Reading
NPR’s most recent content post on Twitter is dated April 4 — a piece of political news. After that post, Twitter CEO Elon Musk applied this identifying label to NPR’s account: “Government-funded media.” This morning we see a tweetstorm of NPR links to the network’s other social sites and public resources, as NPR quits Twitter and guides 8.8-million followers to other social sites. Continue Reading
In today’s guest column, James Cridland fixes 4ZZZ in Brisbane. An odd choice on BBC Breakfast. A note from Radiodays Europe. An FM in New Zealand is pulled off the air, bafflingly. ABC Australia starts dealing with its ratings slump. Bauer Media announces Rayo. And much more. Continue Reading
It is well established that in-car listening is a stronghold for American radio’s reach. A recent edition of Edison Research’s Weekly Insights series puts numbers to the comparative strength of AM/FM in the car, and compares them with out-of-car listening. Click for details and charts. Continue Reading